Amapiano is a South African music genre that emerged prominently in the mid-2010s, with its roots traceable to earlier airplay on South African radio stations in the early 2000s. It represents a fusion of several musical styles, including kwaito, deep house, gqom, jazz, soul, and lounge music. The genre is distinguished by its use of atmospheric synths and rich, percussive basslines. The term "amapiano" is derived from the isiZulu word for "pianos," reflecting the genre’s melodic and instrumental foundation.
