Here are South Africa’s leading amapiano artists by social media influence

Amapiano is a sub-genre of house music that originated in South Africa and has gained recognition across the world. It is a blend of deep house, jazz, kwaito, and lounge, and it is distinguished by high-pitch piano sounds, kwaito basslines, and percussions from another native sub-genre known as tribal house.

The sound of Amapiano continued its upward trajectory in 2022, serenading every part of the globe and for the first time, an Amapiano artist was featured in the 2022 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 List.

Here (in no particular order) are some of the hit makers promoting the Amapiano genre, including their social media value.

Lojay

Though not from South Africa, Lojay is on the list for his significant involvement in the genre. Lekan Osifeso Jnr. Known popularly as Lojay is a Nigerian musician, singer, songwriter, and performing artist. He has two EPs, Midnight Vibes (2017) and LV N ATTN (2021).

Deezer: 24.1K fans

YouTube: 208K Subscribers

Instagram: 316K Followers

Twitter: 125K Followers

Spotify: 2.8m Monthly Listeners

Boomplay: 13.6m Listeners

Last.fm: 34.5K Listeners and 299.2K Scrobbles


Major League DJz

The South African twin brothers Bandile and Banele Mbere were born in the United States, but they later moved to South Africa, where their fame and fortune began.

Deezer: 50.2K fans

YouTube: 744K Subscribers

Instagram: 1.8m Followers

Twitter: 458K Followers


Focalistic

Lethabo Sebesto, known professionally as Focalistic, is a South African rapper with three albums Sgubu ses Excellent (2020), President Ya Straata (2021), and Ghetto Gospel (2022). He won the Best South African Artiste of the Year at the 15th Headies Awards held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Deezer: 67.4K fans

YouTube: 265K Subscribers

Instagram: 2.1m Followers

Twitter: 481.7K Followers

Spotify: 1.1m Monthly Listeners

Boomplay: 10.1m Listeners

Last.fm: 7.5K Listeners and 51.2K Scrobbles


Musa Keys

Musa Appreciate Makamu, also known as Musa Keys, grew up in his native Polokwane in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. He is known for his sweet and soft melody.

Deezer: 30.5K fans

YouTube: 162K Subscribers

Instagram: 1m Followers

Twitter: 111.6K Followers

Spotify: 516.2K Monthly Listeners

Boomplay: 2.3m Listeners

Last.fm: 3.9K Listeners and 29.5K Scrobbles

Lady Du

Duduzile Ngwenya, known by her stage name, Lady Du, hails from Vosloorus, South Africa, and she is one of the new entrants in the Amapiano scene, but she is making huge waves.

Deezer: 29.5K fans

YouTube: 30.5K Subscribers

Instagram: 1.7m Followers

Twitter: 45.1K Followers

Spotify: 187.9K Monthly Listeners

Boomplay: 360.3K Listeners

Last.fm: 1.3K Listeners and 5.8K Scrobbles


Mr. JazziQ

Tumelo Manyoni, known as Mr. JazziQ, is a former member of the Amapiano DJ duo, JazziDisciples. Born and raised in Alexandra, Gauteng, South Africa, Mr. JazziQ began his DJ career at age 14. He is a record producer and one of the leading Amapiano DJs in the country. He has four studio albums 0303 (2020), For The Babies (2020), Party With The English (2021), and All You Need Is Piano (2022).

Deezer: 65K fans

YouTube: 92.6K Subscribers

Instagram: 1.6m Followers

Twitter: 340.6K Followers

Spotify: 385.5K Monthly Listeners

Boomplay: 3.1m Listeners

Last.fm: 5.1K Listeners and 50.3K Scrobbles

BN Gogo

Mandisa Radebe ‘DBN Gogo’ is a South African female DJ and record producer born n Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She is the daughter of Jeff Radebe, a former South African Minister of Energy, and Bridget Radebe, a South African business tycoon. She is the niece of the South African Billionaire Patrice Motsepe and the First Lady of South Africa, Tshapo Motsepe-Rmaphosa. DBN Gogo has thee music albums, Thokoza Café (2020), Breath Through(2021), and What’s Real (2022).

Deezer: 36.5K fans

YouTube: 131K Subscribers

Instagram: 1.5m Followers

Twitter: 375.1K Followers

Spotify: 902.8K Monthly Listeners

Boomplay: 1.1m Listeners

Last.fm: 21.4K Listeners and 84.7K Scrobbles