kwaito

/ ˈkwaɪˌtəʊ /

noun

1. a type of South African pop music with lyrics spoken over an instrumental backing usually consisting of slowed-down house music layered with African percussion and melodies

Word History and Origins

Origin of kwaito¹

C20: from Amakwaito , a gang in Sophiatown, South Africa, in the 1950s

Example Sentences

It’s a svelte, melodic style of dance music pitched between European deep house, jazzy R&B and local styles like kwaito and gqom.

From Los Angeles Times

As Afrobeats has gained massive attention the past few years, Tyla is introducing much of the world to amapiano, which translates to “the pianos” in the Zulu language, a fusion of Kwaito house music and jazz, often driven by log drums.

From Seattle Times

At the center of that growth are newer genres of Afrobeats — the renowned blend of distinct West African music styles — and amapiano, which fuses South African kwaito with African jazz, house music and soulful vocals.

From Seattle Times

Called Popiano, it's essentially a more streamlined, hook-heavy variant of Amapiano - the popular South African sound that blends house music with reggae, jazz and trunk-rattling kwaito bass lines.

From BBC

Sun-kissed and sensual, the song showcases her unique take on Amapiano, the popular South African genre that blends Afrobeats with deep house and kwaito music.

From BBC