DJ Maphorisa Opens Up About His Jitters Ahead of Afrohouse Debut in Kenya

“It was nerve-wracking.” South African Amapiano producer DJ Maphorisa, whose real name is Themba Sekowe, has shared insights into his recent return to Afrohouse.

Maphorisa traveled to Kenya to perform his initial Afrohouse set at an event called Kunye.

In a video posted on Instagram, the Amapiano producer spoke candidly about his shift to this genre.

“I was so nervous because it’s been a while. It’s not even been a while because Afro has changed. It’s different compared to the one I used to do with abo Uhuru and others. So yeah, man, I was nervous,” Maphorisa stated.

He disclosed that he found himself overthinking many details, particularly in choosing songs for his performance.

“But yeah, man, at least it went well. I see the reception. Everyone is very lit. I hope you’re going to see more on these Afro stages,” he added.

Maphorisa expressed gratitude to DJ Shimza, the creator of Kunye, for offering him a platform to demonstrate his talents.

Shimza acknowledged Maphorisa and mentioned that his performance stood out as the highlight of the event.

Supporters took to the comments to uplift Maphorisa following his admission.

@mofasuwa_mufasa remarked: “Phori the king. You already deserve a spot in Ibiza with that set.”

@wm.jabez commented, “The best set of the night.”

@miss._hally added, “Killed it. Can’t wait another year. Come back soon.”

@_miss_christine noted, “You did amazing.”

Earlier this year, Maphorisa boldly announced his intent to switch his focus from Amapiano to Afrohouse.

As a key figure in the evolution of Amapiano, this decision stirred mixed reactions among fans, with some suggesting it was a strategic move to secure international performances similar to DJ Black Coffee and DJ Shimza.

Maphorisa is a well-known name in the industry, openly sharing his perspectives on various music-related issues.

Recently, he emphasized the need for greater unity within the South African music landscape, especially among hip hop artists.

On social media platform X, he voiced his concerns regarding the current dynamics of the music scene: “SA hip hop guys need to work together; this camp-camp thing is not working,” he tweeted.