DJ Maphorisa Defends Amapiano Against 'Theft' Claims

On August 29, South African DJ and producer DJ Maphorisa addressed claims that Nigerian artists "stole" the Amapiano genre during an interview on I Believe Podcast with Oskido. Maphorisa asserted that South African musicians played a crucial role in the genre's expansion beyond South Africa, allowing Nigerian artists to embrace and develop Amapiano.

He cited the collaboration "Sponono," featuring himself, Kabza De Small, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Cassper Nyovest, as an example of early connections between South African and Nigerian music industries. Released in 2020, "Sponono" helped introduce Nigeria's Afrobeats stars to Amapiano.

Maphorisa emphasized that such collaborations were opportunities for artistic exchange rather than appropriation. He praised the business strategies of Nigerian artists, describing them as "very smart" and "very aggressive," and noted that South African musicians could learn from Nigeria's approach to collaboration and marketing, referencing the careers of Don Jazzy and D'banj.