Official 2026 release photograph: Bang'bonile (feat. Djy Vino, MBUZI & Seun1401) - Single — Apple Music
Themba Sekowe, born in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, in 1987, starts out in 2008 with the group Uhuru at Kalawa Jazmee Records, producing hits for Kwesta — including "Ngud'" — Busiswa and DJ Zinhle before co-producing Drake's "One Dance" in 2016. He leaves Kalawa to found his own label, BlaqBoy Music, and works fluently across house, gqom, afropop and, decisively, amapiano.
With Kabza De Small he forms the Scorpion Kings, whose run stretches from two 2019 projects to Kings Will Rise (2025) and does much to carry amapiano beyond South Africa. His collaborator list crosses continents — Wizkid, Black Coffee, Major Lazer — and Soundcity names him African DJ of the Year in 2023. Through 2025 he keeps releasing at pace, including the joint project Ngomoya / Rough Dance with Xduppy, while his labels feed the genre new voices.
Thatohatsi’s rise is not built on one isolated hit. Her breakthrough is the result of recurring collaborations that have made her voice increasingly recognisable across amapiano’s most successful chart networks.
SAMA32’s shortlist shows a South African music industry no longer defined by one centre. From Durban Gqom to Maskandi, Amapiano, Jazz, Gospel and regional scenes, the country’s sound is spreading power across many hubs.
Scorpion Kings Live at FNB Stadium is no longer just a concert. With huge demand, an extra ticket release and a stadium-scale crowd expected, it proves that Amapiano has become live-entertainment infrastructure.
Amanda Black leads the official final line-up for the Vaal leg of the Kota Festival, a 10:00-22:00 day festival at Emerald Resort & Casino in Vanderbijlpark. Tickets are on sale via Webtickets and Computicket BoxOffice; the ticket pages confirm the date, venue and pricing, while the line-up was published on the festival's own Facebook, Instagram and TikTok channels.
Blxckie appears on the official final line-up for the Vaal Kota Festival at Emerald Resort & Casino, a 10:00-22:00 day festival. Tickets are on sale via Webtickets and Computicket BoxOffice.
K.O is named on the official final line-up for the Vaal Kota Festival at Emerald Resort & Casino in Vanderbijlpark, a 10:00-22:00 day festival. Tickets are on sale via Webtickets and Computicket BoxOffice.
Mörda appears on the billed lineup for the Johannesburg edition of Grxxvy Escape, a 14:00-to-midnight day party at The River Cabin in Fourways. Tickets are on sale via Quicket (Super Early Bird R320 and Early Bird R390 sold out; General P1 R450, General P2 R550, Late Bird R650). Note: the official Quicket page still lists Phase 2 and 3 artists as to be announced, so Mörda's set is billed on listings rather than the promoter's own lineup graphic.
Kabza De Small leads the line-up for the third edition of the food, fashion and music festival, themed 'Evophoria', running 26–27 September. He is billed for the Sunday as one half of the Scorpion Kings with DJ Maphorisa, on a day skewed toward house and amapiano. Gates 12:00 to 23:00, 18+.
