Zuma

Zuma is one half of Ama Roto, a partnership with Reece Madlisa that has made the connection between amapiano and kwaito clear—it wasn’t a coincidence that their 2020 self-titled debut EP won Best Kwaito Album at the 2021 South African Music Awards. The Alexandra, South Africa duo grew up on the genre, which was popular in the ’90s and early 2000s, and its influence is evident in their sparse, repetitive raps and their storytelling chops. Ama Roto owe their breakthrough largely to the now-disbanded amapiano duo JazziDisciples, who invited the then-buzzing duo to their Alexandria studio. “Jazzidisciples (Zlele)”, their 2020 breakout single, is an eponymous nod to their mentors-turned-collaborators, showcasing a nostalgic ’90s kwaito sound with a modern twist. Zuma and his partner in rhyme are among a slew of contemporary artists keeping the kwaito groove alive within South Africa’s dynamic music scene.