Beatport adds Amapiano to list of genre categories

DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small

The electronic music store has announced the South African genre will have its own classification.

Previously labelled under Afro House, Deep House and Dance/Electro Pop, Amapiano now is its own separate category on Beatport. Alongside this change, the team behind the site have launched a new Amapiano chart in order to support the fast-growing community of artists.

Over the past few years Amapiano, a subgenre of deep house, has quickly risen from its South African roots to become an influential global phenomenon. DJ Maphorisa, Major League DJz, DBN Gogo and production duo MFR Souls – who are said to have coined the genre’s name – are some of the artists who have pioneered the genre. Kabza De Small’s label PianoHub and other imprints like Jozi Entertainment and Busta 929’s Thupa Industry have also been instrumental in Amapiano’s international growth.

Explore Beatport’s Amapiano page here.