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| Marrabenta | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Mozambique and Portuguese folk music |
| Cultural origins | 1930s-1940s,Mozambique |
| Regional scenes | |
| Maputo | |
Marrabenta is a popular style ofMozambicandance music combining traditional Mozambican dance rhythms with Portuguese folk music. It was developed inMaputo, the capital city ofMozambique, during the 1930s and 1940s.[1]
The name may be derived from thePortuguese wordrebentar (arrabentar in the local vernacular), which means "to break".[2] This may refer to the cheap musical instruments used in this music, which are often played energetically until they fall apart.[1][3] Vocalist Dilon Djindji claims this refers to the energetic performances he delivered while on tour acrossMozambique, as the intensity and vitality of his shows led audiences to believe that he was 'breaking' the emotional limits of those in attendance. The musicians who played Marrabenta came to be calledarrabenta. Over time, the nameMarrabenta has grown in popularity and continues to be used today.
Marrabenta gained national popularity inMozambique during the 1930s and 1940s while the nation was still under Portuguese colonial rule.[4]Before the popularity of Marrabenta, Portuguese musicians in Mozambique playedfado, a type of traditional Portuguese folk music. These musicians introduced the traditional orchestration and other influences of fado, such as the use of guitars, mandolins, drum sets, and other conventional Western instruments, toMozambique. TheCatholic Church, as a site for cultural interaction, also played a role in the development of the new genre, contributing influences oftonal harmony and the basic use of progressions likeI-IV-V. Mozambican musicians combined the influences ofchurch music, secular Western music, andAfrican rhythms to create an entirely new genre.
Dance rhythms are a primary feature of traditional African music. In trying to duplicate these traditional sounds on new western instruments, Mozambican musicians created a new style of dance music, which quickly gained popularity among the youth in the 1940s.[5][6] In 1977,Mozambique experienced acivil war. The government, viewing marrabenta as a way for people to express their dissent, shut down many music venues at the time.[7] While Marrabenta's popularity began to decline during theMozambican Civil War,[8] it never disappeared. Fleeing the war to seek a better life and economic opportunities, many Mozambicans, including several Marrabenta musicians, migrated toSouth Africa.[9] This introduced South African musical styles such asKwela and Xangana to the Marrabenta style, adding rhythmic variety to the genre.
Upon gainingindependence from Portuguese colonial rule, Mozambique came under the control of asocialist regime, resulting in new musical influences from communistCuba. When Mozambique ceased to be a socialist country in the 1980s, Western musical influences flooded the country. These includedrock andpop mainly from theUnited States. During this time, Marrabenta underwent significant transformation as musicians started usingdistortion andelectronic instruments, while retaining the fundamental character of the music.
The Marrabenta style is a blend of traditional Mozambican rhythms andPortuguesefolk music[3] with influences from Western popular music that were brought over by radio.[1] Early Marrabenta artists, such asFany Pfumo, Dilon Djindji, andWazimbo, were crucial in establishing the genre,[1] which has evolved over time into its modern form.[1] This evolution can be seen in Marrabenta bands such asEyuphuro and Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique. In its contemporary form, it has combined with other pop genres. The Mozambican bandMabulu mixes marrabenta andhip hop music. The genre is celebrated annually in the Marrabenta Festival inMaputo.[1]
Today, Marrabenta reflects global influences, includingrhythm & blues,reggae, andblues. This has led to the emergence of a number of subgenres within Marrabenta, includingpandza, which is a mix of reggae and Marrabenta and is currently very popular among theMozambican youth.[2] Marrabenta has also spread to other parts of Africa and the world.