DJ Maphorisa

DJ Maphorisa, born Themba Sekowe, is a South African record producer and DJ from Pretoria who became one of the most influential figures in modern South African dance music. He rose to prominence blending house music with local sounds, and later became a central architect of the amapiano movement alongside frequent collaborator Kabza De Small, with whom he formed the duo Scorpion Kings.

His production style fuses deep, percussive house grooves with Afro-pop melodies and log-drum bass patterns characteristic of amapiano, giving his tracks a distinctly South African identity while remaining accessible to international dance floors. He has worked across genres with artists ranging from Wizkid and Drake to Black Coffee and Major Lazer, and songs like «Midnight Starring» and «Zanzibar» showcase his ability to move between commercial Afro-pop and club-oriented production.

Beyond his own recordings, DJ Maphorisa has been a key tastemaker and label figure in South African music, running New Money Gang Records after his earlier tenure at Kalawa Jazmee Records. His influence extends through countless production credits and collaborations that helped push amapiano from a regional Pretoria sound into a genre with global recognition.