Nandi Madida: “My hope is that Amapiano grows around the world”
Nandi hopes that the South African pioneers of Amapiano get the credit they deserve.
Amapiano music continues to take over the world with stars such as Jamie Foxx and Ciara jamming to the popular genre.
While this is great news for the South African music industry, singer Nandi Madida hopes people will always remember where it all started.
“My hope is that this beautiful genre called Amapiano grows around the world as it is,but that the world knows & appreciates the fact that it is a South African sound. And that South African artists/Dj’s/producers etc. are empowered on a global scale & not appropriated,” she wrote on Twitter.
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My hope is that this beautiful genre called Amapiano grows around the world as it is,but that the world knows & appreciates the fact that it is a South African sound 🇿🇦.And that South African artists/Dj’s/producers etc. are empowered on a global scale & not appropriated. 🙏🏽❤️
— Nandi Madida (@Nandi_Madida) December 8, 2022
Amapiano, which translates to “the pianos” in isiZulu, started gaining traction in 2012 with the genre going mainstream around 2018. It is a subgenre of house and jazz music.
Amapiano is believed to have started in Johannesburg townships before spreading all over South Africa and then several other parts of Africa. The sound has become especially popular in Nigeria and Ghana.
Several international music stars have featured on Amapiano songs. Ed Sheeran released a 'Bad Habits' Amapiano remix featuring local artist Kooldrink.
British singer Jorja Smith teamed up with Ghanaian DJ, Guilty Beatz, on an Amapiano song called, ‘All of This’.
Alicia Keys, Diddy, Usher Ludacris, and Doja Cat are also fans of Amapiano music.
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South African musicians, including Major League DJz, Focalistic, Musa Keys, Soa Mattrix, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Lady Du, Samthing Soweto, Moonchild Sanelly, and DNB Gogo, have been credited with helping take the genre abroad.
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Cassper Nyovest also hopped onto the genre in 2021. He collaborated with Alie-Keyz and British singer-songwriter Raye on 'Summer Love'.
Nandi collaborated with Lebza The Villain on 'With You' in 2022 - the song has amapiano and house music influences.
Listen to the track below.
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Main image credit: Instagram/@nandi_madida