This study documents the history and lyrics of a counter culture of South African
punk rock, new wave and alternative music from the late nineteen-seventies and
nineteen-eighties. While attempting to recover a lost history of this oppositional
The study concerns itself expression of music and the meanings associated with it. Music forms, music personalities, and music functions are traced. Some explanations of the relationships between class structures, religious expression, political affiliation, and music are suggested.
WHEN the first Indian indentured labourers
came to South Africa they brought some
small musical instruments with them. The
music o these instruments gave pleasure to
the guests ttending the first Hindi wedding
on South Aft~an soil. Most of these instruments
