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kwaito

British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of kwaito

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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 ● Oct. 9, 2024

With its distinct log drum, the South African invention is a blend of deep house, kwaito, jazz, and lounge music.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2022

The music has also changed, with hiphop and its South African township version, known as kwaito, added to the staple of Afrikaans guitar and vocals.

From Reuters ● Aug. 13, 2015

Its many offerings include traditional gumboot dancing, a tribute to Nelson Mandela, and an array of musical genres, including Zulu drums and kwaito, a club genre born in post-apartheid Johannesburg.

From New York Times ● Jan. 1, 2015

The ANC, he says, then helped kwaito artists by taking them to political rallies where audiences would buy their music after a show.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 11, 2011

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