Spotify celebrates 10 years of amapiano
Spotify is celebrating a decade of amapiano, a South African music genre that has taken the world by storm. The platform highlights the genre's global growth and significant impact on the music industry through a dedicated amapiano hub. This hub offers curated playlists and podcasts exploring the origins, distinctive sounds, and future of amapiano. In 2023, amapiano surpassed 1.4 billion streams on Spotify. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point for the genre, with streams reaching 100 million in 2020 and 300 million in 2021, showcasing its skyrocketing popularity. From the townships to international stages, amapiano not only entertains but also amplifies the voices of young South Africans, allowing them to express their aspirations, resilience, and creativity. Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, notes, "The rise of amapiano from grassroots to global recognition is admirable both musically and culturally. It echoes the youth-driven kwaito movem...