Marrabenta

Marrabenta is a form of Mozambican dance music. It developed between the 1930s and 1940s in the south of Mozambique and the capital city of Maputo, formerly Lourenço Marques. The name was derived from the Portuguese rebentar (arrabentar in the local vernacular), meaning to break, possibly as a reference to cheap musical instruments played energetically until they would eventually break.

The Marrabenta style merges traditional Mozambican rhythms, Portuguese folk music and instruments (such as the bandolin) with Western popular music influences that were brought about by radio. Early marrabenta artists such as Fany Pfumo, Dilon Djindji, and Wazimbo established the genre, which then evolved over the decades and is still quite popular. While marrabenta partially declined during the civil war (1977-1992), it never disappeared, as demonstrated by the popularity of bands from the 1980s such as Eyuphuro and Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique. In its latest evolution, marrabenta was also mixed with other pop genres; for example, the Mozambican band Mabulu mixes marrabenta and rap music.

The genre is celebrated every year in Maputo in the Marrabenta Festival, which was held for the 5th time in 2012.

Marrabenta

Marrabenta is a popular style of music originating in the south of Mozambique. This style of music became popular in Mozambique in the 1930s and 1940s, while it was still colonized by the Portuguese, who ruled Mozambique from 1875 to 1975. At that time, Portuguese musicians in Mozambique were playing fado, traditional Portuguese folk music, as their musical style. They brought the influences and traditional orchestration of fado: guitars, mandolins, drum sets, and other conventional Western instruments. Musicians or music students who had access to these instruments, particularly guitars, felt the need to play traditional music and rhythms on these Western instruments. The church—which was both a tool of the colonial regime and a place of cultural mixing—played a huge role in the development of this new music, contributing influences of tonal harmony and the basic use of progressions like I IV V. Mozambican musician playing these new instruments combined the influence of church music, secular Western music, and African rhythms to create an entirely new way of expressing music. One of the main characteristics of African music is dance rhythms—therefore, as a consequence of trying to duplicate traditional sounds on these Western instruments, Mozambican musicians created a style that was very inspiring to dance to and sing along with. It soon became popular among the young generation in the 1940s. http://www.worldmusic.net/guide/music-of-mozambique/

http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/marrabenta_751/en_US

The Origin of the Name “Marrabenta”

The name marrabenta, according to vocalist Dilon Djindje, came from his energy when he was playing shows around Mozambique. His shows were so intense that people thought that he was breaking the emotional limits of the audience. People were calling the musicians “arrabenta,” which means break it. Slowly the name Marrabenta became popular and it is still alive today.

Historical Evolution

In 1977, Mozambique was experiencing a Civil War. During this unstable and difficult time, Mozambicans were looking for a better life and opportunities to work. Many of them, including several Marrabenta musicians, immigrated to South Africa looking for better jobs. This added a new South African influence to the style. South African music styles such as Kwela and Xangana tribe began to change the music, especially rhythmically, in ways that continue to develop today.

Also, after independence, Mozambique was a socialist country, and most of the music that people were exposed to came from other socialist countries, such as Cuba. When Mozambique ceased being a socialist country in the 1980s, there were many new Western influences that flooded the country, including Rock and Pop, mainly from the United States. All of this entered Marrabenta, especially sonically, with musicians beginning to use distortion and electronic instruments, without losing the fundamental character of the music.

Marrabenta Today

Today, Marrabenta has absorbed global influences, including R&B, reggae, and traditional American blues. These influences have created a number of subgenres within Marrabenta, including pandza, which a mix of reggae and marrabenta. Pandza is now the most popular music for the young in Mozambique. Marrabenta has also spread to many other countries in Africa and around the world.

Most Popular Marrabenta Artists

Dilon Djindje]] Alexandre Langa]] Fanny Phuno]] Wazimbo]] Orchestra Marrabenta star]] Mabulo Neyma Mingas http://www.last.fm/tag/marrabenta

Links to listern some examples of Marrabenta http://www.allmusic.com/album/marrabenta-music-from-mozambique-yinguica-mw0001379354

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/marrabenta-music-from-mozambique/id334435604

(http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/02/06/mozambique-marrabenta-music-festival/

Some marrabenta artists and bands

• 340ml (Afro-dub band influenced to a small extent by marrabenta)
• Kellens Band
• Neyma
• Gito Baloi
• Dilon Djindji
• Eyuphuro
• Ghorwane
• Grupo Radio Mocambique
• Marllen
• Mabulu
• Francesco Mahecuane
• Antonio Marcos
• Lisboa Matavel
• Mingas
• Alberto Mula
• Mario Ntimane
• Nene
• Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique
• Fany Pfumo
• Stewart Sukuma
• Wazimbo
• Matheus Noronha, Consultor galático de Sourcing e Ritmos Moçambicanos