Ghanaian singer claims she started Amapiano before Mzansi

21/04/2023

1 minute read

Ghanaian singer claims she started Amapiano before Mzansi

GHANAIAN musician Efya has shocked people after claiming she started amapiano music genre.

During an interview on a YouTube podcast called Afrobeats Podcast hosted by Adesope, Efya claimed that she and her friend, Tunez, started the genre before Mzansi musicians followed.

“I would say Tunez and I started the amapiano thing when we did that first tape in 2019. Before Covid, Tunez and I started making that kind of sound and then we kept going, then South Africans. There have been so many things I’ve been involved in,” she said.

The singer-songwriter and actress, who’s popular in her country, said she’s collaborated with 150 musicians worldwide.

She’s known for her songs One Of Your Own, Undeniable, Best In Me, and has been featured by big Nigerian and Ghanaian stars such as Sarkodie, Mr Eazi and Wizkid.

ALSO READ: Amapiano Star Lady Du Impressed By Zimbabweans, Returns To SA Richer

However, amapiano pioneers MFR Souls disagree with Efya. The duo made up of Maero and Force Reloaded are always the first to be named when speaking about who started amapiano.

Maero said: “There is no way this lady started amapiano. Maybe she wants to get fame, but there’s no way. People know where amapiano is from and it’s here in South Africa.”

MFR Souls have produced some hits such as Love You Tonight, Amanikiniki, Bathandwa and Lalela.

Maero told Daily Sun about the origins of the genre.

“When we first started this genre in 2012, there was no one pushing this besides us, Kabza De Small, Josiah De Disciple and Gaba Canal. We started the movement when kwaito was dying out.

“Amapiano is a mix of kwaito and deep house, and kwaito is a South African genre. And even the origins of kwaito are from South Africa. So, as I said, there’s no way a Ghanaian musician came up with amapiano,” Maero said.

Speaking about how the name came about, he said: “When we started the genre didn’t have a name because it wasn’t a familiar sound. It just was keys and no vocals and then people started calling amapiano.”