marabi

/ ˌmaˈrɑːbɪ /

noun

1. a kind of music popular in townships in the 1930s

Word History and Origins

Origin of marabi¹

of uncertain origin, possibly from Sotho

Example Sentences

Combining church hymns, South African marabi and postmodern jazz, Mr. Ibrahim doesn’t play with obvious ease of motion.

From New York Times

If you take out 30 grams of sugar, you have to put in 30 grams of something else, and it also has to be healthy, says DouxMatok Chief Technology Officer Alejandro Marabi.

From Wall Street Journal

The music incorporates a variety of South African rhythms and styles, including Marabi, Kwela, Mbaqanga and Mbube, mixed in with Western sounds.

From Washington Times

That could come from the vamping and danceable marabi music of Cape Town, his home city, popular before he was born.

From New York Times

In the dusty streets, urchins rock to the pennywhistle's fast kwela beat; in shabby speakeasies, women shuffle to its slower marabi rhythm.

From Time Magazine Archive