Amapiano hitmakers DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small have sparked a fresh wave of online debate after clips from their latest London show made the rounds on social media.
The South African duo—who are widely referred to as the Scorpion Kings—have been bringing their sound to international crowds, following earlier appearances in Ibiza and London. Their overseas run also included a stop at Hi Ibiza, where they performed alongside globally recognised DJ Black Coffee.
Even as the bookings signalled amapiano’s expanding worldwide footprint, reactions from some viewers weren’t as warm. A video from their London set began gaining traction on Monday, 25 May 2026, with certain social media users suggesting the audience looked far from fully engaged during the performance.
Supporters pushed back by pointing out that the artists were representing South Africa on an international stage. Still, critics argued that the crowd didn’t seem to connect with the music in the way fans at home often do.
One commenter wrote, “The crowd is not inspired. Black Coffee invited them to show that he is the only boss in this industry. Kabza and Madumane have learned that they still have a long way to go.”
Another user added, “It’s too quiet, it’s not making sense. I think this crowd came for something different, not them.”
Yet despite the backlash, devoted fans were quick to defend the pair, insisting that overseas audiences don’t always respond to slower-tempo styles in the same way. As one person put it online, “First, the crowd was not bored, but that’s how the crowd reacts to that type of music. Amapiano is super slow for those types of spaces.”
The viral footage has since turned into a wider discussion about how amapiano carries on international stages—and whether different crowds react to the genre with the same level of energy South African listeners often bring. Mixed opinions or not, the Scorpion Kings continue to strengthen their position as major ambassadors of amapiano around the world.
