South Africa’s complex musical history gives it the rich, distinctive sound. The revival of the country’s folk music in the 1980s caused a type of cross-pollination to occur. As a result, Western popular music adopted elements of African music and vice versa.

Zulu township music known as Mbaqanga, named after a popular 1950s soup, evolved to encompass Western features. Its expressive, polyphonic style relies on a driving rhythm to convey a message.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo provides a modern example of South African music. The group specializes in “mbube,” a combination of a-cappella harmonies that originated in South Africa’s gold mines.

A recent cover of “Let It Go” from the Disney animated film “Frozen” features Alex Boyé and South Africa’s One Voice Children’s Choir singing an “Africanized” version of the song. Listen to it and prepare to be amazed. This song will give you chills – no pun intended.

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