Tofo Tofo

The Dutch in 1652 then the British first colonized South Africa. The tension between the two caused racial segregation known as Apartheid. It continued for a number of decades until the South African government grew weak. President Frederick Willem De klerk announced the end of apartheid in 1990 and nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994.

The culture of South Africa is known for its ethic and cultural diversity. Out of 51.7 million South Africans, 4.1 are black, 4.5 million are white, 4.6 are coloured, and 1.3 million are Indian and Asian.

The music of the culture is just as diversified. Some genres include kwaito, which is township music, South African jazz, kwela, an offshoot of marabic music, and reggae, which South African got from the Caribbean but use African drum stands and convey a strong sense of emotion in the lyrics.

Today I will be telling you a little let about the genre of kwaito music. It emerged in Johannesburg in the 1990s. It’s known as house music because it contains Cathy melodic and percussive loop samples, deep bass lines and vocals. Kwaito is known as a form of self-expression and way of life. It is the way many South Africans dress, speak, and dance. It’s a street life style. It reflects life in townships.

According to minister in the presidency, Collins Chabane, 52.3 % of South Africa lives below the poverty line and 13.3% live in poverty. The level of education and quality of health care are both not up to par. In result the students aren’t preforming on the same level as countries that spending the same amount or even less money on education. Pregnant woman are dying from indirect and direct causes of pregnancy.

These social and economic issues can be helped if South Africa received the grant and the people started to embrace their own culture. The Tofo Tofo dance group from Mozambique were figured in Beyoncé’s Run the world video after she saw them dancing to Kwaito music. The African country and culture of Mozambique was internationally recognized after the video was aired. The money from the grant will help those individuals that are interested in music and naturally talented develop educationally and creativity towards their musical goal. Just as the Tofo Tofo group did, South Africans will become successful by simply sharing their own culture with others and better their community, society, and ultimately their country.

It almost 20 years into South Africa’s democracy and the country has yet to achieve an economical and social transformation, but the grant if given can help the country be one step closer.