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Music

Spoek Mathambo's 'Future Sound Of Mzansi' (Part 1)

In part one of this three-part series about South African electronic music, we learn about the importance of regionalism in the rise of genres like broken beats, qgom, Shangaan electro, and kwaito.

'Future Sound of Mzansi' is Spoek Mathambo and Lebogang Rasethaba's powerful new documentary about South African electronic music. Part one introduces the new sounds coming out of the townships and urban areas of cities like Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. It becomes abundantly clear that regionalism is extremely important in the development of genres like broken beats, qgom, Shangaan electro, and kwaito. Or, as a producer puts it, it's about the need to "own our shit, own who we are, then bring that out to the world."

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We also get to meet the film's colorful cast of characters, which includes Black Coffee, Okmalumkoolkat, Culoe De Song, the owners of Cape Town record label African Dope, and broken beats originators NakedBoys, among many others. The producers discuss the ways the Internet has both helped and hurt their scenes, while dancers show off the sneaker-shredding moves that bring the music to life.

One of this segment's most powerful moments comes from Nozinja, who delivers a passionate speech about using Shangaan electro—the genre he pretty much created—to represent the marginalized Shangaan people. "For me to be known and seen all over, representing that same marginalized and abused nation, I feel proud," he says, eyes twinkling. That same pride resonates with everyone else in the film.

Future Sound of Mzansi is premiering over three episodes on THUMP.

Watch Part Two:

Spoek Mathambo Presents Future Sound of Mzansi:

Directed by: Nthato Mokgata (Spoek Mathambo) and Lebogang Rasethaba

Produced by: Black Major

Featuring: Black Coffee, DJ Spoko, Mujava, Culoe De Song, Christian Tiger School, Felix Laband, Aero Manyelo, Okmalumkoolkat, Zaki Ibrahim and many other artists.

Future Sound of Mzansi is on Facebook

Spoek Mathambo/Fantasma's latest album is available here