Maskandi

rdf:langString Maskandi

rdf:langString Maskandi

rdf:langString Maskandi

rdf:langString Maskandi is a kind of Zulu folk music that is evolving with South African society. It has been described it as "The music played by the man on the move, the modern minstrel, today’s troubadour. It is the music of the man walking the long miles to court a bride, or to meet with his Chief; a means of transport. It is the music of the man who sings of his real life experiences, his daily joys and sorrows, his observations of the world. It’s the music of the man who’s got the Zulu blues." Nowadays this is untrue in as much as it is no longer just the domain of men. African women - notably Busi Mhlongo, and in more recent times Dr. Buselaphi Gxowa, Osukasambe, Imithente, Izingane Zoma and Lungi Ngcobo, daughter of the late Shiyani Ngcobo - are also making Maskandi music. The style music is largely popular and mostly consumed in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, given its rich Zulu heritage and significance to the Zulu people. Maskandi is the second top selling genre in South Africa, after Gospel music.Although the genre has been in existence for many years, after the 90's there seemed to be no real interest shown in the music by youths and young musicians. This was due to the large influences of western and pop culture, which led to most young musicians to choose to pursue western genres of music such as Hip-Hop, Pop and RnB. This led to the problem of having very few young Maskandi musicians to carry the genre forward, putting the future of the genre at risk. In recent years more evolved Maskandi acts have emerged including quite notably the likes of Mbuzeni Mkhize, Imfezi Emnyama, Igcokama Elisha King Duyaza, Mjikjelwa Ngubane (Late) Amageza Amahle, the late Khulekanikwakhe (Umgqumeni) Mseleku ka Khumalo (who can be said to be the father of the Maskandi as most of the artists who sing the music today follow his style of singing, with long recitations of his achievements and trials in life-known as izibongo), Khuzani Mpungose, Mdumazi Mhlongo, Dlubheke and others, who have taken up the role of youth activists for the genre. Such "newer" acts have dedicated themselves to the preservation and appreciation of Maskandi music, as well as traditional forms of music as a whole. Many of these newer Maskandi musicians advocate for youth and future generations to learn from and co-innovate with their more experienced counterparts, in order to ensure the secrets and intricate nuances of Maskandi are properly and correctly preserved for future generations. Between the '60s and early '90s Maskandi acts Izingane Zoma, Bhekumuzi Luthuli and Mfaz'Omnyama contributed to exposing Maskandi to the international market.