Explore Marabi on Josplay Music Marabi music is distinguished by its lively and dynamic structure, which includes an intro, chorus, verses, instrumental solos, call and response, and an outro. The rhythms are syncopated, and the piano takes the lead, with soulful and emotive vocals influenced by blues. Marabi music usually includes a bass instrument, such as a double bass or electric bass guitar, which serves as a solid foundation for the music's rhythmic and harmonic elements.
Marabi music typically features a piano as the lead instrument, accompanied by percussion instruments such as drums, shakers, and a bass guitar. It is a fusion of traditional African rhythms and melodies with American jazz and ragtime music. The piano playing style in marabi is often characterized by a syncopated rhythm and the use of repetitive, hypnotic patterns.
Influenced By: JazzAfro House
Spin-Offs: Cape JazzKwela MusicMbaqanga
However, local musicians adapted these influences, mixing swing rhythms with African melodies to create a distinct sound that laid the groundwork for marabi.
In its early days, marabi was rarely recorded, partly due to its connections with illicit activities and its association with urban ghettos.
The genre was defined by repetitive, looping accompaniments, typically based on the chord progression I–IV–I6-4–V, over which musicians would improvise melodies. These melodies often borrowed from a variety of musical traditions, including folk, religious music, and dance tunes. The genre was highly flexible, allowing endless repetitions and variations, which made it perfect for extended performances. Musicians often played on electric organs or pianos, accompanied by improvised percussion instruments like cans filled with stones.
But unfortunately, no recordings exist from marabi’s early period, as it was an underground genre at the time.
Marabi became the soundtrack of shebeens, illegal taverns run by women known as “shebeen queens” (or Skokiaan queens, named after a potent homemade beer). These establishments were central to the marabi scene, hosting long, lively parties that revolved around alcohol sales. The music’s looping structure and improvisational nature made it well-suited for these all-night gatherings.
The name “marabi” comes from a distinctive keyboard style that echoed elements of American jazz. Over time, the genre evolved into a fusion of blues and African musical traditions, giving it a unique blend of African and jazz rhythms.
While it started in the early 20th century, marabi’s popularity grew after the 1930s, especially as radio broadcasts began to feature music for Black audiences. This exposure helped marabi, along with other township music styles, to gain widespread recognition.
Kwaito vocal performances are as varied as the genre itself. Kwaito artists captivate listeners with expressive and emotionally charged performances that range from mellow and soulful to upbeat and rhythmic. Kwaito allows artists to express themselves in both English and regional African languages, celebrating cultural diversity and individuality. Marabi singing has influenced the creation of many other musical genres.
Marabi music, which originated in South African townships during the apartheid era, served as a form of artistic expression and cultural resistance for oppressed and segregated black South Africans.
Marabi music is inextricably linked with South African urban township culture, particularly in the early twentieth century. Segregationist laws at the time barred black South Africans from entering certain public places or participating in many social activities. As a result, Marabi music evolved as a way for black South Africans to express themselves artistically and form communities around music and dance. It was also Influenced by American jazz, and also drew from South African folk traditions, and Afrikaans dance rhythms. It embodied a transatlantic musical dialogue, blending Western instruments and African influences, creating a locally rooted genre
The timbre of Marabi music is diverse, defined by the distinct sound qualities of the genre's instruments, which include the piano, bass guitar, percussion, and vocals.
The genre typically uses the chord progression I–IV–I6-4–V. The arrangement frequently revolves around the interaction of the instruments and vocalists, allowing for improvisation and musical dialogue, instrumental solos, syncopated variations with melo-percussive rhythms, and so on.