Mbaqanga is not just about music, it is about life. The word mbaqanga refers to a type of steamed bread made of corn. Ultimately, mbaqanga is a celebration of food, music, love, sex, all the vibrant realities of life. It begins with a single rhythm, which is akin to the heartbeat. The single rhythm reminds us of our mothers, pounding the maize in preparation of the mbaqanga, the bread, which sustains us. Two heartbeats pounding together suggest the proximity of love. The combination of two rhythms increases the speed of the rhythm and suggests the urgency of sensuality.