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

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Etymology

Origin of kwaito

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 • 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

Her cousins liked to play kwaito, a popular genre of music that emerged in South Africa in the 1990s, a variant of house music overloaded with traditional African beats and samples.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2016

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

Since the British label Warp released DJ Mujava's Township Funk in 2008, South African house and kwaito have become a reference point for producers and DJs in the UK and the US.

From The Guardian • Aug. 11, 2011