Gqom ([ᶢǃʱòm]),(Igqomu([iᶢǃʱòmu]),Gqom tech or Sghubu),[4] is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2010s from Durban, South Africa,[5] pioneered largely by music producers DJ Lag,[6][7][8] Rudeboyz,[6][9][10][11] Griffit Vigo,[12][13] Distruction Boyz,[14] Menzi,[15][16] and Citizen Boy.[17][18] It was developed from kwaito, a subgenre of house music from South Africa.[19]

Unlike other South African electronic music, gqom is typified by minimal, raw and repetitive sound with heavy bass beats but without the four-on-the-floor rhythm pattern.[5]

Music connoisseurs who were pivotal in influencing the genre's international acclaim included the likes of South African rapper Okmalumkoolkat, Italian record label Gqom Oh owner, Malumz Kole[20] inclusive of other South Africans; music taste-maker and public relations liaison, Cherish Lala Mankai,[20] Afrotainment record label owner DJ Tira, Babes Wodumo, Dlala Thukzin,[21] and Busiswa.

Name and characteristics

Zulu musicians, 1900.
Zulu musicians, 1900.

The word gqom derives from an onomatopoeic combination of click consonants in the Zulu language meaning a hitting drum. It is also expressed as qgom, igqom, gqomu or variants thereof.[22][23] Presumably another name is sghubu as its direct translation from the Zulu language is drum, furthermore it appears to be a local word used to describe house or the drum instrument, in general ,whilst appearing to be a sub-genre of gqom itself,too.[24][25][4][26]

(Pictured) traditional, Zulu drummer.
(Pictured) traditional Zulu, drummer.

Gqom is known for its beats which have a minimal, raw and repetitive sound with heavy bass. It is mainly described as having a dark and hypnotic club sound. The style of beats does not use the four-on-the-floor rhythm pattern which is often heard in other house music.[5] Typical lyrical themes include nightlife. It often uses one phrase or a few lines which are repeated numerous times in the song. Gqom was developed by a young generation of technologically skilled DJs producing in D.I.Y. fashion with software such as FL Studio and often self distributing their music on file sharing platforms.[18]

History

Gqom emerged in the early 2010s.[5] From the mid-2010s, the genre gained prominence abroad, especially in London.[27] Gqom also plays its part in increasing business profit for local taxis as people established a day to specifically celebrate gqom called "gqom explosion" that is mostly known as iNazoke. It is celebrated by people from the city of Durban, but eventually other cities and towns in KwaZulu-Natal started celebrating it, too.[28]

Genre development

As the genre gained international traction,[20][29][30] this made way for more international collaborations as well as popularization. In 2017, lead Empire (2015 TV series), actor Jussie Smollett was sighted dancing to and what appeared to be enjoying,[31] the song "Omunye" by Distruction Boyz featuring Benny Maverick[32] and Dlala Mshunqisi.[33]Smollett described the song as "my jam".[31]

In 2018 the "gqom queen"[34][35] vocalist and dancer Babes Wodumo made an appearance on the Marvel Comics, Black Panther:The Album compilation by Kendrick Lamar,[36] she also collaborated with Major Lazer and showcased gqom dance moves in the song's official music video.[37]

Duo, FAKA's music from the "Amaqhawe" EP was enlisted by Donatella Versace for the Versace Spring 2019 Menswear Collection, fashion show.[38]

Both Distruction Boyz and Babes Wodumo[39] were also nominated for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act[14] [40]

In 2019, DJ Lag produced a song "My Power" for Beyoncé featuring various artists inclusive of songwriter and singer Busiswa and musician as well as dancer Moonchild Sanelly, the song was on the track list of The Lion King–inspired album, titled The Lion King: The Gift.[41][42] In October, during the rapper, poet, actress and songwriter Sho Madjozi, The Kelly Clarkson Show, performance WWE wrestler, John Cena made a surprise guest appearance performing the song, "John Cena" alongside her.[43]

