bhangra

Originally traditional Punjabi dance music, developed by South Asian communities in the UK and elsewhere from the 1970s onwards into a hugely popular genre, at least within those communities. The term may derive from bhang, for hemp or cannabis, perhaps because the music was originally associated with the hemp and wheat harvest festival Baisakhi. Prominent UK bhangra bands have included Alaap, Holle Holle, Heera, the Sahotas, and Pardesi. The singer Apache Indian (real name Steve Kapur, 1967– ) has had some success in the mainstream UK pop charts with his ‘bhangramuffin’ fusion of bhangra with rap and reggae/ragga.

Bhangra (Punjabi: ਭੰਗੜਾ, بھنگڑا, bhaṅgṛā) is a lively dance originating from the region of Punjab, now divided between North India and Pakistan. Bhangra has developed from a variety of popular music while rooted from the regions traditions and has a strong youth following around the world.

Bhangra is a fusion of music, singing and the beat of the dhol drum, a single stringed instrument called the iktar (ektara), the tumbi and an instrument reminiscent of an enlarged pair of tongs called chimta.

Bhangra has always been popular amongst Punjabi people all over the world, but it has enjoyed a resurgence over the last ten years or so. However, the most well-known fusion is with hip hop and rap, which became extremely successful among both Indian and European youth after Punjabi MC collaborated with the well-known rapper Jay-Z on a version of one of Panjabi MC's songs. Then, groups like Bombay Squad made recordings which combined bhangra vocals and melodies with hip-hop beats. In fact, these new styles have been so successful that modern bhangra is now being re-exported back to India.

Both collegiate and non-collegiate bhangra competitions are held throughout the world, especially in the Punjab (India and Pakistan), United States, Canada, and the UK.