The “King of Amapiano” has officially abdicated his throne to return to his first love. DJ Maphorisa (Themba Sekowe) has sent shockwaves through the African music industry by announcing he is stepping away from the Amapiano genre to focus on Afro music.
In a landmark Instagram post, the multi-award-winning producer—who spent the last decade architecting Amapiano’s global dominance—declared that the genre has matured enough to flourish without his constant oversight.
“Amapiano is in Good Hands”
Maphorisa’s departure marks the end of an era for the “Scorpion Kings” sound. Under his guidance, Amapiano moved from the townships of Gauteng to the world’s biggest stages. However, “Lawd Phori” believes his work in the genre is complete.
“Amapiano is in good hands. I’m going back to my roots where it all started, AFRO,” he shared with his followers.
A Legacy of Reinvention
This isn’t the first time Maphorisa has pivoted. Before the log-drum revolution, he was the mastermind behind some of Africa’s biggest Afro-house and Afropop hits, including:
- Uhuru’s “Y-Tjukutja”
- Mafikizolo’s “Khona”
- Drake’s “One Dance” (as a co-producer)
Industry experts suggest this move isn’t a retirement but a strategic “creative reset.” By returning to Afro-centric sounds, Maphorisa likely aims to innovate within the Afro-soul and Afro-tech spaces, leveraging the massive global platform he built during the Amapiano era
