Explore Mbube on Josplay Music Mbube music features powerful vocal harmonies, with groups singing in rhythmic unison. This structure creates intricate layers and textures, blending dynamic basslines with high-pitched melodies.
A South African acapella music genre, characterized by loud and powerful capella four-part harmony. The genre is performed by male groups, and gained international recognition thanks to Solomon Linda, who created both the genre and its namesake song, "Mbube."
Spin-Offs: Isicathamiya
Mbube’s origins trace back to the 1920s in the Natal region, where migrant workers from rural areas sought jobs in mines and factories. These workers brought their cultural heritage, forming vocal groups to pass time and preserve a sense of community.
Solomon Linda, a pivotal figure in the genre, started performing with his group, the Evening Birds, and in 1939, they recorded the song "Mbube" for Gallo Records. The song became a massive hit, popularizing the genre and inspiring many other musicians. However, Linda did not initially receive credit or financial compensation when Western versions of the song, such as "Wimoweh" by The Weavers and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens, gained fame abroad.
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, the mbube tradition evolved into isicathamiya, a softer, more refined vocal style led by groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Mbube's singing style emphasizes powerful, unaccompanied a cappella harmonies. Groups alternate between bass line and soaring lead melodies, often employing call-and-response patterns to create dynamic vocal interplay and rhythmic intensity.
Mbube music draws cultural influence primarily from Zulu musical traditions.