Amapiano: The Soundtrack of Africa’s Future
The rhythm under girds the revolution. The rhythm brings clarity in the soul, direction and purpose. This has been true since drums resonated & communicated across & through the jungles and plains of the continent which gave birth to human’s first rhythms; Ake Bulan aka Africa.
The revolution never stops and though war may surround us on all sides in 2025 the greatest war is intrinsic. Every day we wrestle in the darkness of our inner turmoil and in that struggle, we dig deeper into the roots of our strength: the CREATOR of all things beautiful and true including the rhythm, and including you. The rhythm serves as a vessel to carry you into a higher vibration and understanding of self attenuated to the MOST HIGH creator.
This is the story of Amapiano music in my life. I first discovered the music doing research for new African music at the suggestion of Kazi fm a local radio station in Austin, Texas. I had unsuccessfully submitted several demos to the station in an effort to land a slot playing traditional/vintage afrobeat and they asked if I could incorporate newer songs so as to attract a younger (afrobeat(s)) inclined audience.
I had been collecting and playing afrobeat records for twenty years and had undergone a similar revolution and inspiration in my soul attending the legendary Jump and Funk parties in Brooklyn procured and selected by your favorite DJ’s favorite DJ, Rich Medina. Those parties brought a vibration I will carry with me my entire life. It was deeply tribal and authentically African while simultaneously bringing the entire diversity of Brooklyn New York. It opened up new dimensions of possibility in my mind and made me see in deeper detail how we find empowerment love and connection moving in the rhythms of a global space.
In regards to to modern genres, I was familiar with afrobeats and had even played some afrobeats in my sets. In my research to delve deeper into afrobeats (a term that is loosely and over applied), I stumbled into the amapiano rabbit hole; appropriately enough, it was a Major League DJz party on you tube.
Watching the African brothers and sisters grooving with it, with electric vibes & celebrating the rhythm together…I knew I had stumbled into something extraordinary & FRESH (to me).
The rhythms of amapiano..the unique syncopations and signature, the intensity of the percussion, the lush & smooth compositions layered over the beat, it all hit me with an irrepressible surge of soulful transcendent energy “my GOD what is this music?”
Going deeper, seeing Africans dancing and partying to this music reignited the vision of revolution through sound and in the soul for me. It did so in a way that was different this time though. This time afro futurism was pulling me into the future calling me to say “We are Africa! We are your past, present (in the moment lost in a groove) AND we are your future!”
In that video I saw beyond dance and sound into a dimension of an empowered African continent amapiano is the perfect sound to narrate Africa’s revolution & ascent into the future. I am thrilled to be able to be on a platform to play & celebrate this music & present to you the tracks & artists I hope will impact your life as deeply & powerfully as they impacted mine.
The vibe is alive! Stay in the groove, move with the revolution in your soul and stay up to date with the latest breaking sounds & news from the continent on afrobonics.com and tune in to Kazifm.org alternating Thursdays from 7-10 cst & let’s get lifted together with the amapiano motherland ascension!
