Amapiano

When you think of South Africa, you might imagine scenic landscapes, a turbulent political history, or the warmth of Ubuntu. But over the past two decades, another export has been quietly shaking dance floors across the world: South African house music. From smoky township clubs in Soweto to upscale lounges in Berlin and beach festivals in Rio, this genre—rooted in local experience yet global in its resonance—has become an unstoppable force.

This is the story of how South African house music, in its various flavors, has grown from a grassroots phenomenon into a global movement.

As Afrobeats continues to dominate playlists globally, another infectious sound has emerged from the south: Amapiano. Born in the townships of South Africa, this hybrid of house, jazz, and kwaito is now a viral sensation, with its hypnotic log drums and groovy basslines captivating listeners from Johannesburg to Berlin.