Kwaito is a style of music that developed in the 1990s in the townships of South Africa and quickly became popular with young people. Townships were areas set aside for black people under apartheid. The word kwaito comes from the Afrikaans word kwaai, which means “angry,” but is also slang for “great.”
Kwaito is a mixture of several styles of popular music. It combines South African musical styles with the fast beats and electronic sounds of house music. It also has elements of disco music, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, reggae, and jazz. South African singers like Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, and Chicco Twala influenced the kwaito sound as well.
Like American hip-hop, kwaito is not just a style of music. It is also a lifestyle. Kwaito artists sing about life in the townships. They sing in a mixture of English, Zulu, Sesotho, and Isicamtho. Isicamtho is a slang language spoken in the townships.
Arthur Mafokate is one of the most famous kwaito artists in South Africa. He is also a music producer. Other well-known kwaito artists include Mandoza, Brown Dash, Unathi, and Mahoota. Bongo Maffin, Mafikizolo, and Malaika are popular kwaito groups.