All songs are MP3 320K

The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, later repackaged as The Indestructible Beat of Soweto Volume One, is a compilation album released in 1985 on the Earthworks label, featuring musicians from South Africa, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Mahlathini.

The album was conceived by white South African expatriates Trevor Herman and Jumbo Vanrenen and released in 1985 on the British-based Earthworks label.[1] The following year it was released in the USA by the Shanachie Records label. It features twelve tracks by artists from South Africa. The sleeve notes state that all songs are in the mbaqanga style, a guitar-based style popular at the time in the townships of Johannesburg and Durban, but the tracks actually cover four different styles, mbaqanga, mqashiyo, maskanda, and isicathamiya.[2] The former two are the least traditional-sounding of the styles, while the latter two styles incorporate elements of urban and more rural music. Released prior to the more commercially successful Graceland by Paul Simon, it was one of the first albums of contemporary South African music to be widely available outside the country.[2]

The album has been re-released several times and also spawned a succession of later volumes in the Indestructible Beat series, released by the Earthworks label.

The album was placed in the top 10 in the annual Pazz & Jop poll in the magazine The Village Voice.[4] Allmusic calls it "an essential sampler of modern African styling, a revelation and a joy."[5] Leading critic Robert Christgau gave it an A+ rating,[6] and called it the most important record of the 1980s.[7] It was ranked number 388 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.[8]

1 Awungilobolele Udokotela Shange Namajaha 3:49 2 Holotelani Nelcy Sedibe 3:59 3 Qhude Manikiniki Umahlathini Nabo 3:53 4 Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama Amaswazi Emvelo 3:55 5 Emthonjeni Womculo Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo 3:44 6 Sobabamba Udokotela Shange Namajaha 3:39 7 Qhwayilahle Moses Mchunu 4:18 8 Thul'ulalele Amaswazi Emvelo 3:40 9 Sini Lindile Nganeziyamfisa No Khambalomvaleliso 3:21 10 Ngicabange Ngaqeda Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo 3:03 11 Joyce No. 2 Johnson Mkhalali 3:09 12 Nansi Imali Ladysmith Black Mambazo 5:14