The South African music industry has undergone changes through the decades introducing the world to the country’s diverse cultures and heritage through sound from the pennywhistle to African jazz, ghoema and kwaito.
As Heritage Month draws to a close, Weekend Argus, spoke to three artists who have made a contribution to different genres of music that has made an impact to many South Africans.
David Kramer is a household name who has worked as a writer and theatre director over the last 40 years.
Fondly known for the six musicals he created with the late Taliep Petersen.
Kramer said: “Certainly styles come and go in terms of popularity. I am grateful that my sounds found resonance with the audience and (my songs) have become classics,” he said.
“I hope I will be remembered for my body of work,” he added.
Kramer said he learned early on how important it was to find his voice and vision in the industry.
“Find your voice and vision. It’s significant because to be an original artist, that is what you have to do. The rest is all imitation,” he said.
He added: “The recognition of my pioneering work in the early 1980s and the subsequent musicals has given me much satisfaction.”
In the three decades of Joe Nina’s music career, the afro-contemporary artist has garnered a number awards, most recently he was the recipient of the lifetime achievement award at the 2022 South African Music Awards (SAMA’s).
The “Zodwa” hitmaker started his career when kwaito music began gaining traction in South Africa in the early 1990s.
“I believe that to date, people still love and appreciate the music I create, as much as they did back then,” he said.
“Music is our heritage and it identifies us.
“I’m grateful to still be a part of the industry 30 years later despite all its changes.”
Over the years, he has learned many lessons but two of them have over-arched his career.
“I’ve learned the importance of remaining original and being patient.
“Music changes all the time but it was important to have my own identity in it,” he said.
“It is pivotal to be original because that is how I sustained myself in the industry, by staying true to my sound.”
South Africa’s queen of rock, Karen Zoid, whose music career began in 2001 said even two decades later, she continued to build on her legacy.
“I think that will never stop. It only ends the day I play my last note. As long as I can fill in a form and write musician next to the word occupation, I am happy,” she said.
“I think the best part of being a musician is that you learn how to be human. Performances will take you everywhere and you get to see the world in all its horrific and beautiful weirdness,” she said.
The 44-year-old was grateful for the digital advancements adopted by the industry to grow it.
“In the beginning, we used to print flyers, hang them up in clubs and physically hand them out. Today we communicate digitally which has been a huge contrast but became much easier,” she said.
“If you don’t exist on the internet, you don’t exist. Without it, you are losing out and your chances for success are marginal.”
Over the trajectory of her career, she’s learned the importance of timing.
“This is in music and life. The old saying that says, ‘timing is not everything, it’s the only thing' - that rings true,” she said.
“I think the reason people give up or miss opportunities is that they want to make it happen now but you can’t have it all at once,” she added.
“It’s important to make the best of what you have and new things will unfold. Music has taught me to not rush toward the chorus, enjoy the verse or chill in the introduction."