DJ Maphorisa has sparked conversation online after acknowledging the important role Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom played in helping Amapiano expand beyond South Africa and reach international audiences.
The celebrated producer and DJ discussed the genre’s global rise during an episode of the I Believe Podcast, which premiered on Friday, August 28, 2026. His comments have since circulated widely on X (Twitter), with fans engaging in a debate over the communities that helped establish Amapiano outside South Africa.
During the candid conversation, Maphorisa reflected on the early stages of Amapiano’s international expansion. Speaking from a record-store-style setting surrounded by vinyl records and framed album artwork, the Scorpion Kings star recalled some of the early events organised by Piano People in the United Kingdom.
According to Maphorisa, these events became an important part of introducing the genre to audiences overseas. He pointed to a particular event held after COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were lifted as one of the moments that helped Amapiano gain stronger momentum in the UK.
When discussing who attended some of those early shows, Maphorisa highlighted Zimbabweans, Nigerians and South Africans living in the diaspora. However, he was especially appreciative of Zimbabweans in the UK, recognising their contribution to building a loyal audience for the genre.
“I feel like, well, but they’ve played a big part of that and then also Nigerians and South Africans, so I feel like yes. I mean community and stuff,” Maphorisa said.
His comments highlight the important role played by African diaspora communities in the international growth of Amapiano. Before the genre became a dominant force on global stages, African communities living abroad helped create spaces where the music could be experienced, celebrated and shared with wider audiences.
Maphorisa also gave recognition to Piano People, describing their work as a genuine grassroots movement that helped introduce Amapiano to audiences in the UK. These early events provided a platform for the genre at a time when its international popularity was still developing.
Today, Amapiano has grown from a South African movement into a global sound, with artists performing at major international festivals and collaborating with some of the biggest names in music.
While Maphorisa’s remarks have sparked different opinions online about who deserves credit for Amapiano’s global success, his acknowledgement of Zimbabweans, Nigerians and South Africans in the diaspora underlines the collective role African communities played in carrying the genre across borders.
For Maphorisa, the journey from local South African dancefloors to international stages was not built by artists alone, but also by the communities that embraced the sound and helped introduce it to the world.
