With the inception of Amapiano music in 2012, many new musicians came to SA’s music scene and built the genre into the increasingly popular export that it is today – and the global stage Spotify provides has just launched Amapiano even further across the world. 

In recognition of Amapiano’s cultural significance, Spotify aims to educate, celebrate, and spotlight popular South African genres and their history. 

SOUNDS OF SOUTH AFRICAN STREETS: A HISTORY OF SA GENRES

One cannot speak about South African music without recognising its inherent ties to South Africa’s history. Kwaito, which originated from Soweto and coincided with Nelson Mandela’s inauguration, was a genre arising from the post-apartheid zeitgeist, and which moved into the mainstream in a big way. 

Kwaito, for many, started as the sound of freedom in South African streets, with musicians of colour now able to access the industry and find global recognition. From there, Kwaito would give rise to its evolutions: Gqom, South African House/Dance, and, contemporarily, Amapiano.

Over the past 90 days, South Africa–based music lovers led Amapiano listens and generated a whopping 149 million streams of tracks in the genre on Spotify. Combined listeners in the U.K., U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, and France generated streams reaching 42 million while streams generated in Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, and Namibia came up to 16 million. In total, the top 10 countries streaming Amapiano over the past three months produced a total of roughly 207 million streams.

SUPPORTING MZANSI MUSIC: EDUCATING, CELEBRATING, SPOTLIGHTING

Spotify values amplifying artists and accessibility – both for musicians and for listeners. In Spotify’s mission to support the South African music scene, these values are central. Below are some of the ways in which Spotify is elevating South African music. 

WHAT THE STATS SAY ABOUT LISTENERSHIP

• Kwaito has fans across the board, with listeners spanning 18 to 44 years of age
• Amapiano’s listenership is almost half Gen Zers, with 44% of listeners being between 18 and 24
• Outside of South Africa,  Kwaito, Gqom, and South African House/Dance all have huge audiences in Germany
• Consistent chart-topper DJ Maphorisa is the top artist on Spotify in the Amapiano genre