In 2020, singer Alicia Keys was video-recorded by record producer Swizz Beatz dancing to "eLamont" by Babes Wodumo featuring Mampintsha (former Big Nuz, member).[44][45]

In 2023, Disney Plus released an afrofuturism, sci-fi animated series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, which includes Surf Sangoma set in year 2050 in Durban directed by Spoek Mathambo (Nthato Mokgata) and Catherine Green.The animation film's soundtrack is gqom-inspired created by music producer Aero Manyelo.[46][47][48]

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire "Surf Sangoma" , Disney+
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire "Surf Sangoma" 2023 (Disney+)

Dance moves

Gqom music is associated with a number of distinctive dance moves, including gwara gwara, vosho and bhenga.[49]

Gwara gwara

Rihanna, performing the gwara gwara at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
Rihanna and backup dancers, performing the gwara gwara at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, 2018.

Gwara gwara is performed by rolling and swinging the arm and the elbow in terms of making a circle, and one of the leg moves in connection with the arm's rhythm. It appears to have some similarities to the stanky leg.[50] Gwara gwara[51] was made famous by South Africans DJ Bongz and musician Babes Wodumo.[52][37] The dance move was created by disc jockey and producer DJ Bongz, it was heavily imitated by South Africans and other African people mainly during 2016.[53][54] It also received widespread popularization globally as the choreography was adopted by notable musicians: Rihanna performed the dance move while performing "Wild Thoughts" at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018. Childish Gambino performed the dance in the video of his song "This Is America".[55] BTS performed the dance in the choreography for their song "Idol", featuring Nicki Minaj released in 2018.[56]

