What is a kwela flute?
Kwela flute instrument This wooden pennywhistle flute is used to produce sounds that are vibrant and have a jazz and African sound. Many had a great preference for the instrument because it was affordable and was easily portable. The flute can be played solo or as an ensemble instrument.
What is South African marabi?
Marabi is a style of music that evolved in South Africa over the last century. Marabi was the name given to a keyboard style (often using cheap pedal organs) that had a musical link to American jazz, ragtime and blues, with roots deep in the African tradition.
What does kwaito music sound like?
Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples, deep bass lines, and vocals. Despite its similarities to hip hop music, Kwaito has a distinctive manner in which the lyrics are sung, rapped and shouted.
What instrument is used in marabi?
Common instruments found in marabi style music include the guitar, piano, brass instruments, and organs; vocalists were also common for marabi music.
What is JIT African music?
Jit (also known as jiti, jit-jive and the Harare beat) is a style of popular Zimbabwean dance music. It features a swift rhythm played on drums and accompanied by a guitar. Jit evolved out many diverse influences, including domestic chimurenga, Congolese rumba and Tanzanian guitar styles.
What kind of music is kwela in South Africa?
Kwela, (Zulu: “get up” or “climb”) popular upbeat urban dance music of South Africa. Coined by Elkin Sithole in the 1940s to refer to choral response in Zulu vocal music, the term kwela had been broadened by the 1950s to refer to the music of street bands featuring the pennywhistle, who also performed at township dances.
Where does the name kwela come from in Malawi?
Origin. In Chichewa, the word Kwela has a very similar meaning to the South African meaning: “to climb”. The music was popularised in South Africa and then brought to Malawi, where contemporary Malawian artists have also begun producing Kwela music.
What kind of flute did the kwela use?
The tune was played using the pennywhistle flute, which is popularly referred to us as the Kwela or African flute. The flute sounds were often accompanied by the guitar, banjo, or the saxophone, which added more flavour to it.
Who are some famous people that played kwela?
In 1958 the kwela song “Tom Hark” as played by Elias & His Zig Zag Jive Flutes achieved international success. During the 1960s the Malawi musicians Donald and Daniel Kachamba became prominent. Other noted kwela flute players were “Big Voice” Jack Lerole, “Sparks” Nyembe, Jerry Mlotshwa, and Abia Themba.