‘South Africans gave Nigerians green light to use Amapiano’ — DJ Maphorisa
South African DJ and producer Maphorisa has stated that South Africans implicitly encouraged Nigerian musicians to adopt the Amapiano genre, highlighting how collaborations between artists from both nations facilitated the genre’s spread.
During a recent discussion about Amapiano’s rise in Nigeria, Maphorisa referenced the song “Sponono,” which features prominent South African artist Kabza De Small alongside Nigerian icons Burna Boy and Wizkid. He emphasized that this collaboration played a significant role in fostering interest among Nigerian musicians in the Amapiano sound.
“By releasing that track, we effectively gave them a green light to explore Amapiano,” Maphorisa remarked.
He characterized “Sponono” as a pivotal record that continues to resonate, noting its success in introducing Amapiano to a broader audience in Nigeria.
In addition, Maphorisa acknowledged several Nigerian figures who have influenced his career, including Don Jazzy, D’banj, P-Square, and Davido. He acknowledged the strategic approach of Nigerian artists, describing them as “very smart” and “very aggressive” in their pursuit of musical success.
