The Good, The Bad and The Legacy of Kwaito
Madimabe G. Mapaya 
& Thulani G. Zulu
Issue: Vol.5 No.15 Special Issue Article 7 pp.81-90
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245157 | Published online 30th December, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This article investigates kwaito music’s role in revitalising South African youth. Kwaito is more than a music genre; it is a cultural movement reflecting the experiences, aspirations, and challenges of youth in ekasi (South African townships). With the genre’s decline in popularity after 30 years of prosperity, it is crucial to explore, analyse, and document its positive and negative histories, particularly its legacy. The enlisted exploratory methodology involved content analysis of scholarly articles, books, and online data, including YouTube interviews and documentaries about kwaito. Data collection also included interviews with key South African music industry figures such as former record executives and musicians. While scholars examine kwaito from various disciplinary perspectives, key figures in the kwaito community feel their contributions are still under-represented. This highlights a gap between academic and journalistic accounts and the personal experiences of those deeply involved in the kwaito culture. This article concludes that kwaito significantly influences black youth by promoting self-expression, community cohesion, entrepreneurial enterprise, and introducing new role models. It emphasises kwaito‘s impact on South African culture and music, contributing substantially to the discourse of African musicology.
Keywords: Kwaito, Kasi, South Africa, Cultural Phenomenon, Methodology, Music Scholarship, Socio-Political Context.
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Professor Madimabe Geoff Mapaya is an African Musicologist at the University of Venda, South Africa. His research focuses on African musical traditions, with a particular emphasis on Southern African oral traditions. His work aims to preserve, promote, and critically examine the intersections of music, culture, and identity within Indigenous Knowledge Systems. A prolific scholar and advocate for decolonised education, Professor Mapaya has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. He straddles academy and performance community work to enhance understanding of Africa’s diverse sonic heritage.
Dr. Thulani Zulu, a Music Educator at the University of Venda, teaches music theory and history. As the Music Section Coordinator, he promotes the performing arts through community engagement. Dr. Zulu is dedicated to preserving and advancing African musical heritage, combining academic excellence with cultural advocacy. His work connects university scholarship with local communities thereby fostering appreciation for the performing arts and empowering emerging talents. Dr. Zulu champions music’s transformative societal power as an academic and leader.
Mapaya, Madimabe G., and Thulani G. Zulu. “The Good, The Bad and The Legacy of Kwaito,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.15 (2024):81-90. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245157
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
