The pennywhistle is a small and simple instrument that has played a significant role in the history and development of South African music. The pennywhistle was introduced to South Africa by British soldiers and sailors in the 19th century, and soon became popular among the local people, especially in urban Black communities.
The pennywhistle was cheap, portable and easy to play, making it an ideal instrument for street musicians and performers. In the 1950s, a new style of music emerged that featured the pennywhistle as the main melodic instrument, accompanied by guitar, bass and drums.
This style was called kwela, which means ‘get on board’ or ‘climb’ in the Zulu and Xhosa languages. Kwela was influenced by the earlier marabi music, which was a fusion of jazz and African rhythms, as well as by the music of Malawian immigrants. Kwela had a distinctive skiffle-like beat, with jazzy underpinnings and bright melodies.
