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.