Today Amapiano is everywhere. Some of the world's biggest artists, including Beyonc , have spoken about being Amapiano fans and have put out tracks featuring Amapiano artists. In 2023, Beyonc even played Amapiano legend Uncle Waffles' song Tanzania during her Renaissance world tour. The genre also got its first Grammy in 2024, with Tyla's Water taking home the Best African Music Performance award.
But that popularity wasn't always guaranteed. When Amapiano first emerged on the streets of South Africa's townships a decade ago, many derided it. It was seen as something for people from low-income areas and was given little chance of achieving mainstream popularity. As more and more young people learned about the genre and spread its songs and videos via social media, however, it was set firmly on the path from underground movement to global sensation.
Young people have always driven big shifts in the music sector, says Jodie Tabisher, Spotify's Artist, Label and Partnerships Manager for South Africa. But with Amapiano, their impact has been and continues to be especially significant.
It's an assertion borne out by Spotify's internal data, which shows that 40% of Amapiano streams in 2023 came from people aged 18 to 24. A further 22% came from people aged 25 to 29. It hasn't hurt that the biggest artists in Amapiano are more or less the same age as their listeners. Even a genre pioneer like Kabza De Small, for example, is only 31 years old.
For those artists, Amapiano hasn't just provided a chance to connect with young artists, though. It's also provided an avenue where they can express themselves fully and authentically.
Amapiano was kind of like a breath of fresh air, the light of the sun, something that was close to our heart, says 27-year-old rapper Focalistic, who plays in the Amapiano space. Just being from Africa, we're obsessed with saying things in our own voice right now. It's how you make an imprint.
Throughout my career, I've been fortunate enough to have a front-row seat to Amapiano's early growth and its later global explosion, says Phiona Okumu, Spotify's Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the things that's always stood out to me, and which I think has helped the genre achieve its global standing, is just how distinctly South African it sounds, looks, and feels. Just by being authentic, Amapiano music and artists channel the most infectious parts of Mzansi dance culture.
While young people have been the biggest drivers of Amapiano over the past decade, its appeal now transcends racial and social boundaries.
When you get to America, the biggest thing from South Africa is Nelson Mandela, and that's because he stood for his country, says Focalistic. That's what Amapiano is: It's about representing where we come from, and I think it's a blessing that people relate to it around the world. At the same time, they can hear the emotion. I think emotion sells it more than just words.
Young Stunna, the 26-year-old singer best known for his hit singles Bopha and Adiwele, concurs.
With Amapiano we're united, he says. I was inspired by artists like Aymos because they knew how to put a story inside the music.
That ability to unify people might help explain why, despite its growing international popularity, Amapiano remains most popular in its home market. According to Spotify data, 55% of all Amapiano streams globally came from South Africa in 2023. It also made up 78% of all streams in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ultimately, it's unlikely that Amapiano would have achieved its current trajectory if its creators didn't produce tracks with infectious dance beats. As singer and dancer Kamo Mphela explains, you cannot separate Amapiano from dance.
Music doesn't move without dance, she says. That's personally my perspective that it is its own language, it's very universal, I don't think both can exist without each other.
Backing this assertion up is the significant role that things like Amapiano dance challenges on social media have played in driving the genre's popularity. There have been instances of dance challenges' leading to the discovery of Amapiano songs and artists and assisting in increasing their streaming numbers, such as Tyla's Water or Uncle Waffles' Yahyuppiyah.
Small wonder, then, that many of today's most popular Amapiano artists are multitalented.
When you look at South African music, Mphela adds, there are people who sing the cha-cha, there are the DJs, and there are the wafflers who DJ and dance, but there are quite a few that actually sing and dance, so that's just me being smart about it and that's the gateway for me.
Phiona concludes that much of Amapiano's success is built on what came before it. But, she adds, the success of Amapiano artists should also give South Africans confidence in their own ability to succeed.
Never would we have thought that piano would go to the places that Kwaito dreamed of all those years ago. It's happening because we stuck to our guns, she says. We know we're fly, we have the dances, we have the songs, we have the beats, we have everything.
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
12/09/2026
Latest Obsolete Devices pedal announced
Great Eastern FX Co. have just launched the latest pedal in their Obsolete Devices series, a range of effects pedals...
12/09/2026
September 11, 2026
BUDAPEST & SEATTLE, 10 September 2026 - Qumulo and Colorfron...
12/09/2026
Calrec expands its IP ecosystem with new Type RT console and Apex M6 Modular I/O Platform at IBC 2026 Type RT is the centrepiece of Calrec's news at IBC 202...
11/09/2026
Spark series gains compact modelling stompbox
Positive Grid's Spark amps have become a popular part of the company's line-up, offering a convenient ...
11/09/2026
New flagship sequencing plug-in revealed
Rapid Flow have just launched a new 16-track sequencer plug-in which they say has been designed for total rhythmic...
11/09/2026
Rohde & Schwarz unveils the air-cooled R&S TM1 medium-power UHF transmitter at I...
11/09/2026
Friday 11 September 2026
Sky Sports extends US Open deal to 2030
Sky has agreed a three-year extension to its US Open deal, ensuring Sky Sports & NOW remains ...
11/09/2026
Wuppertal September 11, 2026
A Decade of Innovation: AMP VISUAL TV Builds on Ten Years of MediorNet EvolutionAMP VISUAL TV is continuing the evolution of its ...
11/09/2026
Wuppertal September 11, 2026
Mediacom Deploys Riedel Easy5G for Wireless Camer...
