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Music of South Africa
Isicathamiya and Mbaqanga from South Africa, Chimurenga mbira music of Zimbabwe, Malagasy valiha, Mozambican marrabenta and timbila.
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A brief history
Pre-20th-century history
Early records of music in South Africa as well as Southern Africa indicate a fusion of cultural traditions: African, European and Asian. The early modern country musician Enoch Sontonga wrote the Southern African national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika in 1897. By the end of the nineteenth century, South African cities such as Cape Town had grown large enough to attract foreign musicians, particularly American ragtime players. In the 1890s Orpheus McAdoo's Jubilee Singers popularised African-American spirituals. Makwaya (meaning "choir") blended European hymnody with African-American spirituals and emphasized close harmony singing.
Popular music
Bantu Radio and the music industry
By the 1950s, the music industry had diversified greatly and included several major labels. Innovative musician and composer Charles Segal was the first white musician to work with indigenous African peoples, recording tribal performers and promoting African music overseas beginning in the 1950s. Charles Segal was also the first white musician to write in the indigenous African style and to bring the African music genre into the commercial market. His single "Africa" was a hit among South Africa's diverse population in the 1960s, and he continued to produce, record, and teach his distinctive style of African music, a blend of African and Jazz influences. These compositions include "Opus Africa", "African Fantasy", "Kootanda", and many more. In 1962, the South African government launched a development programme for Bantu Radio to foster separate development and encourage independence for the Bantustans.
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Radio from South Africa
Music only, no news or talk. Stations that play the local tradition come first, then the most listened. They play in the corner of the page.
Station directory by Radio Browser Streams come from each station's own server.