Amapiano Controversy: Swae Lee’s Teaser Triggers Twitter War Between South Africans and Nigerians

July 12, 2023

Swae Lee caused mayhem between Nigerians and South Africans on Twitter after announcing a new Amapiano track alongside a Nigerian Flag emoji.

Swae Lee had South African and Nigerian Twitter users heated after revealing he has a new Amapiano song on the way. 

On Tuesday (July 11), the “Sunflower” hitmaker tried to drum up some excitement from his fans about his upcoming track. “Wait till y’all hear Swae Lee on Amapiano,” Swae Lee wrote. However, he added the Nigeria flag emoji, leaving many fans convinced Swae misrepresented the genre that originated in South Africa.  

Wait till y’all hear Swae Lee on Amapiano ????????

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) July 11, 2023

“Amapiano belongs to south Africans fam,” one user replied. “This is the second international artiste making this mistake. Give the right people their props.” 

“I didn’t say it belonged to anyone,” Swae Lee replied before adding, “I’m Nigerian that’s why I put it.” 

He also credited South Africans for creating Amapiano and attempted to clarify his previous tweet. “I never said anyone created it in that tweet just said I got amapiano vibes otw and they sound Raw,” he added. “y’all got that one.” 

pic.twitter.com/R2qfZnEJY1

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) July 11, 2023

However, his comments also sparked a dispute between fans from both nations debating whether non-South African artists can call their music Amapiano. 

In a video response, Swae Lee claimed he didn’t intend to “start division” among the diaspora. He also said he was introduced to Amapiano by Nigerians and gave a nod to his Nigerian heritage.  

“That actually just opened my eyes to a whole other problem that we have. What’s up with the division? We need to come together and empower each other,’ he added before saying he’s got some Amapiano “bangers” on the way. 

Swae World Peace ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/72LpvMry74

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) July 11, 2023

“Bigs up to the South Africans for creating this beautiful s###,” he declared in a follow-up tweet.  

Check out Swae Lee’s other comments and some of the reactions from Nigeria and South African Twitter users below.  

I never discredited nobody sorry y’all read it that way I never said anything about it’s origins in that tweet I was just letting my fans know I’m tapped in and been cooking some amapiano style songs salute to the history of amapiano and the first creators of it I’m not taking…

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) July 12, 2023

Like I said s/O to the originators of amapiano triple salute just know I got some of my vibes OTW !!! Whoever wanna work and create dope s### I don’t care where you from let’s go big ………don’t dig too deep, swae fans you know what it is BE READY!! All over the world ????????♾️…

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) July 11, 2023

woooooah I never said anything about who was the first guys I just said wait until y’all hear my amapiano songs ???? y’all reached for that one

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) July 12, 2023

I salute it much respect I’m otw ????????????????‍???????????????? hit my email I’m locked in ???????? pic.twitter.com/zu32Y1bcaa

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) July 12, 2023

If you really want peace .. remove that Jollof flag and put South African flag ???????? alone

We not friends with Jollof brothers … pic.twitter.com/VXoXLTh2ZH

— ChrisExcel (@ChrisExcel102) July 11, 2023

We are not offended but we need you to acknowledge that "Amapiano" is a South African word , we need you to credit the right country

— Davidsizwe (@Davidsizwe1) July 11, 2023

This has nothing to do with insecurities. Just give the f#####’ credit to where it’s due.

— Vuyo (@Vuyo_Ngc) July 11, 2023

You saying a whole lot of nothing !! We want credit for our genre AMAPIANO that’s it !! ????????

— Sekzin ???????? (@Sekzin_sa) July 11, 2023

South Africans and Nigerians arguing in the comment session.

Ghanaians: pic.twitter.com/vqCANRMYWP

— ???????????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????. (@charlie_1249) July 11, 2023

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