ICYMI : Ukhozi FM DJ AshtonBoya Drops First Amapiano Song. 2023 continues to be a triumphant year for amapiano. The genre continued its steady bolster into other markets across the globe. Its stars toured the world, playing and selling out the biggest shows. Back home, amapiano continued to morph into different iterations like the bacardi-tinged and “Mozambique” or “France” styles, birthing new stars and changing lives, sometimes almost overnight. Its dominance in the rest of the continent grew further and it influenced the contemporary sounds of popular music.
AshtonBoya, a residential DJ for the Ukhozi FM afternoon Drive show on Fridays, has released his debut amapiano single, titled Mbambe featuring Yandisa. While TikTok and viral dance challenges have been impactful in amapiano’s global ascendance since 2020, this year the platform and practice completely ruled within the scene. At times, these felt like a right of passage to a potential hit, including the latest single by AshtonBoya.
The 23-year-old from Wentworth, south of Durban, said his song encourages people to hold on to their dreams and loved ones. The song is all in one because it is a love track to encourage people to love each other and have a good feel when they dance, while it also encourages them to hold onto their dreams. “My biggest dream is to take my music to the global level. But I want to start taking it in all our provinces,” she said.
“I have been releasing singles and uploading them on digital platforms. I realised they were unprofessional and removed them when I released my debut professional single. “I can produce all genres, but now I have decided to focus on amapiano because I know it is the one that can take me to the international level,” he said.
