In the face of oppression and hardship, creative media emerges as a source of community and support. In South Africa, against the backdrop of difficult living conditions for black people brought about by the rapid industrialization of the mining revolution, a new style of music developed to comfort beleaguered workers. He transcended their many monetary and racial differences, successfully uniting people whose only commonality was their shared enslavement. The unique blend of traditional African rhythms, combined with the influence of the thriving American jazz movement, gave rise to a unique neo-African song style called Marabi. Music communicated political frustration, protest and provided an escape from daily adversity. However, its ultimate power lay in its ability to inspire national pride and unity, challenging the derogatory racial thinking imposed on black South Africa at the turn of the 19th century. The mining revolution transformed South Africa from an underdeveloped agriculture-based society to an industrialized nation society within a few years, completely changing the social and political spheres. It all began in 1867 with the discovery of diamonds near the convergence of the Orange and Vaal rivers. The diamond rush was well underway by 1870, but was overtaken in the 1880s by the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand Reef. Gold quickly became South Africa's main export, creating incredible wealth for white business owners. This enormous profitability was based on the exploitation of a large group of poor black workers. The European ideals of social Darwinism and scientific racism prevalent at the time guided British policy towards the indigenous populations of the colonies. Black people in South Africa were a middle of paper. Marabi Nights: Jazz, “Race” and Society. Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, 2012. Print. Byrnes M., Rita. The mineral revolution. Library of Congress, 1996. Web. April 13, 2014.Gilbert, Donald Wood. “The economic effects of gold discoveries on South Africa: 1886-1910.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 47.4 (1933): 553-597. Commercial source completed. Internet. April 13, 2014.Gwangwa, Jonas, van Aurich, Fulco. The melody of freedom. History of South Africa Online, nd Web. April 13, 2014.Magubane, Bernard. “The political economy of the South African revolution.” Michigan State University Libraries, Web. April 13, 2014 Meintjes, Louise. Rev. from Marabi Nights: Early South African Jazz and Vaudeville, by Christopher Ballantine. Popular Music, 15.2 (1996): 245-247. Internet. April 13, 2014.South African music: Marabi. South Africa.info, nd Web. April 13. 2014.