Drums From the South
821 Words
CHAPTER 3
The stadium dimmed. A low fog covered the stage like a secret about to be revealed.
The MC’s voice cracked through the speakers low, serious, almost afraid of what was coming:
“Now… make some noise… for the Amapiano kings and queen… all the way from Johannesburg!”
A heartbeat-like bass thumped.
Then…
Focalistic "Ke Star"
Suddenly, red lights exploded across the stage. The screen behind flickered into bold black and white graffiti of Joburg streets.
A group of six backup dancers hit the stage first all dressed in black tracksuits with reflective stripes. They dropped into low squats, snapping shoulders and moving like they were on the streets of Soweto.
Then he appeared.
Focalistic walked out like a general black leather pants, sunglasses, silver chains bouncing with each step.
“Aseeeeeehh!!” he shouted into the mic, and the crowd screamed.
“Ke Star” dropped HARD.
The beat was snappy, laced with log drums that kicked like a heartbeat under pressure.He rapped with street swag, voice sharp like he was teasing the crowd:
“Ba nyaka go bona star…”
“Nna le nna ke star!”
The dancers hit a synchronized groove shoulder bounces, foot taps, and that signature Amapiano kick-back step.
One of the dancers flipped mid-air, landing into a fast gwara gwara, while the others formed a V-shape behind Focalistic, who rapped like he was leading a marching squad.
The crowd? Shocked at first but then, they started moving.
Even the K-pop section couldn’t resist.
Jisoo covered her mouth.
Sunghoon bobbed his head.
Lisa grabbed her phone and started recording.
Focalistic ended the set with a sly wink, spun once, threw his hand up, and shouted:
“SOUTHY IN THE BUILDING!”
Kabza De Small – “Sponono”
Everything went dark.
Then… soft golden lights lit up the edges of the stage like candles.
A slow piano chord floated in.
It felt like something between a love letter and a prayer.
Kabza De Small stepped up behind the DJ booth with white shirt, no chain, calm face.He moved like he was in a trance.
“Sponono” began with soft, haunting vocals:
“You got me singing love songs…”
The melody was gentle, but the log drums underneath rumbled like distant thunder. A group of female dancers in flowing silk pants entered swaying their hips like a breeze was controlling them.
They moved in slow motion, arms waving like water, eyes closed.
Then the beat dropped.
BOOM!
The log drum hit, and the dancers flipped hips circling, knees bending, and that slow amapiano bounce began.
The whole performance was romantic, spiritual, and groovy all at once.
RM leaned forward.
Ayra Starr whispered, “This one dey enter soul even Seoul didn't see this coming”
Even Wizkid turned slightly, his fingers tapping slowly on the chair.
Kabza never said a word just controlled the music like a puppet master.The dancers formed a circle, arms raised to the sky as the beat faded into soft echoes.
No words. No fireworks. Just pure groove.
Uncle Waffles “Tanzania”
Then came the storm.
Pyro exploded from the ground. Smoke, pink lights, and strobes turned the stadium into a dance cave.
Uncle Waffles came out flipping her braids, wearing a sparkling cropped jacket and joggers.
Headphones on. DJ table glowing.
“Tanzaniaaaa!” she shouted into the mic and hit play.
The beat was insane, layered log drums, whistle synths, and kicks that bounced like springs.
Five backup dancers (all guys) slid in like waves, doing synchronized footwork fast, low, aggressive.
Uncle Waffles didn’t just DJ _ she danced between drops:
One leg in the air
Shoulders popping
Gwara gwara with the deck still spinning
Face focused like she was having a spiritual moment
“They go love me now, they go love me later…”
The male dancers circled her, spinning and slapping the air, one even flipped off a speaker and landed in rhythm.The crowd screamed louder than ever.
“Unnie!!!”
“Is this a DJ or a superwoman!?”
“AFRICA’S GOT POWER!”
“Indeed the DJ dey really try as dem talk am,” Tekno said backstage.
“Na DJ and dancer in one body,” Runtown added.
She hit every beat of “Tanzania” like it was war.
Fans jumped. K-pop idols stood up. Even the security guards were vibing.
Uncle Waffles turned up the volume and danced with fire in her soul.By the time she hit her final beat, she was sweating and smiling.
“Shout out to the motherland!”
The stadium obeyed.
The hosts didn’t know what to say.
The lights flickered. The cheers hadn’t died.
But the night was only just beginning.
Because next…
Afrobeat was about to enter.
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- Writer