11/09/2026
Wuppertal September 11, 2026
Touring Video Expands Flexible Production Workflows With Riedel MediorNet and hiRiedel Communications today announced that Tourin...
11/09/2026
Wuppertal September 11, 2026
Riedel Technology Powers Record-Breaking Esports World Cup Production in ParisFrom July 6 to Aug. 23, 2026, Paris hosted the Espo...
11/09/2026
Article courtesy of Digital Production
Read the article
With Baselight 8 coming in 2027, the interesting part is not the number of new buttons. Some features...
11/09/2026
It's almost iPhone Pro time. Starting Saturday, September 12, at 1 p.m, cust...
11/09/2026
RT has today announced Benetti Menswear as the sponsor of its 2026 Amgen Irish Open coverage for a sixth consecutive year, further strengthening the heritage c...
10/09/2026
Editing, restoration & mastering suite upgraded Acon Digital Acoustica 8 audio editing restoration mastering software.
Acon Digital have just launched the la...
10/09/2026
Classic synths & drum machines available to play
Based in Reading, UK, Readipop are a music and arts charity with a long track record of innovative, partici...
10/09/2026
Popular model updated & new addition introduced
With many of the models in Neumann's KH family now boasting onboard DSP and support for the company'...
10/09/2026
Improved desktop interface announced
The latest iteration of Arturia's flagship desktop audio interface has just arrived, introducing improved preamps, ...
10/09/2026
Progress needs proof: Rohde & Schwarz showcases its trailblazing test solutions ...
10/09/2026
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max,...
10/09/2026
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Watch Ultra 4 - the ultimate ...
10/09/2026
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Watch Series 12, engineered w...
10/09/2026
The beloved duo are back with big challenges and even bigger laughs as they discover if you're ever truly too old to try something new.
Previous praise for...
10/09/2026
Thursday 10 September 2026
Sky News Defence Insider app launches as new researc...
10/09/2026
Thursday 10 September 2026
Award-winning network Sky Mobile to offer Apple iPho...
10/09/2026
Thursday 10 September 2026
Sky unveils gripping teaser for The Good Daughter, coming this NovemberTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy options a...
10/09/2026
Harmonic Leads the New Era of Broadband Connectivity at SCTE TechExpo 2026 Showcase Spotlights Include:
New cOS SensAI intelligence fabric unleashing data-pow...
10/09/2026
RT to Broadcast Amgen Irish Open free-to-air
New multi-year agreement will see RT continue to bring the Amgen Irish Open to Irish audiences
Ryder Cup hig...
10/09/2026
More than 30 women report allegations of sexual harassment, misogyny and bullying within National Ambulance Service
Tonight on RT Prime Time, 9:35pm, RT One ...
10/09/2026
Series 3 of Nero's Class begins Friday 11 September on RT Listen
The third...
09/09/2026
New parts aimed at hip-hop and pop productions
The latest update to Celemony's innovative virtual session musician expands the collection of built-in in...
09/09/2026
Save up to 40% until 21 September 2026
Sonarworks are currently running their Autumn Sale, with discounts of up to 40% currently available across their rang...
09/09/2026
Upcoming title officially launches in September 2026
Bjooks' celebrations for this year's 909 Day will be welcome news amongst drum machine lovers, ...
09/09/2026
** MEDIA ALERT **
NARUTO Takes the Stage at New York Comic Con 2026 Special Panel to Feature Franchise News, First-look Footage and Appearances by Japanese ...
09/09/2026
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced iPhone Duo, the first foldable iPhone. Opened, it is the thinnest iPhone ever, with a 7.6-inch inner display that p...
09/09/2026
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced AirPods 5, delivering the industry&#...
09/09/2026
Chennai/Luxembourg, 9 September 2026 - SES, a leading space solutions company, today announced the inauguration of its new office in Chennai, India, marking a s...
09/09/2026
September 9 2026, 22:35 (PDT) Cinema Sunshine Becomes Japan's First Exhibit...
09/09/2026
Wednesday 9 September 2026
Tom Daley adds final stitch to giant Baa-Ewe' t...
09/09/2026
Red Seat Ventures Integrates Barometer into Speakeasy to Maximize Podcast Revenu...
09/09/2026
Baselight-powered color comes natively to Media Composer, connecting creative de...
09/09/2026
RT brings three packed days of live radio, entertainment, news, weather and fun
Join RT Radio 1: Morning Ireland, Oliver Callan, Today with David McCullagh,...
08/09/2026
Built for rap producers, by rap producers
Sauceware Audio, the independent plug-in company founded by Grammy-nominated producer Jacob (Travis Scott, 21 Sava...
08/09/2026
Classic Sound Techniques design revived
Warm Audio's latest release delivers a meticulous recreation of the preamp circuitry employed by the Sound Techn...
08/09/2026
Latest soft synth inspired by the Memorymoog
XILS Lab have just launched a software instrument that draws its inspiration from Moog's iconic Memorymoog,...
08/09/2026
September 08, 2026 NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Soundcraft today announced the launch of its Signature Plus Series Analog Connected Mixing Consoles. As the next genera...
Today Amapiano is everywhere. Some of the world's biggest artists, including Beyonc , have spoken about being Amapiano fans and have put out tracks featuring Amapiano artists. In 2023, Beyonc even played Amapiano legend Uncle Waffles' song Tanzania during her Renaissance world tour. The genre also got its first Grammy in 2024, with Tyla's Water taking home the Best African Music Performance award. 
