'South Africa Music News' :Women Redefining The Dance Music Scene in Africa
11 May 2021
(image source: Music in Africa)
By Ian Jacob
Amapiano has grown into a global phenomenon. It has brought different societies and cultures together to celebrate the viral genre. Today, new versions of electronic music are opening new doors, this time for African women, allowing them to build and explore sonic worlds rooted in marabi, orutu, swahili,kalindula, and kwaito, as well as undeniably powerful sounds heirloomed within afrotech, singeli, amapiano, and gqom. In an exciting time for the African continent, more women are making their way behind the decks, in front of the mic, and onto the stage. Not only are the women paving the way for the future of Africa's dance music scenes, but they're also using their talents to shift the perception of electronic music as a mostly Western and male domain.
RJ The Dj
From her home in Malawi, Rejoice Msindo, aka RJ the DJ, has been spearheading dance music and stealing hearts throughout the UK, Zambia, and South Africa. This renown house Dj plans to relocate to Tanzania in search of uncharted dancefloors and the stunning scenery that comes with them.
DBN GOGO
DBN Gogo is quite the trailblazer behind the decks as well as in the production room. She has graced major stages from Afropunk to Tshwanefontein and ULTRA . The South African Amapiano Queen is itching to take her music to the next level and for it to spark a fire in the African content, especially in women. DBN Gogo is the only female producer in South Africa. She is not intimidated by her male peers but embraces it and when push comes to shove, DBN Gogo has produced some really amazing music. Khuza Gogo is a timeless masterpiece crafted by Gogo.
Labdi Ommes
She hails from the East Part of the continent.To be more specific she is kenyan. Amapiano gained a lot of traction between 2020-2021. Labdi Ommes has been in the game way longer before that and has produced marvelous tracks over the years. The Kenyan Amapiano Queen defies sexiest traditions as she is one of the only women to play the Orutu, a Kenyan single-stringed instrument usually forbidden for women to play, Labdi continues to change the game for the women who will come after her.
Toya Delazy
Queer life in Africa is generally difficuly especially for celebrties. Most African cultures do not see eye to eye with the LGBTQ community. In some communities it is even considered a taboo with dire consequences.
Toya struggled to live the life she really wanted as a queer woman in her youth, proud and full of creative energy, despite coming from a family of revered Zulu leaders, including her grandfather and politician Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Toya Delazy moved to the UK for a fresh breath of creative freedom.Toya has resurfaced in the underground, embracing her newfound freedom of speech in a series of releases she refers to as "AfroRave," which fuse SA and UK culture in a way that only she can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHIS2PhMj44
Niniola
Niniola leans on her tenacious spirit and African heritage as a source of true strength on releases like her 2020 album 'Colours and Sounds' and this year's '6th Heaven' EP. This has led her to attracting attention from some of the biggest names in the music industry with the likes of Beyonce, Missy Eliot and Dj Snake. One of the first to try her hand at afro house, she has dominated across streams, charts and everything in between
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