Indigenous Pattern of Music Discovery: Khwe Bushmen and hip‐hop in Platfontein, South Africa

Abstract: Since the resettlement of the indigenous Khwe Bushmen near the city of Kimberley in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, hip-hop has become popular among the youth as a platform for negotiating restrictive urban spaces. This paper discusses how these young hip-hop enthusiasts encounter new hip-hop music within their rural indigenous community. Unlike in the urban centres where access to digital technology has democratized music discovery process, the impact of technology remains limited in the Khwe, as in many African indigenous communities. Using qualitative data obtained through participatory observation, interviews and focus group discussions, the paper argues that ‘class’ remains a significant factor in the discovery of music in many African indigenous communities where a few persons with a higher socioeconomic background play a significant role in the acculturation and spread of digitally embedded music and music cultures. Previous studies on music discovery among youth tends to ignore the plights of these indigenous and rural youth who struggle to keep up with the pace of the global youth trends and phenomena