South Africa is a land of diversity, known for its vibrant cultural dances and colonial roots that heavily inform the current music, booming wine and tourism industry that support music festivals, and vibrant cities that continue to lean on the vast hinterlands.
There is something for everyone, from the old to the new, offline and online. Residents and visitors can always count on the entertainment scene to cater to their needs, sometimes with slight prejudice, but fun all the same.
The Rise of Online Gaming and Casinos
South African consumers are increasingly turning to online gaming and gambling as a form of entertainment. According to NewZoo, South Africa’s revenues from games reached $862.8 million in 2022 and are projected to keep growing. Most sales come from mobile games since more people own smartphones than PC and console games.
The gambling industry in South Africa is also on the rise, although it is largely a land-based activity because online casino gambling is illegal. However, some South Africans access online casinos despite restrictions to taste their favorite casino games.
Platforms like Thunderbolt Casino are popular with South African bettors for their various casino games, secure systems, bonuses, cashback rewards, and speedy banking.
Online gamblers can also indulge in sports betting, horse betting, lotteries, slots, and bingo, which are legal across the country, both online and offline.
While online gambling offers a great source of entertainment and connection to the rugby, cricket, and soccer leagues in South Africa, there are also the underlying macroeconomic issues of escapism and financial instability that plague gambling. Financial uncertainty is a common path to gambling dependency, and therefore, young gamblers should always take caution and remember that gambling is only a form of entertainment.
Popular Music Trends in South Africa
South African music has gained international prominence in the past decades. Residents are also regular consumers of the booming scene and are often seen attending “groove” party scenes. Some of the most prominent genres include Kwaito, Amapiano, Gqom, and House.
Kwaito is a prominent house variety that took off in the 80s and 90s. The music is known for its slow tempo, African sounds, and speech samples, especially political reformation calls and anti-apartheid chants.
Most songs focus on percussive loop samples and deep bass lines. Prominent musicians in the early phases include Mdu Masilela, Spikiri, Arthur Mafokate, and Sandy B. Groups such as MM Deluxe, Boom Shaka, Trompies, B.O.P. and TKZee, were also instrumental in shaping Kwaito.
Later on, most producers partnered with prominent musicians in different genres, including the controversial yet highly praised Brenda Fassie.
Amapiano is currently one of the most popular music exports from South Africa. It’s a subgenre of Kwaito that retains the house and hip-hop influences of its predecessor while introducing jazz and lounge music characteristics, most prominently the piano sounds, as the name suggests.
Amapiano gained popularity in the mid-2010s and has only risen in influence since. The origins of the music remain highly contestable, but its dominance in the South African music industry is indisputable. Fans are seen rocking their heads and shuffling their feet to major hits.
Popular Amapiano musicians include Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa, Shasha, DBN Gogo, Focalistic, Major League DJs, MFR Souls, Kamo Mphela, and not forgetting one of the biggest Ogs, Black Coffee.
Gqom is another variation of dance music popular in South Africa. The name comes from Zulu and loosely translates to “hitting drum”. The music differs from South Africa with a higher tempo and raw, repetitive parts. Besides heavy drums, the songs also include ululations, whistles, and drones.
The record producer Lwazi Asanda Gwala, popularly known as DJ Lag, is credited with creating Gqom. Other prominent producers include Distruction Boyz, DJ Tira, Dlala Thukzin, Babes Wodumo, Que DJ, and Griffit Vigo.
The massive music entertainment scene fortunately has several festivals to match the energy. Starting off is the internationally famed Ultra Music Festival. Other local festivals to look out for are the Cape Town Jazz Festival, Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts, Oppikoppi, Rocking the Daisies, Soweto Wine Festival, and Stellenbosch Wine Festival. These events are a melting pot for different music genres and provide an opportunity to embrace old hits and upcoming musicians while appreciating South Africa’s culture and history.
The Boom of Streaming and Local Content
South Africa’s movie industry has expanded in the last decade, with consumers having access to more films to choose from. Some of the most recent local TV productions include Uzalo, Scandal, Skeem Saam, Generations The Legacy, House of Zwide, Isitha — The Enemy, and Smoke and Mirrors. These shows are available on eTV and SABC1.
Viewers are taking up more mobile and online TV viewing as more producers share their work online and move away from satellite. The shift also comes in the wake of more affordable mobile devices and internet in South Africa. As streaming platforms increase in popularity, watchers now split their attention between South African products and international shows.
More than 20 productions are currently available on streaming giant Netflix, which has expanded the country’s audience beyond the country. Some of the popular shows on the platform include Blood & Water, Jiva, Queen of Sono, The Ultimatum: South Africa, Lobola Man, and Fatal Seduction.
Showmax, an NBC and Multichoice streaming platform, also holds some market share and streams South African shows such as Marry Me Now SA, Uthando Nes’ Thembu, I Blew It, The River, Umkhokha, and more.
The Future of Entertainment in South Africa
South Africa’s entertainment options will evolve as the market and culture change. The music industry is already ahead, with local producers and DJs headlining international events and other countries infusing into the South African music taste.
Casinos are also flourishing, and should changes to the legality of online casino games occur, the industry will only grow further.
The local film industry is also enjoying more global viewership despite competition from international productions. Consumers and investors can look forward to digital innovation pushing gambling, film, and music beyond the South African boundaries.
