Scorpion Kings (DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small). Picture: Instagram
The Amapiano music genre has gained significant popularity over the past 10 years, showcasing the country's unique culture globally and giving meteoric rise to talented local stars.
The genre has also boosted the music scene, empowering countless musicians to ascend to new heights and inspire extraordinary stories.
From vibrant dance challenges across different countries and touching people from all walks of life, to the emergence of music mavericks who constantly produce masterpieces, Amapiano continues to make big strides.
Prominent performers including DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Young Stunna, Focalistic, Tyler ICU, Daliwonga, Mas Musiq, Kelvin Momo, Aymos, Mellow & Sleazy are among those who have solidified their names in the music scene.
Owing to this critical influence, Spotify has launched A Decade of Amapiano, a site looking at the past decade of Amapiano and its different key influences, complemented by an on-platform Amapiano destination with pivotal playlists and podcasts for anyone wishing to learn more about the genre’s origins, sounds, and future.
The website was introduced in June, coinciding with a significant historical turning point in the youth of the nation's battle for freedom and justice, highlighting that they now use Amapiano as a platform to freely express themselves.
With A Decade of Amapiano, the music streaming platform demonstrated its dedication to fostering the development of locally produced music in Africa.
It further chronicles the genre's rise to prominence in music, presenting some of the genre's most important musicians, and its origins from South Africa’s townships to international stages.
Some of the key Amapiano data on Spotify over the last ten years include:
345k%+ growth 2023 versus 2014
Over 855 million so far in 2024.
153k%+ growth in exports in 2023 versus 2014
87% growth of female artists in 2023 versus 2022
40% of listeners are between 18 and 24 years
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music in Sub-Saharan Africa noted that, “one of the most affirming parts of watching Amapiano explode over the past decade is seeing how people use it for self-expression.’’
Spotify has been a prominent advocate for home-grown music, launching “Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion streams” last year to also celebrate the genre.
Local music pioneers who have made major contributions to the business were also highlighted last month on a number of platforms, such as “The Official South African Music Charts”, which featured artists such as Uncle Waffles among many others who are dominant on the charts.
Saturday Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
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