Makwa continues to make his mark on South Africa’s music scene, and the acclaimed producer and artist has given fans an insight into the Amapiano songs that have influenced and stayed with him over the years. During a recent conversation with Hip Hop SA, Makwa revealed his personal top five Amapiano songs of all time, highlighting tracks that he believes played an important role in shaping the genre.
Makwa’s selections take listeners back to an earlier era of Amapiano, a period he says he connected with deeply while working primarily within the Hip Hop space. For him, these songs are more than just popular releases; they represent important moments in the evolution of the genre.
At the top of his list is “Amantombazane” by DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Samthing Soweto and MFR Souls. Makwa explained that he deliberately chose to revisit older Amapiano because of the strong connection he had with the music.
“I will go back to the old Amapiano because I connected with them too much,” he said. “I was listening to those songs while I was making Hip Hop but I was listening to that Amapiano.”
His second choice is the iconic “Labantwana Ama Uber” by Semi Tee featuring Miano, Kammu Dee and the late Killer Kau. Makwa praised the track for introducing a fresh approach that influenced the direction of Amapiano and inspired a new generation of artists.
“I feel like it brought a new style to Amapiano,” he explained, adding that it “paradigm shifted Piano” and showed artists that they could approach the genre differently.
Coming in at number three is “LiYoshona” by Kwish SA featuring MalumNator, Njelic and De Mthuda. The song earns its place on Makwa’s list as another memorable example of Amapiano’s ability to bring together distinctive vocal performances and production.
At number four, Makwa selected “Kancane” by Sam Deep featuring Mkeyz and Dr Thulz. The track represents another era of Amapiano that resonated with Makwa and demonstrated the genre’s continued ability to evolve while maintaining its core identity.
Rounding out the list is “Butterfly” by Mdu aka TRP ft. Bongza, another influential figure whose production has contributed significantly to Amapiano’s development.
Explaining the personal meaning behind his selections, Makwa said these are songs he expects to carry with him for years to come.
“These are the songs that I will listen to when I am old and tell the grandchildren these were the songs in our time,” he said.
Makwa’s top five ultimately reflects his appreciation for Amapiano’s roots, its evolution and the songs that helped shape the culture he continues to contribute to today.
