Despite the cultural differences and language barriers, there is one thing that always seems to bring Africans together: music. Nigerian artists have built strong relationships with artists from all over the world, especially within Africa. Davido confirmed this unity among Africans when he said, “…whether na chocolate, all of us na one race”, in his song ‘I got a friend’ ft. Mayorkun and the South African Rapper, Sho Madjozi. In the past, Nigerian artists and producers have explored different music styles from other regions. For example, the Makossa of Congo, Azonto of Ghana, Gqom of South Africa, and now the Amapiano sound from South Africa has taken over airwaves all over the continent. are all music styles Nigerians have adopted. You can trust Nigerians to give more popularity to any music style they adopt.
Amapiano, a Zulu word for “the pianos”, is a subgenre of house music originating from South Africa in 2012. The music genre is unique for its piano melodies, kwaito basslines and deep house rhythms. The Amapiano or Afro-Amapiano sound gained prominence in the Nigerian music scene in 2020, and as the genre gradually grabbed the nation’s attention, many artists found themselves jumping on Amapiano records and releasing Amapiano remixes of their pre-existing songs. However, Amapiano is not limited to Nigeria and South Africa alone and has reached accepting audiences in the U.K., U.S.A., Japan and other countries. Keep reading to find out our favourite Amapiano songs by Nigerian Artists:
Squander – Falz ft Niniola
Falz made his debut into the Amapiano style with his hit song, Squander, featuring Niniola. Before his fans got over the Amapiano sensation, he decided to release a remix of the song featuring the South African Amapiano hitmakers Kamo Mphela, Mpura and Sayfar.
E Be Tins
Dremo ft Mayorkun: Top D.M.W. artists, Dremo and Mayorkun, teamed up to produce the Amapiano song, E Be Tins in 2020. The duo’s musical prowess and the incorporation of the Amapiano sound made the song a street anthem for all of 2020.
Look Like Me – Niniola
Niniola is often referred to as “the Queen of Afro-house” and has been co-signed by the likes of Beyoncé, Timbaland and Drake. The banging Amapiano sound Look Like Me comes off her album, Colours and Sounds, where she featured South Africa’s Amapiano sound and Jamaica’s dancehall and vintage afrobeat.
Go Low – L.A.X
L.A.X. also jumped on the Amapiano trend with his song Go Low. This infectious dance track is one of the many successful Amapiano songs that was produced during the lockdown in 2020.
Nobody – Patoranking
Another artist who has caught the Amapiano bug is Nigerian reggae/dancehall singer Patoranking. He incorporated the sound into the single, Nobody, a track from his album Three, which has become one of the most recognisable singles of the past year.
Coming – Naira Marley ft Busiswa
The multi-talented Nigerian singer and songwriter Naira Marley also released an Amapiano track, Coming, featuring the South African award-winning singer, Busiswa. The song has a blend of the Afrobeat and Afro-Amapiano sound which gives it a unique flair that has made the single an instant dancefloor favourite.
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