Afropop and South African Music reading

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

The a cappella vocal group that found the greatest international success after appearing on Paul Simon’s 1986 album, Graceland.

Joseph Shabalala

The lead vocalist and founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who started his choral group in 1960.

mambazo

Zulu word meaning "axe," included in the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Solomon Linda

Artist who, with his group The Evening Birds, made the historically significant 1939 recording of the song "Mbube."

Miriam Makeba

Artist often dubbed "Mama Africa," who became popular as a jazz singer and international cultural activist against apartheid

Spokes Mashiyane

Among the most successful kwela artists, known for his pennywhistle recordings like "Ace Blues."

Paul Simon's Graceland

The 1986 album and subsequent tour that is widely considered the turning point for widespread international interest in popular world music.

Afropop

The common term for African popular music, which often incorporates Western idioms (primarily jazz) in local contexts.

Mbube

An early style of all-male, a cappella choral singing, initially named after Solomon Linda's hit song, characterized by a loud, powerful performance and emphasis on low voices.

isicathamiya

The newer choral style developed by Joseph Shabalala, meaning "walk stealthily" (or tiptoe), known for quieter, lush harmonies and specific choreography.

Mbube/Isicathamiya Choral Organization

Typically rooted in the call-and-response polyphonic singing of the Zulu people, influenced by Christian hymnody.

Controller

The term for the lead vocalist in the mbube tradition who improvises and provides the call

Chord

The term for the group response in the mbube tradition that sings the harmony.

Nightsong

The informal, competitive choral singing contests held regularly on Saturday evenings in South African townships, where mbube groups performed.

Bombing

A practice common in the 1940s and '50s mbube where singers performed wide descending melodic slides to imitate air raid sounds.

Marabi

An early popular South African instrumental keyboard style, played on an inexpensive pedal organ in shebeens (bars).

Kwela

A street music style led by the pennywhistle (tin whistle) soloist, named after slang for the police vans that patrolled the townships.

I—I—IV—V

The consistent harmonic progression (Tonic-Tonic-Subdominant-Dominant) that reflects Western influence in the second section of isicathamiya performances like "Hello, My Baby."

Polyrhythm

The organization of instrumental music in sub-Saharan Africa, often organized into layers of different rhythms.

Xhosa

Miriam Makeba's native tongue, distinctive for its several "clicking" phonemes.

Gallo Africa

South Africa's largest independent recording company, established in Johannesburg by Eric Gallo in 1926.

The year Solomon Linda recorded the historically significant song "Mbube."

1939

The year Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo

1964

The year Paul Simon released Graceland, a turning point for popular world music.

1986

The segregationist political system in South Africa that Miriam Makeba spoke out against at the UN General Assembly.

Apartheid

The indigenous roots for the choreography used by mbube choirs, characterized by a high leg kick with upraised arms.

Zulu Warrior Dances

The Disney film that featured the song "Mbube" (in its later version, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight").

The Lion King (1994)

Bars serving homemade liquor in the growing townships where Marabi music was commonly heard.

shebeens

Western influences that helped shape the polyphonic singing and harmonies of mbube and isicathamiyaJazz, Ragtime, Christian Hymnody

Jazz, Ragtime, Christian Hymnody