References

  1. ↑ Bandcamp. "Menchess-Point Blank(gqom tech) Category". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  2. ↑ Collin, Matthew (26 February 2015). "Township tech: South Africans raving at apartheid's afterparty". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  3. ↑ James, Keith (11 October 2017). "Premiere: Emo Kid Explains South African Club Sound 'Sghubu', Shares New Track "Asbambeki"". Complex UK. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Menchess - Point Blank (gqom tech)". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Oliver, Huw (2016-01-22). "Gqom, the foot-stomping new sound of South Africa's townships". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  6. 1 2 Dazed (2015-06-05). "What the foq is gqom?". Dazed. Archived from the original on 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  7. ↑ D’Souza, Mikey Burey,Shaad (2018-12-10). "DJ Lag's Noisey Mix Shows How Fast Gqom Moves". Vice. Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "DJ Lag | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  9. ↑ "Meet the 'unsung heroes' behind gqom music: Rudeboyz". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  10. ↑ "Rude Boyz – The Music Imbizo". Archived from the original on 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  11. ↑ "FADER Mix: RudeBoyz". The FADER. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  12. ↑ Kriger, Themba (23 October 2020). "Griffit Vigo's "I Am Gqom" Returns to the Roots of Gqom". Redbull. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Success In Reverse: Dj Lag Talks". www.theransomnote.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  14. 1 2 "Distruction Boyz and gqom: The South African sound taking over Europe". BBC. 2 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Renoncourt, Francois (14 April 2020). "South‑African artist Menzi explores a new facet of the Gqom". Pan African Music (PAM). Archived from the original on 17 May 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  16. ↑ Bennett, Esme (15 April 2020). "Menzi Impazamo". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Gqom: A deeper look at South Africa's new generation of house". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 2016-01-05. Archived from the original on 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  18. 1 2 Akyea, Akornefa (2018-07-19). "The Gqom Generation of Durban, South Africa". Afropop Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2019-02-19. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  19. ↑ Le Gal, Anne (2016-08-09). "Gqom—The Sound from the Townships of South Africa". Indie Guides. Archived from the original on 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  20. 1 2 3 Weichenrieder, Philipp (19 April 2016). "Gqom-Musik aus Südafrika". Taz.de. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016.
  21. ↑ Adimora, Makua (27 March 2023). "These are the most exciting gqom producers right now". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "What Is #Gqom?". Red Bull Music Academy Daily. Archived from the original on 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  23. ↑ Shokane, Vincent (2018-11-12). "Bolo House Music". Bolo House Music: Gqom, Afro-Bolo, Bolo House Music News Update. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  24. ↑ Kekana, Chrizelda (20 July 2018). "Vele vele...what did Bongo Maffin say we must do with that S'ghubu?". Sowetan Live: Sunday World. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Sghubu". Mzansi Taal. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  26. ↑ James, Keith (11 October 2017). "Premiere: Emo Kid Explains South African Club Sound 'Sghubu', Shares New Track "Asbambeki"". Complex UK. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  27. ↑ Cliff, Aimee (2015-06-05). "What the foq is gqom?". Dazed. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  28. ↑ "Exploring The South Africa Music - The Gqom Sound". HipUpMusic. Archived from the original on 2023-05-14.
  29. ↑ "Discover Why Gqom Is The Underground Sound Of South Africa With This BBC Podcast". Electronic Beats. 22 October 2018. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Why Durban's gqom music is spreading across the world". BBC News. 25 November 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  31. 1 2 Tjiya, Emmanuel (18 December 2017). "SA gives Jussie Smollett Gqom and freedom". Sowetan Live. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  32. ↑ Live, Tshisa (16 December 2017). "Benny Maverick clears the air on Memeza and Omunye". Sowetan Live. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  33. ↑ Live, Tshisa (8 December 2017). "WATCH: Distruction Boyz' Omunye gets a shout-out in parliament". Times Live. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  34. ↑ Sosibo, Kwanele (26 September 2016). "Babes Wodumo: The queen of gqom with dololo cares". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  35. ↑ Kekana, Chrizelda (27 September 2018). "Watch | There's only one Queen Of gqom & her name is Babes Wodumo!". Times Live. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  36. ↑ Matangira, Lungelo (1 February 2018). "Babes Wodumo, Sjava featured on 'Black Panther' Soundtrack Album". EWN Eyewitness News. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  37. 1 2 James, Paul Justin (20 September 2018). "Watch: Babes Wodumo features in hot new Major Lazer music video". East Coast Radio. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  38. ↑ Ntsabo, Mihlali (27 June 2018). "FAKA on their Versace fashion show and queer representation in South Africa". Mamba Online. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  39. ↑ Live, Tshisa (5 October 2017). "Babes & Nasty C make MTV EMA's list". Times Live. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  40. ↑ Zeeman, Kyle (5 October 2018). "Halala!Distruction Boyz & Shekinah score nods at the MTVA EMAs". Herald Live. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  41. ↑ Bruce-Jones, Henry (18 July 2019). "Beyoncé enlists DJ Lag for Lion King: The Gift track 'My Power'". Fact Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  42. ↑ Reporter, Entertainment (20 July 2019). "Busiswa, Moonchild and DJ Lag make Mzansi proud on #TheGiftAlbum". IOL. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  43. ↑ Regter, Shimoney (8 November 2019). "Watch: Chi, Chi, Chi!John Cena surprises Sho Madjozi at US performance". EWN Eyewitness News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  44. ↑ Scenic Drive, Rian (3 August 2020). "WATCH: Alicia Keys dances to Babes Wodumo's new song". Jacaranda FM. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  45. ↑ Masilela, Brenda (24 December 2022). "RIP Mampintsha: EFF hails Big Nuz star as innovator". IOL. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
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  49. ↑ "The Indelible Rise of Gqom". The Plug Mag. Archived from the original on 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  50. ↑ Breakey, Julia (29 January 2018). "This is what happens when you call the Gwara Gwara the stanky leg". Memeburn. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  51. ↑ "How to Dance the Gwara Gwara". WikiHow. Archived from the original on 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
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  55. ↑ "Here's what you need to know about Rihanna's South African dance move". Dazed. Archived from the original on 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  56. ↑ "[CHOREOGRAPHY] BTS (방탄소년단) 'IDOL' Dance Practice". Youtube. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
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