Kwela

Origin#

The most common explanation for the word “kwela” is that it is taken from the Zulu for “climb”, though in township slang it also referred to police vans, the “kwela-kwela”. Thus, it could be an invitation to join the dance, as well as serving as a warning. It is said that the young men who played the pennywhistle on street corners also acted as lookouts to warn those enjoying themselves in the shebeens of the arrival of the police. White people, unaware of its meaning, then thought that it referred to the music when they heard people shouting “Here comes the kwela, kwela!” warning of the police’s presence. Kwela music was influenced by blending the music of Malawian immigrants to South Africa with the local South African sounds. In Chichewa, “kwela” has a similar meaning to the South African one: “to climb”. The music was popularised in South Africa and then brought to Malawi, where contemporary Malawian artists have also begun producing kwela music. others maintain that there is no specific kwela chord progression, or that I-IV-V-I and I-I-IV-V are particularly prevalent.

Artists#

Artists such as Lemmy Mabaso were renowned for their pennywhistle skills, and Spokes Mashiyane was one of the most prominent with his kwela pennywhistle tunes. Other artists include The Skylarks, Jack Lerole, Aaron Lerole, The Solven Whistlers, Kippie Moeketsi, Donald Kachamba from Malawi and Gwigwi Mrwebe.

Further reading#

• Pennywhistle Kwela: a Musical, Historical and Sociopolitical Analysis. Lara V. Allen, MA (Natal-Durban). 1993.
• In Township Tonight! South Africa’s Black City Music & Theatre. 2nd edition. David B. Coplan, The University of Chicago Press. 2008. . pp. 190–99.

External links#

• Kwela at Last.fm
• The Kwela Project - website about playing kwela