Indigenous Influences on Popular Venda Music

Abstract

Venda musicians incorporate aspects of “traditional” Venda life and music while still trying to make their music marketable to a larger audience. Johannesburg, the “City of Gold” was never such for many popular Venda musicians as their music did not yield any gold for them. Two significant influences take center stage in realizing a wider market for popular Venda music. These influences reference melodic and rhythmic motifs from indigenous Venda music and children’s songs, while retaining a touch of “homegrown” in the music. Interviews with several popular musicians and an analysis of music indicates cultural relevancy in popular Venda music quoting.