Afro Tech
South African house with African percussion and a strong techno influence.
History
Afro tech is a South African sub-genre of afro house s1. It began in the 2010s s1. Producers wanted a sound like afro house but with more techno s1. It mixes afro house and techno with African percussion s1. Vocals are usually in Xhosa or Zulu s1. Early examples include Black Coffee's 'We Dance Again' and tracks by Culoe De Song and Bekzin Terris s1. DJs such as Black Coffee, Culoe De Song, Da Capo and Shimza made the style known s1s2. In 2015 Black Coffee won a breakthrough award at the DJ Awards s1. In 2023 the music store Spotify created an 'AfroTech Now' playlist s1. Producers from other African countries also make the style s1. Afro tech is often played at large outdoor events and in clubs s2. It is close to afro house but has a harder, more electronic drive s2. The style is popular across Africa and in Europe s2.
Sound
- African percussion and shakers
- A steady four-to-the-floor beat
- Deep, rolling basslines
- Vocals in Xhosa or Zulu
- A techno-style drive
Key figures
- Black Coffee — South African DJ and producer who led the style
- Culoe De Song — South African producer in the afro tech scene
- Da Capo — South African producer of afro tech
- Shimza — South African DJ and producer
Labels
- Soul Candi — Johannesburg , 1996
- Get Physical Music — Berlin , 2002
- Kunye — Johannesburg , 2018
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Afro House , Deep Tech
Sources
- Afro tech — Wikipedia
- History of Afro House: Origins & Global Rise — Afrohouse.se