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 Southern Africa page
Links:
Music.org.za The core of this site is the reference biografies of South African artists. Nice! There is also a interesting News + events + tours department. Description: African Jazz, Hip Hop, Kwaito, Reggea and more... THE African music site from the south... |
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Angola
Map of Angola |
Population: 10 million
Capital: Luanda
Offisial language: Portugese
Major ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%,
mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%
Background: Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence
from Portugal in 11035. A 1994 peace accord between the government and
the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided
for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government and
armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April of 19103,
but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering hundreds of thousands
of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in fighting
over the past quarter century.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profile: Angola
Angola are the land of the Semba, a music style similar to the Brazilian Samba. Angolans claim the orrigins for this style. We wount jugde in this dispute, but it is a fact that the word semba means "navel", and that the samba dancers have circulating navels when they dance.
Artists from Angola:
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Botswana
Map of Botswana |
Population: 1,5 million
Capital: Gaborone
Offisial language: English
Major ethnic groups: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi
4%
Background: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland,
Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, closely
tied to South Africa's, is dominated by cattle raising and mining.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profile: Botswana
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Comoros |
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Population: 600.000
Capital: Moroni
Offisial language: Arabic, French
Major ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Background: Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted
coups since gaining independence from France in 11035. In 19103, the islands
of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. A subsequent
attempt by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands
by force failed, and presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering
negotiations to effect a reconciliation.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Comoros
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Lesotho
Map of Lesotho |
Population: 2 million
Capital: Maseru
Official language: English
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%
Background: Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon
independence from the UK in 1966. Constitutional government was restored
in 1993 after 23 years of military rule.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Lesotho
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Madagascar
Map of Madagacar |
Population: 15,5 million
Capital: Antananarivo
Offisial language: French, Malagasy
Major ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),
Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Background: Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became
a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During
1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending
17 years of single-party rule.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Madagascar
Madagascar is an enormous island outside Mozambique. It's earliest inhabitants came from islands in the Pacific Ocean. But the people of today are a complex mix of different races. Malagasy is united by a national language, but the distances and lack of communications separates the people from different regions. And out of this comes different music styles. At the northwestern coast there is Watcha Watcha an electric dance band style, and in the south there is tsapika.
One interesting phenomena in the Malagasy culture is their respect for their ancestors. The Malagasy puts a lot of energy and resources into their tombs. And they even re-bury the dead in a ceremony named famadihana. A famadihana involves the whole village, and the remains are often carried around so they can se what's happened since they died. Then they get new warm clothes before they are re-buried.
Artists from Malagasy:
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Malawi
Map of Malawi |
Population: 10 million
Capital: Lilongwe
Offisial language: English, Chichewa
Major ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena,
Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Background: Established in 1891, the British protectorate of
Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three
decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994
under a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following
year.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Malawi
Malawi was an apharteid state until election in 1994. It was a hard regime in other way to, visiting men where asked to shave of the beard, and women could not use short skirts. This is changed, but it's still a poor country. There's almost no music industry, and that may be the reason why the traditions are still strong.
From the 40s till early in the 60s there where a lot of guitar and banjo duos playing dance music. The banjo was the lead instrument. Later a lot of "jazz bands" popped up. This wasn't jazz in the western way, it was based in rural traditions with acoustic instruments. Electric instruments turned up and changed the urban music in the 60s and 70s into a new style named afroma. Later a local form of the congolese soucous came, in Malawi they called it kwasa kwasa. Local gospel music has also a major part in the Malawi music life.
Artist from Malawi:
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Mauritius
Map of Mauritius |
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Population: 1 million
Capital: Port Louis
Official language: English
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian
3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Background: Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was
subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence
was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and
a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable
foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.
Recent protests over standards of living in the Creole community have slowed
economic growth.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Mauritius
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Mayotte(territorial collectivity of France)
Map of Mayotte |
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
Population: 150.000
Capital: Mamoutzou
Official language: French, spoken by 35% of the population
Ethnic groups:
Background: Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other
Comoros in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in
11034 to retain its link with France and forgo independence.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
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Mozambique
Map of Mozambique |
Population: 19 million
Capital: Maputo
Offisial language: Portuguese
Major ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan,
Chokwe,
Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others)
Background: Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came
to a close with independence in 11035. Large-scale emigration by whites,
economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged
civil war hindered the country's development. The ruling party formally
abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided
for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace
agreement with rebel forces ended the fighting in 1992.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Mozambique
Mozambique was a Portuguese colony from 1498 to 11035. The apharteid regime in South Africa supported rebels with guns and money. This led to civil war. It hasn't been possible to hold a real democratic election until 1994.
Bands in Mozambique played european style music before independence. After independence there was a shift in music. Musicians started looking back to their musical roots. They improvised instruments, and looked for inspiration in the nabour countries. In 11038 The ministry of health and education arranged a "National Dance Festival", with 500.000 people. In 1980 there where "festival of traditional music", things happened fast.
