The Sounds of South Africa

Fancy, Lungiswa, Miriam: even their names are musical! Read on to learn more about these three successful South African musicians, who each bring something unique to the rich, musical culture of their country.

Fancy Galada

Fancy Galada was born in the Cape Town township of Langa in 1970. She started singing in her school choir as a young child. Years later she sang for a musical group called Amaqawe, where her other talent of dance was introduced. Then she worked for a multicultural group called Abamanyani, which sang and danced in festivals and the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. In 1987 she joined the traditional music group, Heesho Beshoo. In 1996, Fancy released a debut album called Jazino, with her fellow singer, Labella. Some of her music is a mix of township pop and R&B, but she is also building a reputation as a jazz diva. Fancy Galada has toured across Europe and North America.

Lungiswa Plaatjies

Lungiswa, or Lulu, was born in 1973 and was also raised in Cape Town’s township of Langa. She began singing at the age of 7. Later she became the lead vocalist in the group Amampondo, which her uncle founded in 1979. Her debut album was titled Ekhaya and is described by some as eclectic*. She is the only South African female musician to play the mbira* and incorporate it into her compositions. In 2003 she released her latest CD Mamelani which incorporated the marimba* and mbira. She has an unusual voice that blends in with a jazzy, traditional African rhythm.

Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1932. In the 50s, she was a vocalist with the group Manhattan Brothers, and sang the lead in the musical King Kong, which became a big success in South Africa. When Miriam testified against apartheid at the United Nations in 1963, the government of South Africa suspended her citizenship and her ability to return to her country. She continued her career in London and then moved to the United States. She later went into exile in Guinea.* In the 1970s and the 1980s she found work outside the U.S. and toured Europe, South America, and Africa, often participating in jazz festivals. Going against the cultural boycott in South Africa, she took part in Paul Simon’s Graceland tour, regaining her fame. She returned home as a free South African in 1990. Some of her CDs include Sangoma which consists of songs that she learned as a child, Le Monde De Miriam Makeba, and Africa. Miriam Makeba’s songs contain a variety of instruments and many different tones she uses to give off a strong and vibrant feel to her music.

*Eclectic: made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources.
*Mbira: also known as the thumb piano, a musical instrument made out of a wooden board with pieces of metal attached for keys.
*Marimba: a percussion instrument, similar to a xylophone, set up in the form of a keyboard whose bars are made of wood.
*Guinea: a country in Western Africa.

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