Excellence in the arts continues to resonate at the University of the Free State (UFS), where Master of Music (MMus) student Kamogelo Maloka has been awarded the prestigious Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Scholarship. Selected from a competitive pool of 473 applicants – with only 45 candidates shortlisted – her achievement represents national recognition of both academic excellence and research relevance.

Maloka is currently completing her MMus in Ethnomusicology at the UFS’ Odeion School of Music (OSM), where she is researching township music, with a particular focus on amapiano – a genre that has evolved from South African townships into a global cultural force. Her work situates African popular music within rigorous academic discourse, affirming its place not only on global stages but also in scholarly debate.

From lived experience to academic contribution

Maloka’s musical journey began at the age of nine when she started playing the violin. She later attended the National School of the Arts before enrolling at the UFS, where she completed all her tertiary qualifications in Music.

Her interest in ethnomusicology grew as she encountered the discipline during her studies. “As I explored the field, I found it fascinating. It led to self-discovery and exploration of my own interests,” she says.

Her master’s research centres on amapiano, a genre she has witnessed evolving from its early development to global popularity. “It provides a sense of belonging and sparks joy in many people. It represents more than just a sound; it is a connection to community,” she explains.

Through analysing its lyrics, social contexts, and musical structures, Maloka examines how amapiano reflects township life – narrating everyday realities such as inequality and resilience while simultaneously embodying joy and collective identity.

Her supervisor and promoter, Dr Joseph Kunnuji, says the academic significance of her work lies not only in the genre itself, but in her work as a researcher.

“Kamo’s current research on amapiano … is significant in several respects, not least of which is her positionality as a woman researcher born and raised in Soweto,” Dr Kunnuji says. “Through her own experiences and community ties, she is uniquely placed to document and critically analyse amapiano, amplifying voices and perspectives that might otherwise remain marginalised.”

He further emphasises that Maloka brings “a wealth of lived cultural knowledge”, positioning her to “study and theorise African musical practices through indigenous African concepts and lenses”.

Having mentored Maloka since 2021 – first as her lecturer, then as supervisor for her honours research, and now as her master’s promoter – he has witnessed her academic growth first-hand.

“She has consistently demonstrated determination and an exceptional work ethic,” he notes. “Being awarded the Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship is simply an external affirmation of her resilience and the potential she possesses as an emerging scholar.”

Maloka says the award is both humbling and empowering. “I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. This scholarship will provide me with the opportunity to share my lived experience of the music and culture, offering an insider perspective often underrepresented in academic scholarship.”

Her ultimate aim is to amplify township voices within academia, ensuring that their cultural contributions are documented, theorised, and celebrated on their own terms.