<p><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/dj-lag-firm-taking-gqom-to-the-world/" target="_blank"><strong><em>Read: Interview: DJ Lag is Firm on Taking Gqom To The Rest of the World</em></strong></a></p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p> Last year's SAMAs were riddled with controversy over the lack of diverse categories and progressiveness. Case in point, <strong>DJ Tira</strong>, a gqom artist, <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/2020-south-african-music-awards-samas-winners/" target="_blank">won last year's SAMA for "Best Kwaito Album"</a>. Mofokeng reportedly <a href="https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2021-01-11-gqom-amapiano-get-sama-recognition/" target="_blank">addressed the complaints at the launch of the 27th SAMAs</a> this past weekend.</p><blockquote> <em>"In our extensive consultations with the industry as we planned for SAMA27, it became abundantly clear that the general feeling was to separate these categories. This is testament to the popularity of these genres and the growth of our local music industry. We are delighted to witness this step in the right direction and believe that these categories will be hotly contested."</em></blockquote><p>The kwaito genre <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/kwaito-producers-best-south-africa/" target="_blank">started off in the early 1990s</a> while<em> gqom</em> entered the music scene in the early 2010s and <em><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/dj-lag-firm-taking-gqom-to-the-world/" target="_blank">amapiano, a few years later</a></em>. Gqom and amapiano have a large fanbase and furthermore, the genres have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/21/south-africa-dance-music-afrohouse-gqom-amapiano" target="_blank">attracted an honourable international following</a>. This is evident in the controversy that occurred at the end of 2020 where international artist and producer, <strong>will.i.am</strong>, <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/will-i-am-apologises-for-stealing-beats-from-dj-lag-for-megan-ryte-culture/" target="_blank">plagiarised South African<strong> DJ Lag's</strong> "Ice Drop" on <strong>Megan Ryte's</strong> single "Culture"</a>. South Africans were quick to callout the transgression and rallied behind DJ Lag resulting in the successful removal of the single on all music platforms. </p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>While gqom is the antecedent to amapiano, the latter genre has grown even more with loyal fanbases. <strong>Babes Wodumo</strong>, <strong>Moonchild Sanelly</strong>, <strong>MFR Souls</strong>, <strong>Kabza De Small</strong>, <strong>Distruction Boyz</strong> and <strong>DJ Maphorisa</strong> are just a few artists that have expanded gqom and amapiano. The genres has seen Nigerian artists <strong>Niniola</strong>, <strong>Patoranking,</strong><strong> Dbanj</strong> and others <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/gqom-nigerian-pop-music-south-africa/" target="_blank">merging their signature Afrobeat sound with gqom</a>. The recognition of Kwaito, gqom and amapiano as separate categories admittedly adds the much needed respect to the growing evolution of South African music.</p><p>The 2021 SAMAs will be hybrid virtual event with a small number of guests in attendance due to COVID-19 protocols. Entries for nominations opened on November 26th of 2020 and will close on January 31st 2021. </p>
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