Township music, also called township jazz, is a type of music created by Black people who lived in poor, racially separated cities in South Africa called "townships" during the 20th century.

The main types of township music are mbaqanga, kwela, and marabi. Marabi began in the 1920s and was influenced by jazz. People from Malawi helped create kwela by mixing their music with marabi. Mbaqanga came after marabi and is similar to jazz. It was influenced by marabi, American jazz, and traditional Zulu music.

History

Township music in South Africa began when townships were created. Townships are areas where people live, and during the 1950s, the government built houses there for Africans to rent. Binns and Nel explain that these townships were poor, black areas made under apartheid. They were not for wealthy white people in South Africa, but for poorer black people. Ballantine says laws were passed in the 1950s to strengthen apartheid. These laws were often enforced with violence. The most important law for urban black music was the Group Areas Act of 1950. This law separated neighborhoods by moving black communities to the edges of cities into townships. Williams describes these areas as similar to African American ghettos. He also notes that musicians in townships felt powerless, which led them to explore new types of music. Jazz was one such music. It aimed to show musical and social equality, which was seen as a form of rebellion. Because of this, jazz was suppressed. Ballantine states that the white, racist government in South Africa worked to divide black people and turn them against each other.

Different styles of township music

Marabi is considered the first type of township music that developed from makwaya in the late 1890s and became popular between the 1920s and 1940s in the slum areas of Johannesburg, South Africa. This music was influenced by the lives of working-class people and combined many different musical traditions into one style. Some people outside the working class saw marabi as rebellious because it was linked to illegal activities, police raids, and the difficult lives of poor workers. The word "marabi" has unclear origins, but some sources suggest it might mean "to fly around," which could describe the way dancers moved. Another source defines it as slang for "lawless person" or "gangster." During the 1936 Empire Exhibition in Johannesburg, marabi music was not included in the event, showing that white audiences were not always interested in African music at the time. Marabi was often criticized because it showed the dangers and hardships of life in poor urban areas and was connected to heavy drinking. Because it came from townships, its honest lyrics were not always accepted by others. Instruments used in marabi music included guitars, pianos, brass instruments, and organs, and vocalists were also common. Coplan noted that marabi lyrics were flexible, allowing people to create their own words to match the music. These lyrics also often expressed political protests. Other studies about marabi lyrics are rare, possibly because the topic is difficult to research and the music is old.

Kwela is another style of township music that includes elements from traditional music, marabi, and American jazz. It is known as urban African penny whistle music from the 1950s and became popular in Johannesburg, similar to marabi. Coplan explained that kwela uses a mix of instruments, such as string basses, guitars, drums, and penny whistles, to create strong, repeating melodies. At first, kwela was made by children in poor areas who imitated their favorite jazz musicians. Penny whistles were not taken seriously by people outside Africa, who saw them as children’s toys. However, urban Africans saw kwela as a true expression of their culture, not just a childish activity. Kwela was also seen as a new style of township music that combined marabi or songs from migrant workers. Like marabi, kwela became popular despite challenges. People danced to kwela music, which involved a suggestive form of jive dancing where dancers shouted "kwela" repeatedly. The word "kwela" means "climb on" or "get up" in Zulu, encouraging others to join in the upbeat music. Kwela helped Johannesburg’s economy by competing with imported music and being widely sold by local studios.

Mbaqanga is the Zulu name for a type of steamed bread made from maize. It also refers to a style of South African jazz from the 1950s that mixed marabi, kwela, and American jazz. Coplan noted that mbaqanga groups often included people from different ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the blending of musical styles. This music continued the traditions of marabi and kwela while adding its own fresh elements. Coplan is one of the few published experts on mbaqanga, as little research has been done on the topic, partly because township music is not well studied. In mbaqanga performances, vocalists are central, while instrumentalists depend on the needs of recordings or live shows. Instruments used include electric guitars, saxophones, violins, accordions, and drums, with some added later in the 1960s. Mbaqanga shows often begin with traditional music, dance, and costumes before shifting to a more modern, Western-style performance. Coplan described a typical mbaqanga song as starting with a guitar introduction, followed by a bass melody using the F-C-G7-C pattern over a rhythmic 8/8 beat. Mbaqanga is known for its strong rhythm and mix of traditional and modern melodies. Studies of its lyrics are limited, but Coplan noted that they usually consist of short, paired lines.

Historiography

Township music is not well-known in terms of research. However, there is a lot of information to learn about this special and historical music style. Only two major books have been published about it: Coplan’s In Township Tonight! from 1985 and Ballantine’s Marabi Nights from 1993. Most other sources only briefly mention township music without explaining its features or nature. Clearly, township music is a new area of study in music, similar to other genres like African drumming and mustache rock. Studying township music helps reveal its background and characteristics, which can also apply to other less-known music styles. Among township music styles, Marabi is the most studied, while kwela and mbaqanga have received less attention. It seems that newer music styles are harder to describe and classify, as this pattern appears in many cases.

Artists

Township music includes many different artists. Some well-known artists are:

• Ladysmith Black Mambazo – This group won a Grammy Award in 2009 for their music. They were first introduced by Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland.
• Mahlathini
• Mango Groove
• Mbongeni Ngema – Mbongeni Ngema helped create the Broadway musical Sarafina, which later became a movie starring Whoopi Goldberg.
• Mzikayifani Buthelezi – This artist uses accordion, violin, and guitar in their music. Male lead singers and female chorus singers often perform call-and-response lyrics.
• The Boyoyo Boys
• Hugh Masekela