DALIWONGA: AN AMAPIANO PHENOMENON

Words by Jamal Grootboom | Images: Supplied

What started off as a niche genre captivating groove spots in Pretoria has become one of South Africa's biggest music exports. This is amapiano. Merging elements of South African house, kwaito, gqom and afro-pop, amapiano has become the most popular sound, creating stars with its accession.

From Uncle Waffles, DBN Gogo, Kabza De Small, and Major League DJz to Kelvin Momo, they have all formed part of the sound that’s been taken to the world. The producers behind the magnetic music genre have also gained unparalleled popularity and become household names. This includes our ‘Impossible To Ignore’ winter campaign star, Daliwonga.

Hailing from Soweto, Johannesburg, the ‘Abo Mvelo’ singer burst on the music scene during the boom of amapiano in 2019 with 'Friends with Benefits' by producer Luu Nineleven. Since then, Daliwonga has been featured on hit records such as ‘Banyana’ and ‘Izolo’, becoming one of the most sought-after vocalists of his generation.

Chatting with us, Daliwonga gives us insight into his journey in amapiano, his on-duty vs off-duty wardrobe and how he gets his flawless skin.

South Africa has produced some of the most innovative music genres with amapiano being the most recent and most successful international export. Speaking about how this level of exposure has impacted local artists, Daliwonga says, “The genre as a whole has had an impeccable change in the lives of many artists. It has created wealth for families in music that will be generational.”

He shares further, “it continues to break new artists on a weekly and has enabled a positive spotlight on our country globally. In such a short space of time, amapiano has really been positive all around.”

When it comes to vocalists that have defined piano, Samthing Soweto’s vocal stylings and arrangements are often cited as the building blocks for the present-day sound. Expanding on how this came about, Dali says, “I’m definitely inspired by artists such as Samthing Soweto and Sir Trill as my brothers in music, but as always everyone has to have their special touch.”

Dali also shares that local heavyweight producer DJ Maphorisa played a major part in developing his signature sound which has enabled him to grow and add his “special touch” to the music industry.

Speaking about why fashion is important, Dali says, “it allows people to really express themselves without having to say anything, it really brings out one's persona, a person's fashion sense or style really tells you a lot about them.” Furthermore, it allows people to be “forward thinking” which ultimately makes for the creation of “creates new trends” and “new styles”.

The ‘Gangnam style’ singer has a specific look on stage and when he puts together his performance outfits, he emphasises that he needs to “look clean, fresh, with a touch of swag.” His mood for the day plays a huge part in how he dresses, along with the type of event he’s performing at, but “simplicity with a bang is key”.

WATCH: Daliwonga Style By Series - Impossible to Ignore winter looks

For his day-to-day 'fit, Dali tends to keep his simplicity vibe going with his style. “I can never be caught slacking haha. But definitely, a clean crisp tee, jeans, slides or sneakers and a bucket hat is the staple.”

Dali’s favourite pieces to grab to keep the cold at bay this winter are big graphic sweaters and jerseys or a cardigan paired with fitted jeans or trousers.

One of Daliwonga’s most striking features is his flawless skin. While most of the credit goes to good genes, he shares that he enhances the glow and smooth skin by washing his face with soap and using Vaseline.

Most of us know Daliwonga the artist, but when it comes to the person he does have hobbies outside of making music. On his off days, you’ll find him playing FIFA or in the gym. For Daliwonga, rest days are important for “ finding my peace and keeping healthy as on the road life is rather hectic.”