South African Kwaito vs. American Hip Hop


 * Chicago house major influence
 * Many people believe that the rise and culture of Kwaito, compared to American Hip Hop is very similar
 * 2001 that kwaito artists and music have found their way to Europe and the United States
 * Can Kwaito—a genre that is largely influenced by music from the United States be considered a distinctly South African music genre?
 * Similar sexual objectification of females
 * African-Americans and black South Africans both have a similar history of oppression by the whites
 * What makes it unique and truly South African is the fact that Kwaito is a response to the political, social and economic transition South Africa undertook since 1990
 * Like rap in America, kwaito is criticized for its typically macho and thug-like posture, and its sound, which is crude compared to the jubilant but amorphous brand of world music
 * In most cases compared to Rap, Kwaito has a slower tempo and has more of a dance-like beat

Our Reasonings
Kwaito recordings have more in common with live Hip-hop performances in that they have a danceable beat often spun by in-house DJs. The similarities between the two music styles (musically, if not lyrically) have presented an obstacle for the rise of Kwaito as its own musical genre independent of American Hip-hop. In this lesson we will explore the differences between the two styles and the social significance of Kwaito lyrics as a descendant of Toyi Toyi chants and early South African protest songs.