In the world of Amapiano, AMAROTO was a name that resonated with fans, showcasing the incredible talents of Reece Madlisa and Zuma. Recently, Zuma appeared on the JazziQ & Friends podcast to shed light on the burning question that has been on every Amapiano enthusiast’s mind: Why did AMAROTO split up? The revelations that followed were both surprising and enlightening, offering a deeper understanding of the dynamics between the two artists.
During the podcast, Zuma revealed that the inception of AMAROTO was rather serendipitous. The duo initially came together as a result of their close association with JazziQ, who played a pivotal role in bringing them together. Zuma clarified that AMAROTO was not originally a duo consisting of him and Reece, but it was, in fact, JazziQ himself who played a crucial role in the formation of the group.
Zuma revealed that it was JazziQ who suggested the name “AMAROTO” for the duo’s first EP. The EP featured five tracks, including Zuma’s “PHENDULA” and Reece’s “Taxify,”. The EP had the title “AMAROTO,” but it wasn’t necessarily meant to be the official name of the duo. The confusion surrounding AMAROTO arose when the EP was well-received by fans and critics alike. As Zuma entered the industry, the name “AMAROTO” stuck with him and Reece, leading people to believe that they were a permanent duo. However, Zuma clarified that the EP was a collective effort and that AMAROTO wasn’t specifically intended to be the name of their duo.
“So remember, to tell you the truth, AMAROTO was not Reece & Zuma, it was JazziQ. This is Amaroto (pointing to JazziQ). We wanted a name when I wanted to drop ‘PHENDULA’, Reece was supposed to drop ‘Taxify’ and because we always made songs together, JazziQ decided that we drop five tracks from our existing songs then add ‘Phendula’ and ‘Taxify’… Find a name for yourselves as a duo and we failed because we had Alexander what what, so JazziQ is the one that named the EP, ‘AMAROTO’. So to tell you the truth, Amaroto wasn’t a group… Yeah, it wasn’t me and Reece because if you remember when I entered the industry, I was crying, so you decided that here’s a name, name the EP ‘AMAROTO’ then we were always called ‘AMAROTO’ cause it’s Reece Madlisa & Zuma and the EP was ours,” Zuma explained.
While the EP’s success hinted at a promising future for Reece and Zuma as a duo, Zuma revealed that their paths eventually diverged due to creative differences and individual aspirations. Growing up, both artists had distinct visions for their careers, and they felt it was essential to pursue their respective dreams independently.
“So what happened was, just growing up, he has his own thing. I don’t know his plans. I have my own thing which is something I’ve always dreamt of from the start from day one,” Zuma said.
Despite the split, Zuma made it clear that he still cares for Reece and wishes him well. The bond they forged during their collaborative efforts remains intact, and Zuma expressed that he would never be happy to hear about Reece facing hardships.
“So even now we aren’t together but I wouldn’t be happy if I heard Reece is fighting somewhere…it’s always been that thing. ‘AMAROTO’ you gave the name and put us together as we are seen publicly, that’s why the EP is not AMAROTO becauase AMAROTO was the name of the first EP. The artists on it were Reece Madlisa and the f*cked up one (him) as Musa Khawula (gossip blogger) had mentioned,” Zuma explained.
