#kwaito

Amapiano, a Nguni word loosely translated to "the pianos", is a South African subgenre of house music that emerged in South Africa in the mid-2010s. It is a hybrid of deep house, jazz, and lounge music characterized by synths and wide percussive basslines.

There is ambiguity and debate concerning its origins, with various accounts of the musical styles in the Johannesburg townships. Because it has a small similarities with Bacardi, some people assert the genre began in Pretoria but it remains uncertain. Various accounts as to who formed the popular genre make it impossible to accurately pinpoint its origins.

The word amapiano is a IsiZulu or IsiXhosa, or dipiano is a word loosely translated to "the pianos", The genre is mostly sang in Zulu and Xhosa, Sotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, one of South Africa's native tongues.

Amapiano is a subgenre of house and kwaito music. It is a hybrid of deep house, jazz, and lounge music characterised by synths and wide percussive basslines.

Amapiano is distinguished by high-pitched piano melodies, kwaito from South Africa basslines, low tempo 1990s South African house rhythms and percussions from another local subgenre of house known as tribal house.

An important element of the genre is the prevalent use of the "log drum", a wide percussive bassline, which was popularised by producer MDU aka TRP. According to amapiano pioneer Kabza De Small:

I don't know what happened. I don't know how he figured out the log drum. Amapiano music has always been there, but he's the one who came up with the log drum sound. These boys like experimenting. They always check out new plug-ins. So when MDU figured it out, he ran with it.

I never thought I would have to write such a message, but today, I have no choice.

My family and I have lost everything—our home, our belongings, our dreams—all destroyed by the horrors of war.

We are now displaced, struggling to find shelter, food, and safety.

We were once like you, living normal lives, with hopes for the future. But war took everything from us in an instant. Now, we find ourselves with nothing but the kindness of strangers to rely on.

If you can help in any way—whether through donations, food, or simply spreading my message—we would be forever grateful. Every small act of kindness brings us one step closer to rebuilding our lives.

Please, if you have the means, help us find hope again.

With gratitude and hope,

Amapiano or more accurately South African hip hop and Kwaito music. I spent so many years hearing those songs around me and it just reminds me of home. I learnt some local languages and hearing them in music reminds me of my family, my friends, my high-school and childhood.

Various Artists - Urban Africa Club: Hip Hop Dancehall And Kwaito

(2007 compilation)

Youtube Playlist (missing track 1) | Bandcamp