Reggae Music in South Africa: A Brief History

Reggae music has a long and storied history in South Africa, dating back to the days of apartheid. While the genre has been popular among black South Africans for decades, it has only recently begun to gain mainstream traction in the country. In this blog post, we’ll take a brief look at the history of reggae in South Africa, from its roots in the struggle against apartheid to its current place in the South African music scene.

The Origins of Reggae in Jamaica

Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The word “reggae” is derived from the word “streggae”, which is a Jamaican patois word for “raggedy”. Reggae music is a form of ska and rocksteady. It is characterized by a 4/4 time signature, offbeat rhythms, and a strong bass.

Ska

While mento was the dominant form of Jamaican popular music in the 1950s, a new style was emerging that would later come to be known as ska. Ska was a response to the slower, more danceable sound of mento, and it quickly gained popularity among Jamaica’s working class youth. The ska sound was characterized by a strong backbeat and fast tempo, and it often featured horns and trombones playing in a “syncopated” style.

In the early 1960s, ska became the dominant form of Jamaican popular music, thanks in part to the rise of radio stations like JBC (Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation) and RJR (Radio Jamaica Limited). Ska soon spread beyond Jamaica’s shores, becoming popular in Britain and other parts of the world.

In 1964, a new style of ska emerged that would come to be known as rocksteady. Rocksteady was slower and more soulful than ska, and it soon replaced ska as Jamaica’s dominant musical genre. Rocksteady remainedpopular throughout the late 1960s, before giving way to another new style: reggae.

Rocksteady

The sounds of rocksteady were a direct development from ska and previous Jamaican R&B. Reggae historian Steve Barrow described it as “the natural progression from the ska burn-up to the slow Vaughn Benjamin-style meditations”. It was characterised by a slower beat than ska, and a focus on bass and rhythm guitar. The effect was an often mellower sound than ska, with less emphasis on horns and more on singing.

As rocksteady developed, both in Kingston and inJa central JA, the role of the dominant lead singer declined. More emphasis was placed on harmonies, with singingDone by groups such as The Paragons, The Techniques, The Gaylads and The Ethiopians. These groups were sometimes known as “soul groups”. Instrumentals became more common, especially those featuring the new rocksteady sound of the electric bass guitar. Organisations such as Coxsone Dodd’s label Studio One and Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle promoted this new sound.

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word “rumba”, which was used to describe a Jamaican style of dance music that was popular in the 1950s. Reggae is a rhythmically based music with a strong focus on percussion and bass. The most common instruments used in reggae are drums, guitars, bass, and keyboards. Reggae typically has a slow tempo and is known for its relaxed, laid-back feel.

The origins of reggae can be traced back to the ska and rocksteady styles of Jamaican music that developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Ska is a fast-paced, upbeat style of music that was popularized by Jamaican musicians such as James Brown and The Wailers. Rocksteady is a slower, more laid-back style of ska that developed in the late 1960s. Reggae emerged from rocksteady in the early 1970s and quickly gained popularity in Jamaica.

Reggae soon spread to other countries, including the UK, Canada, and the United States. In the 1980s, reggae experienced a resurgence in popularity due to the popularity of artists such as Bob Marley and Ziggy Marley. Reggae has continued to evolve over the years and has been influenced by other genres such as hip hop, dancehall, and dubstep.

Reggae in South Africa

Reggae music has been a part of South African culture since the 1970s. The genre has its roots in Jamaican music, but it has been adapted and influenced by South African artists over the years. Reggae music is often associated with the Rastafarian movement, but it is also enjoyed by people of all cultures and religions.

The First Wave of Reggae in South Africa

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new style of music called reggae began to emerge from Jamaica. Reggae is a style of popular music that combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. The music is characterized by a strong backbeat, chords played on the offbeat, and often, political or social lyrics.

Reggae quickly became popular in Jamaica, and soon spread to other parts of the world, including the UK and the US. In South Africa, the first wave of reggae was introduced by black soldiers who were stationed in Jamaica during the Second World War. These soldiers brought back records and tapes of reggae music, which they shared with friends and family.

As reggae began to gain popularity, a number of South African musicians began to experiment with the style. One of the most popular early adopters was Blondie Makhene, who recorded the first South African reggae album, Reggae on Safari, in 1974. Makhene’s album featured covers of well-known Jamaican songs as well as original material.

Reggae continued to grow in popularity in South Africa throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1982, another landmark album was released: Lucky Dube’s Victim ENTIRE ALBUM NAME WAS RELEASED IN 1982!. This album featured a mix of reggae, ska, rocksteady, and traditional African sounds, and showcased Dube’s powerful vocal delivery. It remains one of the best-selling albums in South African history.

The Second Wave of Reggae in South Africa

In the early 1980s, a new wave of reggae artists emerged in South Africa. These artists were influenced by the British punk and new wave scene, as well as the Jamaican lovers rock style of reggae. Artists such as Hotline, Aswad, and Rebel MC (later known as Linkin Park) helped to popularize reggae in South Africa.

The Third Wave of Reggae in South Africa

The Third Wave of Reggae in South Africa can be traced back to the early 1990s, when a new generation of artists began to experiment with the genre, infusing it with elements of hip hop, dancehall, and other styles. This new wave of reggae artists found widespread success in the 2000s, with several groups achieving commercial and critical acclaim.

Since the 2010s, reggae music in South Africa has continued to evolve, with artists experimenting with different sounds and styles. Reggae remains one of the most popular genres in the country, thanks to its positive message and infectious rhythms.

The Future of Reggae in South Africa

South Africa has a long and rich history with Reggae music. The first recordings of Reggae in South Africa were made in the early 1970s, and the genre has been popular ever since. Reggae has been a major influence on South African music, and it has also been used as a tool for political and social change. The future of Reggae in South Africa is bright, and the genre is only going to continue to grow in popularity.

The Fourth Wave of Reggae in South Africa

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a new generation of South African reggae artists emerged, inspired by the Third Wave but also influenced by other genres like hip hop and kwaito. This is sometimes referred to as the Fourth Wave of reggae in South Africa.

Fourth Wave artists like Tumi and the Volume, The Soil, andJimmy Dludlu fused reggae with other genres to create a unique South African sound. Their music is often more political than that of previous generations of reggae artists, reflecting the changing social landscape of South Africa in the post-apartheid era.

While Fourth Wave artists have been successful in South Africa, they have yet to achieve the same level of international acclaim as their Third Wave predecessors. However, with the continued growth of the South African music industry, it is likely that we will see more Fourth Wave artists breaking into the global market in the years to come.