The popularity of Amapiano is something everyone can attest to, but its origins often spark conversation among people who truly know the history. The sound itself dates back to around 2012, emerging unexpectedly from the underground scene in South African townships. Soweto, Alexandra, and Katlehong became the powerhouses in Johannesburg, while Soshanguve, Atteridgeville, and Mamelodi pushed the wave in Pretoria, making the genre’s roots strongly South African.

When Amapiano started crossing into Nigeria in the late 2010s, the question of who introduced it became a hot debate. Singer May D claimed he was the first, pointing to his collaborations with South African artists and his 2017 track Get Down with Oskido as proof.

On the other side, DJ Maphorisa argued that his work with Wizkid and Burna Boy marked the true first Amapiano crossover. Some fans even traced it further back to Davido’s camp, pointing to his 2014 collaboration with Mafikizolo on Tchelete (Good Life) as early adaptations, though this predated Amapiano's mainstream emergence.

In a podcast clip, DJ Maphorisa shared that Wizkid put him on to Amapiano after hearing the sound at a party in South Africa. According to him, the genre was still underground at the time, and Wizkid’s early interest helped shift attention toward it. Today, Maphorisa stands as one of Amapiano’s global ambassadors, which gives his account some kind of edge in the story of how Nigeria embraced the sound.

Nigerian artists have consistently shown their knack for adopting new sounds and reworking them in creative ways, often matching or surpassing the originators. Producers and artists here embraced this beautiful sound and fused its log drums into Afrobeats, birthing a new wave of trend across the Nigerian industry.

Streaming stats also tell the story. Spotify’s Head of Music in Sub-Saharan Africa revealed that Amapiano listenership in Nigeria increased by 181% in just one year, with the majority of listeners falling between the ages of 18 and 24. That shows just how much the genre resonates with the younger generation.

Recently, Amapiano has gone through the ceiling, reaching a global audience through dance challenges, collaborations, and cultural fusions — and Nigeria has become a big part of that momentum too. Nigerian artists have produced numerous Amapiano-influenced hits that have dominated both local and international charts .In fact, Davido’s Champion Sound was named the most-streamed Amapiano track in Nigeria over the past decade.

Beyond Davido, several Nigerian hits have carried Amapiano into the mainstream, including Bad to Me by Wizkid, Of Lagos by Mayorkun, Equipment by Masterkraft & Flavour, Kilofeshe by Zinoleesky, Highway by Phyno, Monalisa by Lojay, Woman by Rema, Mr Money and Terminator by Asake — the list could go on.

Speaking of Asake, his role cannot be overstated. His unique blend of Amapiano with Fuji elements has given rise to the wild term “Fuji-Piano.” With tracks like Sungba, Palazzo, and Peace Be Unto You With his catalog, one could easily build a full Nigerian Amapiano playlist alone. Asake’s approach dominance has not only redefined how the sound is received at home but has also made him one of the key faces of Amapiano on the global stage.

From its township origins to Nigerian studios, Amapiano continues to prove that great music transcends borders, evolving and adapting while maintaining its infectious energy.

Amapiano, a South African music genre, recorded 1.4 billion streams on Spotify in 2023.

Genre Spotlight: Amapiano In Nigeria

Amapiano, a South African music genre, recorded 1.4 billion streams on Spotify in 2023.

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