There’s a new documentary about amapiano

The 25-minute programme is currently streaming on BBC iPlayer.

This Is Amapiano is presented by BBC Radio 1Xtra and traces the growth of amapiano from its South African roots to becoming an influential genre across dancefloors worldwide. Within the feature, kwaito pioneer and ‘godfather of South African dance music’ Oskido explains how the deep house sub-genre formed. The feature also looks at how the log drum technique gives amapiano its signature sound.

Elsewhere in the feature, it delves into the wider culture around amapiano, highlighting how dance and fashion form integral parts of the genre’s lifestyle. In addition, the documentary looks at the impact of social media and specifically how TikTok dance challenges fuel the popularity of amapiano tracks across the globe. There’s also a segment of the programme on the 2021 event Ama Fest, which was the UK’s first amapiano festival.

The documentary features Major League DJz, Kamo Mphela, Mr JazziQ, DBN Gogo, Daliwonga and Felo Le Tee. There’s also guest appearances from BBC Radio 1Xtra’s DJ Edu and Jeremiah Asiamah.

You can watch the full documentary here and a shorter version via Youtube. Listen back to an amapiano inspired mix from Unlimited Soul below.