South African DJ and producer, DJ Maphorisa, has explained how Nigerian artistes adopted Amapiano, saying collaborations between musicians from both countries helped open the way for the genre’s growth in Nigeria.

Maphorisa spoke during Chapter 9 of veteran South African DJ Oskido’s I Believe Podcast, where they discussed the relationship between the Nigerian and South African music industries.

He said South African artistes gave Nigerian musicians the opportunity to embrace the sound, dismissing the long-running argument that Nigerians took Amapiano from South Africa.

“We gave them a go-ahead, we gave them the green light to do Amapiano,” Maphorisa said.

He pointed to the 2020 song “Sponono”, a collaboration involving Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Wizkid, Burna Boy and Cassper Nyovest, as an example of the early musical exchange between the two countries.

According to Maphorisa, collaborations such as “Sponono” helped Nigerian artistes connect with Amapiano as the South African genre began spreading beyond its home country.

He also praised Nigerian musicians for their approach to the music business, describing them as “very smart” and “very aggressive.”

Maphorisa said South African artistes could learn from the way Nigerian musicians build audiences, collaborate and pursue opportunities outside their home market.