The streets of Durban and rural KwaZulu-Natal have always echoed with the distinctive
squeezebox sounds of traditional concertinas, but something fundamental is shifting in the
Maskandi music scene. Young artists who grew up respecting the genre are now making a
controversial choice that is dividing purists and modernists across South Africa.
Traditional Maskandi relied on acoustic instruments like guitars, bass, and the iconic
concertina to create its characteristic sound. However, modern production demands are
pushing artists to explore digital alternatives, particularly because younger audiences are
dividing their leisure time between music and other forms of digital entertainment. If you are
interested, you can read more about a game that is attracting audiences and signaling the
shift in entertainment preferences.
The transition represents more than just swapping one instrument for another. It
fundamentally changes how Maskandi music is being created, distributed, and consumed in
the streaming era.
The Economic Reality Behind the Switch
Young Maskandi musicians are facing a harsh financial reality that older generations never
encountered. A quality concertina costs between R8,000 and R15,000 in South Africa, which
represents months of income for emerging artists trying to establish themselves. These
instruments require regular maintenance, tuning, and repairs that add ongoing expenses to
already tight budgets. MIDI controllers, by contrast, offer access to hundreds of instrument
sounds for a fraction of the cost.
The accessibility of digital production has democratised Maskandi creation in ways
traditional instruments never could. Artists in remote areas who previously needed to travel
to Durban or Johannesburg to access quality instruments can now produce professional-
sounding tracks from their smartphones and basic laptops. This shift has opened the genre
to creators who might have been excluded by the high barriers to entry that traditional
instrumentation required.
Studio Time and Production Costs
Recording traditional concertinas presents unique challenges in studio environments. The
instrument picks up background noise easily, requires careful microphone placement, and
demands multiple takes to capture clean recordings. Studio time in South Africa ranges
from R500 to R2,000 per hour, and accordion-based recordings can consume significantly
more time than digital alternatives.
MIDI-based productions allow artists to record at home, make unlimited edits, and achieve
radio-ready quality without expensive studio bookings. This independence has enabled
emerging Maskandi musicians to release music more frequently and respond quickly to
trends. This gives them a competitive edge in an industry where timing and consistent
output can make the difference between breakthrough success and obscurity.
The Sound Quality Debate.
Purists argue that MIDI concertina sounds lack the organic warmth and subtle imperfections
that define authentic Maskandi music. Traditional concertinas produce natural variations in
tone, breath dynamics, and harmonic overtones that digital instruments struggle to replicate
convincingly. The mechanical action of bellows and buttons creates a physical connection
between musician and instrument that MIDI controllers cannot fully simulate.
However, younger audiences raised on digital music production often cannot distinguish
between well-programmed MIDI concertinas and acoustic recordings. Modern sample
libraries capture every nuance of traditional instruments with such precision that the
average listener streaming music on their phone experiences little audible difference. This
generational divide in perception is reshaping what audiences consider acceptable.
Live Performance Implications
The shift to MIDI controllers creates interesting dynamics in live performance contexts.
Traditional Maskandi shows are centred around the visual spectacle of musicians playing
physical instruments, with the concertina player often taking a prominent position on stage.
MIDI performances can appear less engaging visually, with artists triggering sounds from
compact controllers that lack the theatrical presence of traditional squeezebox instruments.
Some artists have responded by using hybrid setups that combine acoustic guitars with
digital concertina sounds in an attempt to balance authenticity with modern convenience.
Cultural Preservation Concerns
The concertina arrived in South Africa through European settlers and migrant workers, and
over generations, it became deeply integrated into Zulu musical identity. Learning to play
the traditional concertina involves technical skill and absorption of playing styles,
ornamentation techniques, and musical philosophy passed down through mentorship. MIDI
programming requires different skills that do not necessarily include this cultural
transmission.
Music education programmes in KwaZulu-Natal have noticed declining interest in
traditional instrument training amongst young students. When digital alternatives offer
faster results with less physical practice, the incentive to spend years mastering concertina
technique diminishes significantly. This trend threatens the continuity of playing styles and
techniques that have defined Maskandi for decades.