Summary

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.

Influences
HistoryAs a reaction to the oppressive conditions of the time, Marabi music emerged in the 1920s. It was influenced by a variety of sources, including traditional African musical elements, American jazz, ragtime, and blues brought to South Africa by traveling musicians and recordings. The genre arose in Johannesburg and other major cities' urban townships, where a large number of black South Africans lived due to segregationist policies that limited their movement and opportunities.
Elements 
Form and Style

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.

Singing Style

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.

Theme

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.

Culture

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.

Timbre

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.

Arrangement

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.