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Various Artists
Gumboot Guitar: Zulu Street Guitar Music From South Africa
(from Topic Records' World Series)
$16.99
Rootsy guitar from the streets of Durban. In the late 19th century, music previously played on Zulu musical bows was transferred in the new urban environment to the guitar and often concertina and violin too. Musicians often joined miners' gumboot dance teams to accompany this exhilarating genre, which mostly traditionally takes place on the streets of single-sex hostel compounds. These recordings from 1988 and 1996 feature musicians and gumboot players who live in one such hostel outside Durban.
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Listen:
Kam and kossetina (comb-guitar and concertina)
Gumboot 1993 (guitar, concertina, gumboot dancers)
Blanket's guitar solo
Ma wenobaba (guitar, vocal, concertina)
From the record label:
The guitar probably arrived in South Sfrica with Portuguese or Arab sailors back in the 16th century, but it only started to enter vernacular African traditions in the late 19th century. The discovery of gold and diamonds in South Africa at that time brought large numbers of African workers from all parts of the country - all looking for new forms of expression and relaxation. Music previously played on Zulu musical bows was transferred in the new urban environment to the guitar and often concertina and violin too. the music was called maskanda.
Musicians played for their own enjoyment, but they also joined miners' gumboot dance teams to accompany this exhilarating genre. Often lacking in formal performance areas, most of this music-making traditionally takes place on the streets of single-sex hostel compounds. These recordings from 1988 and 1996 feature musicians and gumboot players who live in one such hostel outside Durban.
Remarkable rootsy guitar from the streets of Durban. Recordings by Janet Topp Fargion & Albert Nene. Text by Janet Topp Fargion.
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