The distinctive sound of the log drum permeated the air as several musicians, producers, and industry experts gathered in Miami to celebrate the burgeoning genre of Amapiano. With a sound best described as a hybrid of deep house and jazz with percussive loops reminiscent of lounge music coupled with soulful vocals, Amapiano is arguably South Africa’s hottest new export and its infectious sound continues to attract new audiences as the genre spreads like wildfire.

South African Tourism presented an industry-focused panel discussion in collaboration with Maphike Attorneys Inc., providing an opportunity for creators of this musical style to speak about the cultural impact of Amapiano and discuss the genre’s future as it continues to gain popularity worldwide.

Celebrations continued on at The Goodtime Hotel with DJ AYA spinning Amapiano’s uniquely South African sounds on Thursday, May 25 in Miami Beach, Fla.

Taking place on the eve of the inaugural Afro Nation Miami, which boasts an Amapiano stage, the panel discussion included artists Pabi Cooper and DJ AYA, who was joined by several industry executives, including Yoel Kenan, CEO of Africori, Devon Peterson, Creative Director of Africori, Manaileng Maphike, Attorney at Maphike Attorneys Inc., and Jerry Mpufane, President of South African Tourism North America. The discussion was moderated by Yolanda Sangweni, Vice President of Programming and New Content Development at NPR, with opening remarks by Justin Barnette, Head of Marketing and Communications of South African Tourism North America. The conversation dove into a wide range of topics, including the cultural significance of this new music genre, the impact of its growing popularity worldwide, and the spotlight it has cast on South Africa and its people, fueling industries such as tourism and growing source markets.

Amapiano was born out of the black townships of Gauteng province with a distinctive character rooted in another uniquely South African musical style, Kwaito. The South African youth who grew up on the sounds of Kwaito has led the creation of Amapiano, a musical style distinctly characterized by its use of the log drum, which serves as the sound for the baseline. But while Kwaito reflected the struggles of apartheid, Amapiano boasts a more optimistic tone of a young generation that strives to be unapologetically South African. In fact, Amapiano has become a culture in South Africa with its own fashions and styles and its own speech and dance form, gaining mainstream popularity during the global pandemic.

“As Amapiano makes its way around the world, it’s another way in which South Africa’s history and culture demonstrate its global influence,” said Jerry Mpufane, President of South African Tourism North America. “Amapiano is born out of the soul of South Africa, and they say one of the best ways to experience it to its fullest is to be where the music is. So as this genre continues to captivate global audiences, we hope it inspires them to visit South Africa and learn about the history and culture that influenced the creation of Amapiano.”

Today, Amapiano music can be found in clubs, bars, and music venues across South Africa. Still, there are certain places where one might come across the artists who have been instrumental in Amapiano’s rapid rise to the world stage. Travellers arriving in Johannesburg can head south to Soweto, the birthplace of Kwaito and also the former home of Nelson Mandela. While there, visitors can also take the opportunity to visit the Mandela House Museum, located at his former residence in Soweto, and learn more about South African history and the era of apartheid. Several panellists emphasized that understanding South Africa’s history allows one to understand better how South Africa’s freedom became intertwined with the musical styles that gave the people a platform to express their experiences through sound, movement, and lyrics. In Soweto, there are plenty of venues to choose from where one can regularly hear the sounds or even catch a performance by local Amapiano musicians, like Amapiano pioneer and record label owner Kabza De Small, Njelic, or Kamo Mphela, at venues such as Konka, Zone 6, or Disoufeng.

Roughly one hour north of Johannesburg, the administrative capital city of Pretoria, known as the birthplace of Amapiano, is home to several influential Amapiano musicians such as Pabi Cooper, Focalistic, Chicco, Mellow and Sleazy (who make up a collective called Pitori Super League), and the likes of Vigro Deep. In Pretoria, one can enjoy the latest and most popular new hits at the high-end lounge/restaurant Ayepyep, which boasts two locations in the city (and a third now in Cape Town) and nightclub ZanZou. Visitors can experience the authentic sounds at festivals, including the Straata Nation Address and Mamelodi’s outdoor music festival at Moretele Park, which draws thousands of revellers annually.

While the best place to experience Amapiano is in its birthplace of South Africa, the genre has made its way to clubs, festivals, and bars worldwide, a testament to how infectious the sounds genuine. As a relatively young underground genre, Amapiano could have quickly been stifled by the onset of the pandemic, but instead, it flourished. The artists noted that Amapiano originated in home studios, so it is faithfully poetic that the genre would reach audiences at home through social platforms while millions of people were on lockdown. Its popularity was primarily driven by viral dance challenges, building an appetite for the genre internationally.

Amapiano boasts a unique representation of women, with many of the genre’s biggest names like Uncle Waffles, Pabi Cooper, TXC, and Kamo Mphela, paving the way not only for South African women creators but creators from across the diaspora. It’s not enough to say the women are influencing Amapiano as they define it through the connection of movement and energy in the dance styles performed. The future of Amapiano is full of possibilities as the young artists and creators continue to put their unique stamp on the genre and bring it to the world.

Written by: Matthew Thomas

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