Exploring South African music: the popular Amapiano genre
Recently, staff and students at the University of Malawi had the opportunity to delve into the immensely popular Amapiano music genre through a presentation held on January 8, 2024, at the Mwambo Lecture Theatre. Dr. Mufunanji Magalasi, the Executive Dean of the School of Arts, Communication, and Design, hosted Ms. Thandi Ntsoele, an English Education Inspector from Gauteng, South Africa, who delivered a mesmerizing presentation.
As a self-professed music enthusiast, Ms. Ntsoele guided the audience through a comprehensive exploration of South African music culture, spanning from 1920 to the present day. While acknowledging the evolution of music genres, she emphasized that South African music has remained consistent over the past century, considering Amapiano a continuation of earlier music genres.
Continuing with her presentation, Ms. Ntsoele stressed that Amapiano, known for its dynamic dance and rhythm, is associated with a subculture characterized by distinctive streetwear and lifestyle. She further stated that the origins of Amapiano, which started around 2010, trace back to Maero and Force Reloaded (MFR), who crafted the genre. Ms. Ntsoele continued by underscoring the importance of conducting the seminar for UNIMA students, especially those pursuing courses like drama and music. She highlighted that the seminar not only provides a solid background in music but also inspires attending students to explore and enhance their creativity.
After the presentation, there was a conversation that included two discussants, Prof. Ken Lipenga Jnr and Dr. Asante Mtenje from the Department of Literary Studies, who provided well-thought-out comments and raised thought-provoking questions. The discussion actively engaged both the presenter and the diverse audience, which included students, lecturers, and other staff members. One of the questions raised was whether South Africans feel other countries of stealing their sound and style, to which the presenter responded that South Africans are happy that what they created is booming across the world.
Dr. Emmanuel Ngwira, the Executive Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, concurred with the point concerning difficulties that local music genres encounter in gaining international traction, particularly when compared to South African genres in Malawi. He highlighted the importance of leveraging and creatively evolving local music genres to establish a modern, internationally appealing brand for Malawi.
The presentation was not just informative but also lively. The presenter consistently used music videos to emphasize her points, prompting the audience to silently move their shoulders and nod appreciatively to the familiar songs. The event also included performances by the UNIMA-based Zebras Band and a captivating dance performance by Tamara Ntsoele.
