Miss Tadey’s Musical Tour of South Africa

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I think music is one of the most important forms of expression ever. In all of my travels and research, music figures heavily and I make a point to find musical experiences wherever I go. As a musician, I can’t help but listen to and analyze the chord structures, intervallic tendencies and cadences of music that are typical for any locale. I marvel at the differences in instrumentation and vocal qualities to be found in foreign lands. Of course, the similarities are often surprising as well.

When we were in Krakow, I enjoyed a jazz club with our TD, Michael. Jazz is a very American style of music that can be heard in many other countries, South Africa included, but is often embellished with localized stylings. In Japan, TAP attended a fantastic Bunraku performance.  Like many other theater productions, live musicians provided a soundtrack to augment the onstage action. However, the sounds we heard were unlike any other I had experienced in theater and helped make the performance, for me at least, a quintessentially Japanese experience.

To prepare for any travel, whether it is with TAP or not, I create a playlist to help get my mind ready for the new experiences I will encounter.  Some pieces I choose because they are local favorites. Others I include because they remind me of previous experiences with travel or the culture I will be exploring. And sometimes, I pick music just because it is fun and exciting for me. Here are a few of my favorites from my South Africa playlist.

Isicathamiya

My playlist starts with Isicathamiya, because this is the music I most often associate with South Africa. One of my favorite songs to sing when I was younger was Shosholoza, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo did a great version of this song at a Chicago venue in 2012. The music starts 1:50

 

Of course, Paul Simon’s album, Graceland, features many excellent examples of Ladysmith doing what they do best. The following is a fun version of Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes.  It gives you a chance to see the choreography that typical of Isicathamiya groups and also gives a nice tasting of some of the instrument sounds that can be heard in South African music similar to Zydeco.

 

Before I leave this fantastic ensemble, I want to share one more track from Graceland. The song Homeless is one of my favorites and really highlights the reason Paul Simon chose to work with Ladysmith. This video and the words of the song refer to the inequalities and poor living conditions of black South Africans. It was, for many American citizens, the first view of the shantytowns that surrounded the cities of South Africa. If you remember from our discussion, Simon broke through the ban on SA and made many members of the music community very angry. In his mind, he was bringing the troubles of the country to light. Do you agree?

Shiyani Ngcobo- Izinyembezi

Shiyani Ngcobo was born in KwaZulu-Natal and taught a fantastic style of guitar playing called Maskanda at the music school in Durban.  Both of his parents were Zulu and his music often uses traditional folk tunes and tells stories of modern day life for the Zulu people. I like his music because even though I don’t understand the lyrics, his singing sounds very conversational to me.

 

Dave Matthews Band with Hugh Masekela- Proudest Monkey

Dave Matthews is probably one of the most commonly recognized South African musicians in our country. Born in Johannesburg, Matthews’ family moved to New York when he was 2, but returned to Jo’Burg in 1977 after his father’s death.  He attended college in SA but returned to the states upon graduation to avoid conscription into the South African army.  This performance of  Proudest Monkey features an excellent South African trumpeter, Hugh Masekela on the flugelhorn. Masekela has been instrumental (no pun intended) in the South African jazz movement. This song is quite long due to DMB propensity to ‘jam out’ but Masekela makes a wonderful entrance at about 3 minutes in. You don’t really get to hear him play though until 8 minutes have passed. Feel free to scroll forward through the beginning of the video to hear at least the last two minutes of this song.

 

Sixto Rodriguez- Sugar Man

Sixto Rodriguez is an American artist who lives in Detroit. I am including him in my playlist because of a documentary I watched called Searching for Sugar Man.  Long story short, Rodriguez never gained much fame in the US but his music was widely popular in South Africa during Apartheid. In fact, his music because the anthem for many of South Africa’s people. I think it is amazing that the music was written to protest the poverty of Detroit but the message resonated so strongly with people on the other side of the world.  If you get a chance, find the documentary and watch it. There is a great surprise ending. I might have sobbed like a baby when I watched it. Happy tears, of course.

Kwaito

It might come as a surprise to some you but I am not a morning person. There are few things I enjoy more than sleeping in, snuggled under the covers and as a result, I always need some motivation to get me going in the morning. For the past couple of months, I have been using Kwaito to get me going.

As you know, Kwaito is South African house music. It is very similar to house music here in the states, (same instruments, synthesizers, lyric topics, repetition) but it generally uses much slower tempos. Kwaito has been a pretty perfect soundtrack for my mornings. Here are a few of my favorites.

Kabelo Mabalane- Matimba

Mabalane is a very popular Kwaito artist with his own record label. He has even served as a judge on South Africa’s Got Talent! I like the song Matimba because it has a Latin feel with the horn section and rhythmic signatures.

 

Thebe- Bulaboot

This song is apparently old school Kwaito from the early 2000s. I don’t really have any idea what the lyrics are trying to say but I do love bopping around my house in the morning sing ‘bulaboot’ over and over and over again. I think this is a celebratory song but from the video, I’m not so sure. Maybe he is happy that even though his car broke down, the stereo still works so he can have a dance party with all of his friends who just happen to be there? What do you think?

 

DJ Ganyani feat FB- Xigubu

DJ Ganyani has been making music for 20 years but until recently no one knew what he looked like. It’s not because no one heard his music, on the contrary his grooves have received heavy rotation. DJ Ganyani has shied away from public life and focused on his music. He has his own recording studio in Soweto and enjoys his anonymity. Recently however, he has started making videos and is becoming a recognizable face. This song, Xigubu, is sung in his native tongue of Tsonga and means “big drum.” I am drawn to this song because of the female vocalist, FB.

Kwaito is a male dominated genre and I enjoy the addition of the female voice.  However, I like every song of DJ Ganyani’s that I have heard. Another good one is Be There.

 

Vusi Mahlasela- Basimanyana

We’ve already discussed Vusi Mahlasela during our music presentation but I would be remiss if I didn’t include him in our online discussion as well. We listened to a track called Ubuhle Bomhlaba in which Vusi sang about the beauty of his country. This is an easy way to approach our travels to South Africa. I know we will see the natural splendor of this country while we are on safari, or as we view Cape Town from the top of Table Rock. However, for this post I chose Basimanyana.  This song is about ‘the wisdom of forgiveness and understanding’ and obviously speaks to an important message. Vusi undoubtedly intended his words to relate back to the injustice of South African Apartheid and the need for forgiveness and understanding from both sides of the political coin.

 

I hope this message can serve as a reminder for us that we are traveling as guests in this country and that we will strive to understand the unique cultures we encounter. Travel should change us.  Last year, when TAP toured Europe we observed the effects of the Holocaust from both sides. That trip taught me the power and importance of forgiveness and understanding. I hope this trip will again allow us to observe these two important skills in action.

It isn’t hard to look at my list and notice some serious holes.  Where is the Marabi or pennywhistle jive? What about South African Jazz or bubblegum? I didn’t even mention Miriam Makeba, or the Soweto Gospel Choir, or Johnny Clegg, or Brenda Fassie or……..  This is your chance. I am asking each TAP travelor to find three songs that are helping you get ready for our grand South African adventure.

Choose wisely, because you may hear your songs again. Each year, with the technical skills of Mr. Doerr, TAP produces daily videos of our travels. Your musical choices for this assignment may become our daily soundtrack. Be sure to include your rationale for each song choice and, if possible, include a video or audio link so we can hear your choices. Maybe you will hear a Vusi Mahlesela song that makes your heart sing or you already love the song Wavin’ Flag and it makes you think of Cape Town.  Maybe you will discover an artist that no one else knows about. Surprise us.

Share your favorite South African music in the comments section below.