A new sound is taking over Africa.
-
Coined "Afropiano", it is a mix of West African Afrobeats and South African Amapiano. Amapiano, which means "the pianos" in Zulu, is a style of house music that emerged from South Africa in 2012, and gained immense popularity in 2017.
A new sound is taking over Africa. Coined 'Afropiano', it is a mix of West African Afrobeats and South African Amapiano.
Amapiano, which means 'the pianos' in Zulu, is a style of house music that emerged from South Africa in 2012, and gained immense popularity in 2017.
Amapiano is a mix of deep house, kwaito, jazz and lounge music. Afrobeats, on the other hand, is an umbrella term used to describe West African music to outsiders.
It is often confused with 'Afrobeat', the fusion of West African music styles (such as Yoruba traditional music and highlife) and American jazz, funk and soul, which can be traced back to the 1970s and was pioneered by the late Olufela Anikulapo Kuti (Fela).
Afrobeats, also called Afropop or Afrofusion, is a more general term.
Although the definition is heavily contested, most African music pundits have no problem recognising the sound when it is heard.
Although it emerged in South Africa, many across the continent, particularly Nigerian artists and producers, are putting out Amapiano or, more frequently, Amapiano-inspired, songs.
The widespread popularity of these songs in the country is relatively new, but the Nigerian house music scene, which is very much Amapiano-inspired, has been around for a while.
Niniola, who finished fourth in the sixth season of the music show Project Fame West Africa in 2013, has aptly been nicknamed the 'Queen of Afro House.'
Niniola did not always sing in this genre, but after meeting renowned producer Sarz, they founded a new sound in the industry, which at first drew in a fiercely loyal, if niche, crowd.
