The use of music and dance in the struggle for independence in South Africa

Abstract

Music played a significant role in unifying and liberating the oppressed communities in South Africa. Music and dance in the black South African history continue to intrigue scholars and therefore this study provides a need for further exploration on the subject. The protest songs for instance were and remain indispensable to the South African people in their quest for freedom and social justice. Without protest songs, it would have been onerous to achieve justice and equality for the people of South Africa during apartheid era.  Whilst black Africans found nostalgia for their imperious minority government, they craved for an independent, strong and free South Africa. Additionally, through music and dance, they lamented their own failures as a people and the perils of a country in disarray. In order to understand the role of music and dance in South Africa’s independence, it is imperative to examine the origins of artistic expressions among the black people of South Africa. This is particularly relevant given the effects music and dance on of the colonial powers during the pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial, apartheid eras, and post-apartheid eras. This paper provides a brief background information on the origins of music and dance in South Africa and their role in the context of the struggle for political independence.

Keywords: South Africa, music, apartheid, protest songs, love songs, independence

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-9-08

Publication date: September 30th 2024