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The best known Kwassa-Kwassa/Soukous artist is Kanda Bongo Man .
3. Folk Song
Folk song is communicated orally from one generation to the next. It is not composed. Its main aim is to entertain and usually a story is portrayed. Dancing is often involved.
Characteristic is the simplicity and sincerity of the song which portrays national sentiments, nature, love etc.
Folk music differs from country to country and even region to region.
During the Romantic period in music there was a strong nationalistic sentiment amongst composers and the tendency to use folk songs in Classical compositions. Nowadays a popular tendency, especially among Afrikaans artists, is to present old Afrikaans folk songs in a completely new way.
Examples of folk songs from other parts of the world:
Skip to my Lou (American)
Spring Song , The gay Musician (German)
Early one Morning (English)
(“Sing Together!” – 100 Songs for Unison Singing)
Examples of "transformed" Afrikaans folksongs:
NB: Not all the lyrics are suitable for use in class!
Al lê die berge nog so blou – Johannes Kerkorrel
Suikerbossie – Stef Bos
Ou ryperd – Dozi
Aai-aai – Laurika Rauch
Hasie – Koos Kombuis
O Brandewyn laat my staan – Lucas Maree
Wat maak oom Kallie daar / Perdeby – Jacques de Coning
Bokkie – Lieze Stassen
Liewe maan – Amanda Strydom
Roelandstraat – Zoon Stander
Afrikaners is plesierig – Karen Zoïd
4. Musicals
Musicals are written for entertainment. It is a spectacular stage production, which is presented live and includes dancing, music, decor, costumes and spoken dialogue. Musicals originated in America (Broadway) and flourished during the first half of the 20th Century. Today musicals are often filmed.
Examples of musicals: West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein)
Wizard of Oz
Sound of Music
Fiddler on the Roof
The King and I
My Fair Lady
More contemporary musicals are Grease and Andrew Lloyd Webber's
Phantom of the Opera
Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolour Dreamcoat.
Discuss the different styles using music or videos. Any examples of the specific styles may be used. The learners research and collect examples on THREE styles. This information can be in the form of pictures, newspaper clippings, CD covers etc. and are pasted into the learner journals.
Learners listen to the music (or video) again and complete the given table by choosing the most suitable description from each group.
1. Example of Kwaito
Type of Voice | Pitch | Use | Style |
Male voice | High | Dance | Africa |
Female voice | Low | Listening | South Africa |
Mixed choir | High and low | Worshipping | Classical |
Children's voices | Middle | Singing together | Popular |
None of the above | Similar to speech | None of the above | None of the above |
2. Example of Soukous / Kwassa-Kwassa
Type of Voice | Pitch | Use | Style |
Male voice | High | Dance | Africa |
Female voice | Low | Listening | South Africa |
Mixed choir | High and low | Worshipping | Classical |
Children's voices | Middle | Singing together | Popular |
None of the above | Similar to speech | None of the above | None of the above |
3. Example of Folk tunes/melodies
Type of Voice | Pitch | Use | Style |
Male voice | High | Dance | Africa |
Female voice | Low | Listening | South Africa |
Mixed choir | High and low | Worshipping | Classical |
Children's voices | Middle | Singing together | Popular |
None of the above | Similar to speech | None of the above | None of the above |
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