By Chantelle Tatenda Muzanenhamo
There is a buzz in the Amapiano circles following the release of the much-anticipated track “Amalanga Awafani,” featuring renowned artists Mas Musiq and DJ Maphorisa, alongside the unmistakable vocals of Samthing Soweto.
However, the celebration has quickly turned to controversy as fans discovered that Samthing Soweto, whose real name is Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba, was not credited for his significant contribution to the song.
The track, which dropped on Tuesday, has ignited a firestorm on social media platforms, with users expressing their discontent and calling for justice for Samthing Soweto. Many fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustrations, demanding that the artist receive the recognition he deserves for his work.
In a bid to clarify the situation, DJ Maphorisa, real name Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe, addressed the controversy during an Instagram Live session. A visibly upset Maphorisa explained that a misunderstanding regarding music rights led to Samthing Soweto being omitted from the credits. He revealed that the decision to exclude Samthing was made amid ongoing disputes relating to the song’s rights, stating, “We decided to take him out from the credits as he was fighting us over the music rights for the song. We’ll deal with it later.”
During the live stream, Maphorisa passionately defended his contributions to the South African music scene, asserting that he has played a pivotal role in the rise of amapiano music. “I’ve saved this culture of South African music. Amapiano is in Africa, do you see what I have done for this country?” he said, expressing frustration over being painted as the villain in the situation.
The fallout from the incident has reignited discussions about the treatment of artists in the industry, particularly regarding crediting and compensation. DJ Maphorisa has faced accusations from other artists, including amapiano vocalist Sir Trill, about not adequately compensating collaborators featured in his popular tracks.
As for Samthing Soweto, he has yet to make a public statement regarding the controversy, although he did express his feelings indirectly through a poignant tweet featuring a broken heart emoji.
Amid the escalating tensions, DJ Maphorisa urged fans not to blame Mas Musiq for the situation, asking them to hold him accountable instead. The ongoing dispute raises critical questions about artistic integrity and recognition in the collaborative world of music.
As the story unfolds, fans and industry insiders alike are left wondering how this controversy will affect the relationships between the artists involved and the broader amapiano community.