The musical that moved the world to SA’s beat
- Chanté Schatz
Amapiano, the musical genre that emerged from the townships of SA in the mid-2010s, has grown from a local underground sound into a global cultural force.
A fusion of deep house, jazz, kwaito and lounge music, Amapiano’s roots lie in the streets of Gauteng, particularly in Pretoria and Johannesburg, where young producers began experimenting with slowed-down beats, log drum basslines and airy melodies.
From Soshanguve, Edenvale, Thembisa
This DIY spirit gave rise to a new wave of artists who bypassed industry gatekeepers to connect directly with audiences. Artists like Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa, known collectively as the Scorpion Kings, led the charge. Rising stars like Uncle Waffles went viral globally, landing a residency on BBC Radio 1 and performing at Coachella 2024. DJ Tyler ICU’s global hit Mnike dominated charts worldwide, while singer-songwriter Tyla, though blending Amapiano with pop and R&B, won a 2024 Grammy for Best African Music Performance for her track Water.
For Wits Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Studies, Dr Palesa Nqambaza-Lebea, currently based at the University of Oxford, Amapiano is both a cultural and a political movement. “It may sound like party music but the genre is rooted in conditions of struggle,” she explains. “Those dreams emerge from a place of material lack.”
Remembering roots
Nqambaza-Lebea links Amapiano’s rise to broader themes in her research on race, gender and post-apartheid South Africa. She sees the genre as a voice of the youth, seemingly apolitical but layered with the realities of inequality, economic precarity and survival. “It’s a schizophrenic relationship,” she says. “The music offers escape but also reminds us from what we’re trying to escape.”
Amapiano’s evolution also mirrors shifts in youth identity. For Nqambaza-Lebea, the genre “celebrates the genius that comes from the township”, while offering nostalgia and freshness in equal measure. “It’s a trip,” she says. “It reminds you of the '90s, of kwaito, but it’s also fast paced and global. That combination is what makes it so powerful.”
Yet despite having its roots here, Amapiano is no longer confined within South Africa’s borders.
SA = Amapiano
“When I’m abroad, people don’t say ‘South Africa – Mandela’ anymore. They say ‘South Africa – Amapiano’. That says something. In Europe, at Amapiano festivals, you’ll see people from Tanzania, Botswana and Ghana waving their flags, singing along. It’s beautiful to witness, especially when we think about how we treat other Africans back home.”
Internationally, Amapiano is now “putting South Africa on the map” in ways that once belonged to the likes of Mandela. Yet the genre’s global success has also raised questions of ownership and cultural equity, particularly in how African creators benefit from platforms like TikTok.
“African content creators drive the trends, but they aren’t the ones getting paid. A DJ in South Africa might inspire a viral TikTok but it’s a creator in the North who monetises it. That’s political.”
Breaking rules, setting trends
What makes Amapiano’s rise truly disruptive is that it broke every conventional rule. It didn’t emerge from record labels or radio stations – it rose from the ground up, through viral dance videos, WhatsApp shares and township parties. It redefined who gets to lead in music culture and how.
“It’s wild,” says Wits alumnus and Amapiano DJ Sicelo Mabaso, describing the sound that first gripped him in a packed nightclub in 2019. “People were going crazy over the beat, it was more than music, it was electricity.”
Mabaso, who goes by the stage name Polymath at popular lounge spot Drama Bar in Braamfontein, explains how Amapiano has transformed how South African youth experience music. “It’s now an immersive thing, every song has a dance, a trend, a look. It’s a lifestyle. It’s culture. It’s fashion. It’s a certain way of talking, of dressing, of showing up.”
Dance moves like the Tshwala Bam have gone viral, fuelled by TikTok. “Amapiano and TikTok are made for each other. It’s why the sound travels fast and far,” said Mabaso.
With its evolution into sub-genres and its ever-growing global appeal, Amapiano has done more than disrupt the music scene, it’s transformed it. What began in the streets is now shaping stages worldwide, one beat at a time.
What Witsies Say
Q: In one word, what does Amapiano sound like to you?
Heavenly. It just makes me want to move — Ziyanda Mbutho
A vibe. There are layers to it, chilled or upbeat depending on your day — Paballo Sethathi
Heartbeat. You don’t just hear it, you feel it — Inathinkosi Doncabe
Q: When did you first hear Amapiano, and what do you remember about that moment?
At a taxi rank in Tembisa. I was waiting for a ride and immediately asked the driver for the name of the song — Lesedi Mokoena
In high school. I would see my classmates recording themselves dancing to Amapiano songs during break — Neha Naidoo
During 足球竞彩app排名. I was scrolling on TikTok and there was this song John vul'igate that was literally all over my social media — Matthew de Villiers
Q: How has Amapiano changed how young people in South Africa experience music?
By giving them freedom to express themselves creatively through dance, fashion and a carefree, free-spirited culture — Ziyanda Mbutho
It has empowered young township artists to take ownership of the genre and lead its direction, becoming pioneers of its future — Paballo Sethathi
It opened doors in a difficult industry and made music relatable to everyone — Inathinkosi Doncabe
Q: How do you feel about international artists joining the Amapiano wave?
Let them come but with respect and collaboration. Our artists also have to benefit from the international recognition — Lesedi Mokoena
It’s exciting but we must make sure South African creators benefit — Neha Naidoo
I don’t follow it closely but I see it across the globe and it’s nice to see people from our home, like Tyla, making waves on international stages — Matthew de Villiers
Q: Is Amapiano the sound of Gen Z?
Definitely. I cannot imagine my mother doing all these dance moves, like the Bacardi move. I think it's just for us, the most free-spirited generation — Ziyanda Mbutho
It’s definitely for the Gen Z’s. We are the ones shaping it — Paballo Sethathi
It is, because it brings young people together to connect, have fun and enjoy what they love, through music — Inathinkosi Doncabe
Q: Why do Amapiano dance trends go viral on social media?
Because they’re organic. Someone posts a video in their backyard and suddenly it’s everywhere — Lesedi Mokoena
It’s more than dancing, it’s identity. Everyone wants to feel part of something — Neha Naidoo
It’s fun, it’s easy to learn and the beats are addictive. You can’t scroll past it — Matthew de Villiers