DJ Maphorisa has waded into one of African music's most contested debates, arguing that South African artists themselves handed Nigerian musicians an
DJ Maphorisa has waded into one of African music’s most contested debates, arguing that South African artists themselves handed Nigerian musicians an entry point into the Amapiano movement, and that the long-running “war” between the two industries’ fan bases is a dead conversation.
Speaking candidly on Chapter 9 of the I Believe Podcast, hosted by veteran broadcaster Oskido, the producer said South African artists share responsibility for the genre’s Nigerian influence, pointing to collaborative records as the turning point.
He singled out the hit “Sponono,” which still sits in the global top 100 charts, as proof that partnership between the two industries produced shared success rather than a hostile takeover.
Maphorisa also praised the work ethic Nigerian artists brought to the genre once they entered it, describing them as smart and aggressive in a complimentary sense, and saying South African players stand to learn from that hunger rather than resent it.
He compared their consistency in projecting their cultural identity abroad to how Chinese and Indian restaurateurs maintain their identity regardless of location, framing it as a discipline worth studying.
Oskido, who hosted the conversation, agreed with Maphorisa’s assessment, pointing to Nigerian artists’ assertive approach to the business as something the South African industry could take lessons from.
The comments arrive against the backdrop of a years-long, often heated dispute over Amapiano’s ownership, which traces back to 2022 when Maphorisa clashed publicly with a fan who credited Nigerian star Davido with popularising the genre.
That controversy, and repeated flare-ups since, including a 2023 spat after American singer Swae Lee posted about Amapiano material and was accused by South African fans of misattributing the genre, have kept questions of credit and origin simmering even as Amapiano’s cross-border streaming numbers, including nearly two billion streams on Spotify, continue to climb.
Maphorisa’s latest remarks suggest an attempt to reframe that history as one of collaboration rather than appropriation.
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