The recent performance by Amapiano artists DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small has sparked a significant conversation online. Footage from their show in London has been shared widely across social media platforms.
Known together as the Scorpion Kings, the artists took their music to international stages, performing in Ibiza and London, and notably sharing the stage with DJ Black Coffee at Hi Ibiza.
While these international events have showcased the expanding popularity of amapiano, responses to their London concert have varied.
On May 25, 2026, a video from their London set gained traction, with some viewers suggesting that the audience lacked enthusiasm during the performance.
Although certain observers defended the duo’s role in bringing South African music to a worldwide audience, critics felt the crowd did not engage deeply with the genre.
“The crowd is not inspired. Black Coffee invited them to show that he is the only boss in this industry. Kabza and Madumane have learned that they still have a long way to go,” one social media user expressed.
Another commented, “It’s too quiet, it’s not making sense. I think this crowd came for something different, not them.”
In response to the negative feedback, some dedicated fans emerged to defend the duo, asserting that audiences from different regions react variably to slower music styles like amapiano.
“First, the crowd was not bored, but that’s how the crowd reacts to that type of music. Amapiano is super slow for those types of spaces,” a supporter detailed online.
Kabza De Small rocking the Crowd at Piano People in London 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/KRzBRGwjP1
— Peché Africa 🇿🇦 (@pmcafrica) May 25, 2026
