The international sound of South African hood

From the startling drum bass to the heartfelt harmonies, joyous percussions and memorable basslines, these elements make up the remarkable sound of amapiano. Amidst songs that sing of aspirations to win the lotto to ones that share the pain of heartbreak, amapiano is sure to transcend the dancefloor of any party.

Amapiano artists Focalistic, Major League DJ's, Lady Du and Musa Keys. [Image taken from Forbes Africa]

Amapiano is a fusion of jazzy chords and afro percussion that lends its sound to its predecessors. It is a cultural movement providing an accurate portrayal of South African music from the 1990s till today. The subgenre is a culmination of African musicality, with lyrics that encapsulate the black experience in the townships. Having a pace faster than kwaito but slower than gqom, amapiano revives the quintessence of the 1990s kwaito and the house sound di bacardi.

Amapiano was first created on cracked software, distributed across Whatsapp statuses and marketed by word of mouth and social media. The genre was pioneered by various artists such as Kabza De Small, Junior Taurus, Mr JazziQ and Josiah De Disciple to name a few. Amapiano music evolved in the manner it did as a direct response to how the South African music industry prevented most independent artists from recording their music and performing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isYm52A9WFQ

DBN Gogo, Boiler Room System: Amapiano London

There is something to say about how amapiano has been utilised and transcended borders, unlike kwaito music, even though it had a unique sound. While amapiano is massive in South Africa, its potential for global impact can be seen in its popularity across Africa. The emergence of amapiano was incited by years of global intrigue for South African electronic dance music. The subgenre's transition from being an underground sound in the townships to one that is mainstream and, now taking on a global audience from using messaging apps as a marketing tool, holds teachings for other music scenes worldwide.

When amapiano squirmed its way into township bars and hot spots, its sound did not have the soulful vocals we hear today. In its formative years, amapiano was just instrumental, with elements of jazzy chord progressions, afro percussion, and a bassline imitative of di bacardi. Vocals were incorporated when the sound became famous and dominated the mainstream space. In 2016 the music began to receive traction apart from its enthusiasts and listeners.

Although its rise signifies a shift in what represents the sound of South African music at this moment, the affinity in samples used in amapiano overcasts the diverseness in sound that has grown over the years. To ensure staying power and more acknowledgement of the subgenre, an in-depth understanding of the history of music made in townships post-apartheid could be the answer to it being a timeless subgenre.