Amapiano, the word being used to describe what's currently South Africa's fastest-growing electronic-music movement. Emerging around the townships of Pretoria in 2016, Amapiano is a medley of deep house, jazz, kwaito and lounge music with distinct synths, airy pads, wide basslines and percussions from another local subgenre of house called Bacardi. The name was selected to reflect the melodious piano keyboards that underlie fast-pace Gqom beats. It is a combination of the Zulu plural article "ama" and the English noun "piano".
It is clear to anyone who has been keeping an eye on South Africa's music scene that 2019 was a big year for emerging house genre Amapiano. In the recent 2019 documentary 'Shaya!', DJs and fans of the popular house subgenre made it clear that the sound, which morphs elements of South Africa's already popular house music with new distinct beats and rhythms, is here to stay for the long run and is poised to leave a long-lasting impact on South African culture.
Initially, Amapiano was classified as simply an underground sound that floated amongst Gauteng township's residential DJs' WhatsApps and house parties. Following key releases from popular South African artists like Samthing Soweto, Moonchild Sanelly, and Sho Madjozi, the sound blew up to become an anthemic part of South Africa's house scene.
Now in 2024, Amapiano is extending its reach beyond South Africa and topping the charts in countries around the continent. For those unfamiliar with the genre, check out various Amapiano playlist on Youtube/Spotify.