South Africa

South Africa

The origin of hip-hop in South Africa cannot be fully appreciated without considering the political history of the country. Influenced by the Black Nationalist sentiment of groups like Public Enemy, hip-hop began in the late 1980's as an expression of rebellion against the practices of the Apartheid regime. Under this system, the Afrikaner government implemented and enforced policies of racial segregation where people of color were relegated to lesser status than that of their white countrymen.

Politically motivated hip-hop was pioneered in the Western Cape by the groups Prophets of the City (POC), Black Noise, and later Brasse Vannie Kaap (BVK, or "Brothers of the Cape"). To this day crew members continue to promote the ideals of socio-economic and racial parity through community development programs.
In contrast to this overtly "conscious" message, a contemporary genre known as "kwaito" has arisen in the Johannesburg area. This style is more dance-oriented, incorporating elements of house music, indigenous Black languages and vernacular dialects. Arthur Mafokate, the self-proclaimed "King of Kwaito" is widely regarded as the progenitor of this style. The late Brenda Fassie, and cross-over artists such as TKZee have contributed to the mainstream success of kwaito in South African culture.

The popular music scene in South Africa is also characterized by sample- and loop-based electronic music. Artists in this category often combine elements of MCing, turntablism, and live instrumentation.

Timeline Excerpt

 1890: The Virginia Jubilee Singers tour South Africa. This group, led by ex-slave Orpheus McAdoo, was an offshoot of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Their performances were extremely influential on the development of traditional choral practice in South Africa.

1897: Enoch Mankayi Sontonga composes the hymn Nkosi Sikelel ‘iAfrika ("God Bless Africa").

1925: Nkosi Sikelel ‘iAfrika is adopted by the African National Congress (ANC) as the closing anthem for its meetings.

1959: Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim, and the father of hip-hop artist Jean Grae), Kippie Moeketsi, Makhaya Ntshoko, Johnny Gertze and Hugh Masekela form the Jazz Epistles. They become the first African jazz group to record an LP.

 1966: Makeba receives the Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording together with Harry Belafonte for the album An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba. This recording deals with the political plight of black South Africans under apartheid.

1975: Gil Scott-Heron releases the song Johannesburg on the album "From South Africa to South Carolina."

1979: The resort "Sun City" is developed in the Bantustan/homeland of Bophuthatswana. These homelands were declared independent states by the South African government, but not recognized as such by the international community. Due to this "sovereign" status, Bophuthatswana was allowed to provide "immoral entertainment" such as gambling and topless revue shows, which were banned in South Africa. These factors, as well as its relatively close location to the large metropolitan areas of Pretoria and Johannesburg, ensured that Sun City soon became a popular holiday and weekend destination. As a response to the cultural boycott, the South African government exploited the loophole of Bophuthatswana's semi-independence, by inviting and encouraging international artists to perform there. During the early 1980's several acts such as: Queen, The O'Jays, Boney M, Tina Turner, and Ray Charles performed at Sun City's "Superbowl," effectively contravening the ideals of the boycott.

1980: Peter Gabriel releases the single "Biko." The lyrics read: "You can blow out a candle / But you can't blow out a fire / Once the flames begin to catch / The wind will blow it higher." During the reign of the apartheid government, Gabriel often closed his concerts with the song, encouraging the audience to sing with him.

1980: Bob Marley performs at Zimbabwe's independence celebrations.

1981: Sweet Honey in the Rock's album, Good News, features tracks entitled: "Biko" and "Chile Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto," which compares Biko's death to that of Chilean musician Victor Jara.

1981: Frank Sinatra violates the cultural boycott against South Africa and accepts
$1.79 million for nine performances in Sun City (Sinatra returns for another engagement in 1983).

1982: Botswana hosts the "Festival of Culture and Resistance" attended by many South African Exiles, among them Abdullah Ibrahim. Black Consciousness sentiment dominates the proceedings: the message is that white participants should be made aware of the struggle, but the task of liberation should be left to the black oppressed. Culture is to be used as a weapon of the struggle; the terms: "artist," "musician," and "writer," are to be replaced by the expression "cultural worker."

1983: The Specials record the song "Nelson Mandela."

1983: Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid (AAAA), is formed. Co-chaired by Harry Belafonte and Arthur Ashe, the organization seeks to promote the cultural boycott of South Africa and highlight the atrocities of apartheid.

1987: The movie "Shaka Zulu" directed by William Faure is released. It tells the true story of the life and rise to power of Shaka, the greatest Zulu leader in history.
The solidarity and defiance expressed by the Zulu people at the "Battle of Isandhlwana," serve indirectly as an inspiration for Afrika Bambaataa and the formation of the Universal Zulu Nation.

1993: Biko is referenced in Steve Biko (Stir it Up) by A Tribe Called Quest on the album Midnight Marauders.

2000: Wyclef Jean compares Biko's death to that of Amadou Diallo (a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant murdered by New York City police) in his tribute song: Diallo on the album "The Ecleftic: Two Sides of a Book."

2000: Dead Prez's album "Let's Get Free" references Steve Biko on the track:
I'm a African.

2001: Kwaito group Bongo Maffin is awarded Best African Group at the Kora All-Africa Music Awards.

2003: The first of a series of "46664 concerts" is hosted by Nelson Mandela at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. 46663 was Mandela' prison number; he was incarcerated in 1964, and was the 466th prisoner to arrive at Robben Island. The goal of the concerts was to raise awareness of the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Among the artists who performed were: Beyonce, Baabaa Maal, Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof, Bongo Maffin, and Johnny Clegg.

2009: Thandiswa Mazwai's second album, Ibokwe passes the 20,000 unit sales mark, attaining Gold status for South Africa.

2009: The "Downtown Music Hub Project" is established in Johannesburg. The intention of this organization is to promote music production and performance in South Africa.