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Afro house (also known as Afro-house or Afrohouse) is a Music subgenre of house music mainly developed in South Africa. The genre emerged in the 1990s. This musical style fuses elements of traditional House music with African rhythms and sounds, incorporating instruments such as the saxophone, piano and , as well as vocals in various African languages.
The etymology of the name uses the prefix 'afro' (meaning anything relating to Africa and African culture) and the suffix, 'house', referring to the main genre of house music.
Vocalist Bucie is regarded as "the female voice of South African house music", including Afro house, particularly with regard her Afro house hit single "Superman" which was produced by Black Coffee in 2009 and was later sampled by Drake in 2017 for his More Life album featuring Jorja Smith. British singer Seal has stated that he likes her music and mentioned that Bucie is "a great singer and artist".
In 2012, DJ Zinhle, who released the hit song "My Name Is" featuring Busiswa, co-founded Fuse Academy, a DJ academy specifically for female DJs, together with Nomdeni Mdaki.
In 2016, singer Alicia Keys enlisted Black Coffee to create a remix of her track "In Common", which was recognized and well received internationally. Zimbabwean singer and songwriter Jackie Queens launched her record label Bae Electronica, which solely showcases female House music artists such as Thandi Draai, who has been "heralded as SA house music's femmetastic triple-threat" according to Mixmag.
The genre appeared to have been, in some cases unintentionally labeled and mistaken as UK funky or afrobeats.
Foreseeably, many former kwaito and kwaito-correlating artists for instance Oskido, DJ Tira, Mafikizolo, Black Coffee, DJ Cleo, Thandiswa Mazwai, Big Nuz and Mahoota (member of Trompies) have been ceaselessly associated with the genre for decades.
Other ceasless artists include Osunlade, Louie Vega, Pablo Fierro, Darque, Am Roots, Djeff Afrozila, Jazzuelle, Hyenah, Rancido, Floyd Lavine, Boddhi Satva and Keinemusik.
It was broadly internationally spearheaded by Malaika, Black Coffee, DJ TekniQ DJ Fresh, DJ Tira, Zakes Bantwini, DJ Cndo, Da Capo, Bucie, Culoe De Song, Shimza, Punk Mbedzi, Enoo Napa and Black Motion.
In 1994, the South African record label House Afrika was established. The label was founded by Vinny Da Vinci (Vincent Motshegoa), Tim White and DJ Strat3gy(Glen van Loggerenberg). The label's debut album release was titled Fresh House Flava Vol.1 by DJ Fresh.
In the 1990s, house music gained significance during this time in urban centers like Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban, but it is Soweto where the music genre Kwaito emerged. Kwaito slowed down the tempo from Chicago house and infused it with elements of reggae, hip-hop, and local vernacular that reflected the feelings of urban/township South African youth. Artists like DJ Oskido exemplified the genre, along with artists and musical groups like Boom Shaka, Mandla Mofokeng, and Bongo Maffin. At the same time, Kwaito went beyond the sound and was deeply tied to the shifting political landscape. As the apartheid system began to collapse, Kwaito became a soundtrack for a new generation asserting its identity and freedom. It was the sound played as public gatherings that eschewed the apartheid laws banning public gatherings and enforcing curfews. The young generation saw house music during this time as a form of resistance and a new mode of expression that rejected the imposed silence and claimed space for black South African youth. How Club Culture Started In 90’s Johannesburg | Rave & Resistance. YouTube. Red Bull Music, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48d73mWSrZQ&ab_channel=RedBullMusic.
“The younger generation at that time, we started creating our own music, which we called Kwaito. We used to take house music, slow it down and from there, we reprogrammed the music.” — DJ Oskido
In 2003, Malaika's "Destiny" topped, charts. The South African trio toured Australia alongside Zimbabwean, singer Tarisai Vushe who made it to the Top.5 of Australia Idol, 2007 as their supporting act. In 2005, South African Grammy Awards-award-winning artist, Black Coffee released his debut self-titled album Black Coffee.The album appeared to be the first afro house album to win the South African Music Awards, Best Dance Album, category and featured other distinguished South African artists such as Hugh Masekela and Thandiswa Mazwai.
The genre had subsequently become popularized in even more parts of the world including South America, Europe, and Asia. In, London although already conceivably, presumbably present since the 1980s, its emergence appeared to have become solidified during this period as well as to a greater extent accredited to "giving rise to" the, UK funky, scene.
According to an interview American DJ, Osunlade had visited South Africa, for the first time in 2005.
DJ Cleo, released his first hit-single,"Goodbye".
In 2007, DJ Sbu's "Remember When It Rained" won Best Song of the Year, at the South African Music Awards.
"Umlilo" released by Big Nuz featuring DJ Tira and DJ Fisherman in 2009, won three South African Music Awards.
Culoe De Song, released his debut album A Giant Leap. It won Best New Artist at the South African Music Awards. The album was inclusive of one of his most popular releases "Webaba".
Between the 2000s and 2010s the genre appeared to have been most prominent in its native region, South Africa as well as the UK.
In 2011, identical twins band, Revolution released "Teka Munike" featuring Mozambique singer Ruby Gold.
