Nigerian musician Davido gave full credit to South Africa, saying Amapiano started there and only began taking over internationally in the last five years.
Image: X/@instablog9ja
"Amapiano to the world," they say, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that. What started as a regional sensation has turned into a global phenomenon, flooding airwaves from Mzansi to the UK, the US, and beyond.
But what’s all the hype about, and how did Amapiano, the genre that has dominated the music scene, become the sound of the moment?
Musician and global superstar Davido recently had an enlightening chat with Charlamagne Tha God, where he spilled the tea on Amapiano’s roots. For anyone wondering where this infectious music came from, Davido’s got your back.
"Amapiano is from South Africa," he said, like it’s the simplest thing in the world. "So, South Africans since time have always had great, dope music."
According to his knowledge, Amapiano took the world by storm about five years ago. In just half a decade, this genre went from being a local banger to an international sensation.
The genre itself started evolving around 2012, growing from Pretoria and Joburg’s townships, blending deep house, jazz, and kwaito.
By 2019, it was already dominating the South African charts and then came TikTok, global dance challenges, and boom: Amapiano became the export nobody saw coming.
Producers like MFR Souls, Kabza De Small, and JazziDisciples were among the first to drop early Amapiano bangers – before the genre even had a name.
De Small, often called the “King of Amapiano,” alongside DJ Maphorisa, helped push it to the masses with hits like “Amantombazane” and the 2019 mega-hit “Lorch.”
By the time “eMcimbini” and “Sponono” dropped, it was a wrap. Amapiano wasn’t just local, it became continental. Platforms like TikTok gave it an international boost, and suddenly, club DJs in London, Lagos, and Los Angeles were all spinning the log drum-heavy sound.
Known for his smash hits like "Unavailable", Davido is no stranger to South African sounds.
"Since early in my career, I’ve been collaborating with South Africans," he shared.
And we’re not just talking about collaborations; Amapiano has made its way into international music in the most seamless way possible, with artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, and even Drake dabbling in the genre.
Tyla, the global breakout star whose chart-topping hit “Water” added even more shine to the South African sound. While her music mixes elements of R&B, Afrobeats, pop and Amapiano, she’s been intentional about where her sound is rooted.
In interviews, Tyla has proudly claimed South African genres like Amapiano as part of her DNA. And if you listen closely to her catalogue, that signature percussive bounce and layered rhythm? That’s Amapiano influence, baby!
The genre is, without a doubt, a cultural wave, and in Mzansi, Amapiano is already part of daily life. Whether you’re at a car wash in Soweto or a rooftop braai in Cape Town, there’s always that familiar bass creeping in, followed by a chorus that gets the whole crowd chanting.
Mzansi couldn't be happier. One fan wrote, "Shout out Davido for keeping it real and showing SA love. Nothing but facts from his mouth."
Another wrote, "He has always respected our artists' work ❤️."
While another commented, "Thank you Dave 🇿🇦🇿🇦 SA is happy 🔥🙌"