Name: Music South African Cultural Training
Price: 20500.0 ZAR
Availability: InStock

Description

This course equips learners with the ability to identify and describe music within diverse South African cultural contexts. It fosters an appreciation for the role of music in cultural identity, social cohesion, and historical expression. Participants will gain the skills to articulate how music reflects and shapes cultural values across communities.

Learning Outcomes

Identify and describe the characteristic features of music from various South African cultural groups, including indigenous, traditional, and contemporary genres.
Analyze the social and historical contexts that influence music creation and performance within different communities.
Demonstrate an understanding of how music functions as a medium for cultural expression, identity, and communication.
Apply appropriate terminology and frameworks to discuss music in cultural contexts.
Evaluate the role of music in ceremonies, rituals, and everyday life across diverse South African cultures.

Target Audience

This course is designed for musicians, educators, cultural practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding the cultural significance of music in South Africa. It is suitable for individuals working in arts, heritage, tourism, or community development sectors.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of South African Music

Objectives:
• Define key concepts in South African music and cultural identity
• Identify major indigenous music traditions and their cultural contexts
• Explain the role of music in pre-colonial South African societies
• Recognise the influence of colonialism and apartheid on music development
• Describe the basic characteristics of genres such as mbube, isicathamiya, and maskandi

Topics:
• Introduction to South African music as cultural expression
• Indigenous music practices: Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Venda, and Tsonga traditions
• Music in rituals, ceremonies, and daily life
• Colonial encounters and the introduction of Western instruments and notation
• The emergence of urban styles: marabi, kwela, and early jazz
• Case study: The evolution of isicathamiya from migrant labour contexts

Day 2: Genres and Movements in the Struggle Era

Objectives:
• Analyse how music served as a tool for resistance and social commentary during apartheid
• Compare the characteristics of mbaqanga, jazz, and protest music
• Evaluate the contributions of key artists such as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, and Abdullah Ibrahim
• Discuss the role of music in the anti-apartheid movement internationally
• Identify the impact of state censorship and exile on musicians

Topics:
• The Sophiatown renaissance and the birth of South African jazz
• Mbaqanga: the 'township jive' and its cultural significance
• Protest music: songs of the struggle and freedom fighters
• Key figures: Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Brenda Fassie
• Music and the anti-apartheid movement: international solidarity concerts
• Censorship, banning, and the underground music scene
• Case study: 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' as a symbol of unity

Day 3: Post-Apartheid Music and Contemporary Trends

Objectives:
• Assess the transformation of the music industry after 1994
• Analyse the rise of genres like kwaito, gqom, and amapiano
• Evaluate the role of technology and digital distribution in shaping South African music
• Discuss the globalisation of South African music and its cultural exchange
• Explore the relationship between music, identity, and nation-building

Topics:
• Post-apartheid cultural policy and the revival of traditional music
• Kwaito: the soundtrack of the 'born free' generation
• The rise of house music, gqom, and amapiano
• Digital platforms and the democratisation of music production
• South African music in the global market: collaborations and festivals
• Music and social commentary in contemporary lyrics
• Case study: The international success of amapiano and its cultural roots

Day 4: Practical Application and Cultural Competence

Objectives:
• Apply analytical frameworks to evaluate music within its cultural context
• Demonstrate respectful engagement with diverse musical traditions
• Design a project that integrates South African music into a specific cultural or educational setting
• Critically reflect on the ethical considerations of cross-cultural music practice
• Synthesise course content to articulate the ongoing significance of music in South African society

Topics:
• Ethical approaches to studying and performing culturally specific music
• Workshop: Analysing a contemporary South African song for cultural references
• Project design: Creating a culturally informed music programme for a community
• Presentation and peer feedback on projects
• Panel discussion: The future of South African music in a globalised world
• Course wrap-up and evaluation

Practicals

12 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house

Overview

Hands-on workshops and supervised practice sessions allow learners to engage directly with South African musical traditions. Through instrument exploration, rhythm exercises, and group performance, learners develop practical skills and cultural sensitivity essential for applying course knowledge in educational or community settings.

Practical Activities

Indigenous Instrument Workshop — Learners handle and play traditional instruments such as the mbira, marimba, and uhadi, guided by a facilitator. (3h)
Vocal Harmony and Call-and-Response — Learners practice isicathamiya and maskandi vocal techniques, focusing on harmony and call-and-response patterns. (3h)
Contemporary Genre Workshop: Amapiano Beat Production — Using digital audio workstations, learners create a short amapiano beat, incorporating characteristic log drums and keys. (3h)
Group Performance and Reflection — Learners collaborate to prepare and present a short performance piece combining elements from the workshops, followed by a reflective discussion. (3h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

How it works

Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.