Amapiano has made it to the world. A fact which has been affirmed by the fact that all major music streaming platforms now have a dedicated Amapiano playlist. Moreover, Amapiano artists have been travelling across the world this past year since the world has opened up again.
The latest confirmation of the impact of Amapiano is that it is now written about in international music publications like Rolling Stone. As the year ends, the publication released its list of the Top 40 Afropop songs released this year. While the list might have been dominated by Nigerian artists with Burna Boy’s Last Last taking the number one spot.
South African artists and Amapiano made a number of entries. Three South African artists made it into the top 10.
Kabza, DaliWonga & Waffles make Rolling Stones top 10 2022 Afropop hits
Three South African artists and their respective hit songs made the top 10 of the Top 40 Afropop hits of 2022. This includes:
The pioneering and highly inventive producer-DJ opens his latest LP, KOA II, Part 1 — the sequel to the seminal I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweat & Dust — with “Khusela.” On the spiritual track, Msaki’s ethereal vocals rest comfortably on the multilayered production as she earnestly prays for protection. —M.M.
Number 8: Uncle Waffles, featuring Tony Duardo, Sino Msolo, and BioBizza with Tanzia
Description reading in part:
It’s a deep, mystic dance track, where soft vocals brush against its knocking log drums. “I tried to capture the hyped, fun feel of my sets and performances, but also bring in the soulful ‘piano that I enjoy and love,” Waffles said of the song. —M.C.
This is such an honour! The amount of love shown for my very first single has been amazing thank you all and thank you @RollingStone ❤️🥹, Can’t wait to release more music in 2023! pic.twitter.com/nKv0AGYaSW
Number 6: DaliWonga, featuring Mellow & Sleazy and M.J with Mvelo
Description reading in part:
On “Abo Mvelo,” vocalists Daliwonga and M.J catch a vibe. With a hard-hitting instrumental from the duo Mellow and Sleazy, the dance-floor-ready song captures a party and a fun time; the title stems from one of Daliwonga’s lines about chilling with his collaborators.
However, these were not the only artists to have been featured in the top 40. Other South African artists that made the list include:
Number 22: K.O, featuring Young Stunna and Blxckie with SETE
Number 30: Venom and Shishiliza feat. Yumbs, Raspy, Blxckie, Riky Rick, and Tshego with Sondela
Number 34: AKA, featuring Nasty C with Lemon (Lemonade)
In light of the success of his comeback single, AKA took the time to also share his plans for 2023, where it seems that rapper is looking to have a similar year that K.O had with his "comeback" single, SETE.
https://t.co/OIM6IjZu3q Not exactly #1 but I’ll take it 😊 Thank you all for an awesome year … 💐❤️
It’s been a year of rebirth, a year of of change and return to the heights after some real tough times … it’s been a good one, I can’t lie. Thank You God, Thank You MEGACY ❤️
Now everything is set up for 2023 to be arguably the BIGGEST in my career and I can’t wait to get stuck in. However, first I need to hand in the last few songs, go on a bad ass family & baecation and return energised and focused ready to go to war for the MEGACY. 😊