In 2012, afro house duo Vetkuk vs. Trompies released the song "Via Orlando" featuring Dr. Malinga, the song was a rendition of Monwa & Sun's 1988 released "Orlando Hangover" ,the song's release in all probability, inspired other South African afro-house hit-singles thereafter most notably, in 2013 kwela and afro house duo Mafikizolo featuring Uhuru's "Khona". In 2014, Mafikizolo won eight awards at the South African Music Awards. Mi Casa won the Best Dance Album, DJ Kent ft. The Arrows, The Highest Airplay of the Year, for "Spin My World Around" and Oskido, Remix of the Year, for "Tsa Ma Ndebele".
Portuguese artists such as DJEFF (formerly known as Djeff Afrozila) accelerated the genre's popularity by performing a live mix from the DJ Mag, headquarters in Hoxton.
Central African, Record producer Boddhi Satva and Congolese songster Kaysha, released their best-hit, single, "Mama Kosa".
DJ Clock and band, Beatenberg, won six awards at the South African Music Awards for " Pluto ( Remember You)". The smash-hit, also received the SAMPRA award, for Highest Airplay of the Year.
At the time, South African 3-year-old, DJ Arch Jnr. appeared to be the world's first, youngest DJ. He won SA's Got Talent, received a standing ovation for his performance on America's Got Talent and competed in "World's Got Talent" in China. Arch Jnr. obtained and holds a Guinness World Record as the youngest, club DJ in the world.
In 2016, Gondwana KE was founded in Kenya by Eugene Onyago and Suraj Mandavia, the event and label predominantly showcases South African Afro house artists such as Karyendasoul, Citizen Deep, Punk Mbedzi, Frigid Armadillo and Sun-El Musician. As well as Kenyan, afro-house artists such as Ayrosh.
The "Koze Kuse" hit-maker, DJ Merlon released the album "Original Copy".
Angolan, producer Afro Warriors released "Uyankenteza" featuring vocalist, Toshi. The song was remixed by Hyenah.
In 2017, Beatport updated its platform with an additional Afro house category.
In 2018, South African DJ and Record producer, Euphonik won the Best Newcomer DJ, award at the DJ Awards under his new alias, "Themba".
In 2019, four South African Afro house DJs were nominated at the DJ Awards for the "afro house", genre. Da Capo won the first-ever, Afro House category, award.
Usher and Black Coffee collaborated on "LaLaLa". Prior to the song's release they performed together at the , in 2018.
A video of the Hilton College marimba band, in KwaZulu-Natal performing the Black Coffee and French, multi- number 1 DJ, in the world, David Guetta, song "Drive" featuring singer Delilah Montagu went viral.
Prince Kaybee and Msaki's,"Fetch Your Life" won The House Record of the Year at the African Dance Music Awards.
Master KG and singer, Nomcebo Zikode's globally viral-hit, "Jerusalema" debuted on Billboard and ITunes, music charts as number 1. The song was largely accredited to Popularity song, dance-challenges. The song's remix featuring Burna Boy reached Diamond record, status in France. Nomcebo's debut hit-single, in 2018 "Emazulwini" featured DJ Ganyani.
In 2021, the British house music record label, Defected Records launched an afro house label, Sondela, and the first released song "Ezizweni" was by South Africans DJ Tira, Hyenah and jazz singer, Luke Ntombela.
Afro-house, DJ and producer FKA Mash paid homage to kwaito, mbaqanga, marabi and kwela in his "Love Songs From Soweto", album.
South African poetic afro-house, vocalist, DJ and producer Lazarusman as well as German, duo Booka Shade were nominated at the Grammies for the album, "Dear Future Self".
David Guetta, Master KG and Akon released the single, "Shine Your Light".
Francis Mercier, a DJ and producer based in New York, released his remake of the influential composition " Premier Gaou" by the globally acclaimed Ivory Coast music group, Magic System. The original version was one of Africa's biggest records, achieving widespread recognition on a global scale in the late 1990s. Mercier revitalized the song by sharing his afro-house rendition in collaboration with, Spinnin' Records.
In 2022, Mixmag showcased German-Nigerians DJ JAMIIE at, The Lab Johannesburg.
Chymamusique, won Album of the Year, Best Dance Album and Male Artist of the Year for his album "Musique" at the South African Music Awards. In 2023, Black Coffee was the first African DJ and record producer, to fill up Madison Square Garden in New York City. Supporting acts were inclusive of musicians such as singer Bucie, Monique Bingham, afro-house songster, Shoba (formerly Shota), South African vocalist Portia Monique, singer and songwriter Msaki and a 12 piece-orchestra.
German music collective, Keinemusik was listed as number 1, in the top-selling afro house charts on Beatport. Mo Black Records founded by Italian Mimmo Falcone(MoBlack) in 2013, was listed as the number 1, best selling record label on Beatport.
Travis Scott and Drake joined Black Coffee at his live DJ, set performances.
When the South African national Rugby union team, the Springboks returned to South Africa, after winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, they engaged in a brief, jollification to afro house, global hit-single "Osama" by Grammy Awards-award-winning musician, Zakes Bantwini featuring, Kasango.
Ollie makes his First AFRO house song in 2024-2025
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