In the urban parts of Mozambique the big thing is the marrabenta style. Rhythms are pretty similar to latin rhythms like salsa and calypso. It is played at local imitations of the original instruments. Lyrics are often social criticism, love songs or praise songs. Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Mocambique are perhaps the most important exponent of this style today.
Artists from Mozambique:
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Namibia
Map of Namibia |
Population: 1,5 million
Capital: Windhoek
Offisial Language: English 6% (Afrikaans common language )
Major ethnic groups: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5% note:
about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos
tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian
4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%,
Background: South Africa occupied the German colony of Sud-West
Afrika during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after
World War II when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West
Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of
independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until
1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with
a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Namibia
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Reunion(overseas department of France)
No map |
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Population: 700.000
Capital: Saint-Denis
Official language: French
Ethnic groups: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani,
Indian
Background: The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island
in 1513. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration supplemented
by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians gave the
island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the island
its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
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South Africa
Map of South Africa |
Population: 45 million
Capital: Pretoria
Offisial language: Afrikaans, English and nine others
Major ethnic groups: Zulu,
Xhosa, Sesetho, Tswana and Afrikaaners (black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored
8.6%, Indian 2.6% )
Background: After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area
in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found
their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred
wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants.
The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer
War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy
of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought
an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: South Africa
The vocals of mbaqanga picked up elements from the rural parts of the country and the townships, using polyphonic five vocal parts instead if four vocal parts. This is the bases of the main South African vocal sound. Another characteristic mbaqanga style is the groaning bass vocals, a very heavy, almost primal, way of singing. These male voices is contrasted with light female voices. "Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens" made this style (later called Mqashiyo) famous.
Theres also strong a cappela traditions in SA. Zulus and other ethnic groups where forced to seek work in the diamond mines and factories. The male workers developed a a cappela dance music style named Mdube. "Solomon Linda's Original Evening Birds" led this direction in the 40s. Mdube means "bombing" in Zulu, and refers to the way the lead singer dives through the choruses. The dance style of this music is a very silent tiptoe dance. The reason for this is that the dance should not disturb the security guards at the worker hostels. Another name for this style is Iscathamiya, meaning something like "walk on their toes". "Ladysmith Black Mambazo" is maybe the most important exponent of this style today.
Artists from South Africa, some with local links:
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Swaziland
Map of Swaziland |
Population: 1 million
Capital: Mbabane
note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
Official language: English (government business conducted in
English), siSwati
Ethnic groups: African 103%, European 3%
Background: Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed
by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968.
Student and labor unrest during the 1990s have pressured the monarchy (one
of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and
greater democracy.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Swaziland
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Zambia
Map of Zambia |
Population: 9,5 million
Capital: Lusaka
Offisial language: English
Major ethnic groups: Barotse, Tonga, Ila, Lozi, Bemba, Nyanja
and Makishi
Background: The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered
by the South Africa Company from 1891 until takeover by the UK in 1923.
During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and
immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964.
In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought
hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but
the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Zambia
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Zimbabwe
Map of Zimbabwe |
Population: 11 million
Capital: Harare
Offisial language: English
Major ethnic groups: African 98%: - Shona
71%, Ndebele (clocely related to Zulu)
16%, other (including Xsosa) 11%
Background: The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa
Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated to keep whites in power.
In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the
UK did not recognize the act and demanded voting rights for the black African
majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla
uprising finally led to free elections in 11039 and independence (as Zimbabwe)
in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the
country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's
political system since independence.
(Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Zimbabwe
The ruins city from the 7th century in Zimbabwe is a very good example of the advanced cultures of historic Africa. And an example of the extreme ignorance from the European historians. European historians has until now claimed these ruins to be of European origins. They couldn't understand that the local people had the technology and the political power to build these buildings.
Zimbabwe experiences rough times after independence in 1980, with hostilities within the two main ethnic groups shona and Ndebele (clocely related to Zulu), a corrupt government and AIDS.
Chimurenga means struggle, Thomas Mapfumo is the inventor of this style. Chimurenga and mbira had a significant role in the freedom fighting against the white Rhodesian people in the 70s. The fact that Mapfumo was arrested says a lot.
The other main Zimbabwean style is jit. Originally a drumming and singing style in Shona villages. Now a electric pop style with elements from rumba, jive and local music. Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles (originally from Zaire) is a good example of this music.
Simon "Chopper" Chimbetu, Leonard Karikoga Zvakata and others play their own local variant of the Congolese rumba, a Rumba-Rumbira.
The southern parts of Zimbabwe, Matabeleland is the land of the ethnic group Ndelbele. Music from this area is more South African than music from the northern parts of Zimbabwe.
Artists from Zimbabwe: