The interesting thing about TXC’s international rise is no longer whether global artists are willing to enter amapiano.
It is the terms on which they enter.
Tarryn Reid and Clairise Hefke have spent years taking South African club culture into rooms far beyond home, and their catalogue increasingly reflects the same borderless movement. Davido appeared with them on 2024’s “Yebo”; he returned on “Nakupenda”, alongside Shoday, Scotts Maphuma, Zlatan and Al Xapo. The latter now sits inside TXC’s 2026 project Straata, released in June.
Sometimes globalisation means everyone else learning how to move inside a sound South Africa already built.
That history makes the old language of the “international co-sign” feel increasingly inadequate.
TXC are not operating as newcomers waiting for a famous outsider to lend credibility to amapiano. They were already spending the majority of their performance time outside South Africa before winning BET’s Best New International Act in 2025, and their 2026 bookings continue across major international venues and festival bills.
Nor does collaborating with Davido somehow make the music less South African.
That is exactly what makes the exchange interesting. The log drum does not disappear when another market enters the room. On records like “Nakupenda”, artists from different parts of the continent and diaspora are being invited into a framework whose centre of gravity remains unmistakably amapiano.
That is a more meaningful measure of cultural power than simply asking who is headlining whom.
Globalisation does not always mean South African artists leaving home sonically in order to become legible elsewhere. Sometimes it means everyone else learning how to move inside a sound South Africa already built.
TXC look increasingly comfortable hosting that conversation.
Reporting basis: Based on official Apple Music and Spotify release information for Straata, “Nakupenda” and “Yebo”; TXC’s June 2026 interview with The NATIVE; their August appearance on Apple Music’s The Dotty Show as reported by Music In Africa; official BET and Paramount records of their 2025 Best New International Act win; current international performance listings; and Viranova editorial analysis of amapiano’s cultural power, cross-border collaboration and the changing language of international validation.
Story index Key points, people & topics
Key points & topics
- From Davido on “Yebo” and “Nakupenda” to possible future work with Wizkid and Jorja Smith, TXC’s international collaborations increasingly look less like outside validation and more like artists entering a South African...
- From Davido to possible Wizkid and Jorja Smith collaborations, TXC are showing how amapiano can travel globally without surrendering its South African centre.
- The interesting thing about TXC’s international rise is no longer whether global artists are willing to enter amapiano.
Frequently asked Answers from the desk
Who are TXC?
TXC is a South African amapiano DJ and production duo consisting of Tarryn Reid and Clairise Hefke.
Where are TXC from?
TXC originated in Gqeberha and are now based in Johannesburg.
What is Straata?
Straata is TXC’s 2026 amapiano project, released on 12 June 2026.
Is Nakupenda on Straata?
Yes. Nakupenda appears on TXC’s Straata project.
Who appears on Nakupenda?
Nakupenda brings together TXC, Davido, Shoday, Scotts Maphuma, Zlatan and Al Xapo.
When was Nakupenda originally released?
Nakupenda was first released on 12 December 2025.
Have TXC collaborated with Davido before?
Yes. Davido previously collaborated with TXC on Yebo in 2024 before returning for Nakupenda.
Who appears on Yebo?
Yebo is credited to TXC and Davido and features Tony Duardo, LeeMcKrazy and Djy Biza.
Did TXC win a BET Award?
Yes. TXC jointly received the 2025 Best New International Act honour alongside Brazilian artist Ajuliacosta.
Do TXC perform internationally?
Yes. The duo has toured internationally for several years and has 2026 bookings across markets including the United Kingdom and United States.
Credibility & transparency How this story is reported
- Content type
- News
- Verification
- Verified — multiple sources
- Reporting basis
- Based on official Apple Music and Spotify release information for Straata, “Nakupenda” and “Yebo”; TXC’s June 2026 interview with The NATIVE; their August appearance on Apple Music’s The Dotty Show as reported by Music In Africa; official BET and Paramount records of their 2025 Best New International Act win; current international performance listings; and Viranova editorial analysis of amapiano’s cultural power, cross-border collaboration and the changing language of international validation.
- Sources & context
- “Yebo” was released in June 2024 by TXC and Davido with Tony Duardo, LeeMcKrazy and Djy Biza. “Nakupenda” followed in December 2025, bringing TXC together with Davido, Shoday, Scotts Maphuma, Zlatan and Al Xapo, before being incorporated into Straata in June 2026. TXC jointly received BET’s 2025 Best New International Act honour with Brazilian artist Ajuliacosta. Their current trajectory also extends beyond those existing collaborations: during an August 2026 Apple Music interview, the duo teased possible forthcoming work involving Wizkid and Jorja Smith, though neither collaboration has yet been formally detailed.
- Image
- TxC
- Primary source
- music.apple.com
Edited under our Editorial Standards and How We Report process. Spotted an error? Request a correction or email corrections@viranova.co.za.
Human-written · Editor-reviewed · Corrections open
Filed by Viranova Music Desk for the Music desk · Johannesburg, South Africa. Published 22 Aug 2026.
Sources
Secondary material
Reported first by another publication or organisation, and credited here.
- Yebo by TXC and Davido featuring Tony Duardo, LeeMcKrazy and Djy Biza was released on 6 June 2024 Apple Music accessed 22 August 2026
- Nakupenda brought TXC together with Davido, Shoday, Scotts Maphuma, Zlatan and Al Xapo and was released on 12 December 2025 Apple Music accessed 22 August 2026
- Straata was released on 12 June 2026 and Apple Music classifies the project as amapiano Apple Music accessed 22 August 2026
- Nakupenda appears on TXC’s 2026 Straata project Apple Music accessed 22 August 2026
- TXC said Straata was intended to reconnect their international growth with South African talent and the streets that shaped them The NATIVE accessed 22 August 2026
- TXC said their 2026 plans include larger shows, increased investment in production and both local and international collaborations The NATIVE accessed 22 August 2026
- TXC jointly won Best New International Act with Brazilian artist Ajuliacosta at the 2025 BET Awards Paramount / BET accessed 22 August 2026
- TXC have performed internationally for several years, with their touring history including Europe and other global markets News24 accessed 22 August 2026
- TXC’s 2026 international schedule includes bookings in London, Birmingham and Boston Ticketmaster / Bandsintown accessed 22 August 2026
- TXC teased a future project that could include Wizkid and Jorja Smith during an August 2026 appearance on Apple Music’s The Dotty Show Music In Africa accessed 22 August 2026
- TXC described their Nakupenda collaboration with Davido as developing organically after they sent him the song and he quickly agreed to work on it Music In Africa accessed 22 August 2026
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