Gqom emerged in the early 2010s and quickly took its place in South Africa’s music scene with its raw, minimalist sound. What started in Durban’s underground scene spread fast, eventually catching global attention.

Recently, Spotify reported a 5,732% increase in global Gqom streams since 2018, with peak listening consistently happening on Saturdays between 5pm and 6pm - cementing it as a go-to soundtrack for nightlife and party culture worldwide.

While Gqom is often described simply as South African dance music, the genre has deep roots in traditional house and kwaito. It reworked these foundations by taking out the steady 4/4 kick pattern of typical house music and replacing it with minimalist, broken rhythms. Its sound is defined by heavy basslines, rolling drums and sharp synths, making it distinct from its predecessors.

As the genre grew, it received a notable boost through popular culture. Gqom music influences found its way onto the Black Panther (2018) soundtrack through the track Redemption, credited to Zacari and Babes Wodumo. While “Redemption” blends influences, Babes Wodumo's feature brought Gqom's energy to a massive global platform. As one of Gqom’s defining voices - best known for her hit Wololo - her release effectively carried the sound into a major global moment.

But that global visibility didn't emerge in a vacuum—it was built on years of groundwork by the genre's architects. Gqom's rise was led by early pioneers such as DJ Lag and Distruction Boyz. Tracks like Ice Drop captured the genre’s percussive intensity and helped define its sonic identity. Other key contributors—include Naked Boyz, Rude Boyz, DJ Kay Bee, TLC Fam, and Citizen Boy.

In the genre's early years, minibus taxis served as Gqom’s testing ground. Because the genre’s heavy bass and compressed rhythms cut through noisy environments, taxis became moving sound systems. As Nan Kolè explains in the documentary Woza Taxi, blasting Gqom was a proven way to attract passengers - if your taxi played Gqom, people noticed.

Today, Gqom continues to dominate domestic streaming charts in cities like Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, and Bloemfontein. Internationally, the genre has built strong followings in London, Nairobi, Harare, and Gaborone, with South Africans making up about 39% of its global audience. Standout tracks such as Midnight Starring by Busiswa, Ama Gear by Dlala Thukzin, Wololo by Babes Wodumo, and John Cena by Sho Madjozi have pushed the sound further into the global spotlight.

In today’s industry, Gqom has evolved from an underground movement into a recognized pillar of South African electronic music, with its influence firmly embedded in global club culture like other mainstream genres such as Afrobeats and Amapiano, making it a powerful reminder of how local street sounds can grow and claim its place in the global music conversation.

Gqom (pronounced with a click of the tongue – Nqu-om) is a pulsating and energetic sound started by teenagers in Durban.

Genre Spotlight: Gqom in South Africa

Gqom (pronounced with a click of the tongue – Nqu-om) is a pulsating and energetic sound started by teenagers in Durban.

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