For many South Africans, Gqom was the soundtrack of the mid-2010s. Born in Durban, its raw percussion, heavy bass and stripped-back energy changed the country's club scene and created a sound that felt unmistakably local.
What is Gqom music?
Gqom is a South African electronic music genre rooted in Durban. Compared with smoother house styles, it is often darker, more percussive and deliberately sparse. The power comes from repetition, tension and rhythm rather than dense melody.
That physical quality made it ideal for clubs, taxis, street culture and large dance floors. It also gave Durban a musical identity that could travel without losing its local character.
The rise of Gqom
During the mid-2010s, Gqom moved from Durban's underground into South Africa's mainstream. DJs, dancers, producers and vocalists transformed a regional sound into a national movement.
DJ Lag became one of the genre's most visible international ambassadors, while artists such as Babes Wodumo, Distruction Boyz and Mampintsha helped turn the sound into charting records, major performances and global cultural exports.
Gqom did not grow because it copied an existing global formula. It grew because Durban created its own.
When Amapiano took over
As Amapiano became South Africa's biggest dance genre, Gqom gradually disappeared from the centre of the mainstream conversation. The softer swing, log drums and highly collaborative culture of Amapiano created a new national and international wave.
But a shift in attention is not the same as extinction. DJ Lag continued building international audiences, while artists including DJ Maphorisa, Moonchild Sanelly and many Durban producers kept the harder sound active through releases, live sets and genre-crossing collaborations.
The artists and events that kept Gqom alive
Even during Amapiano's peak, many of Gqom's pioneers never stopped releasing music. Que DJ continued developing his solo catalogue after the success of Distruction Boyz, while new tracks and collaborations carried the same Durban intensity into a different era.
Events also played an important role. Gatherings such as Gqom Therapy began as smaller spaces for dedicated listeners and developed into larger celebrations of the genre. These communities preserved the sound even when mainstream playlists moved elsewhere.
From Durban to the world
By 2017 and 2018, Gqom had become an international movement. Tracks such as Babes Wodumo's “Wololo” and releases from Distruction Boyz introduced listeners far beyond South Africa to Durban's club language.
The genre's international rise also led to connections with major global artists. DJ Lag's collaborations and performances demonstrated that Gqom could operate both as a local scene and as a flexible global influence.
More recently, collaborations involving artists such as Vigro Deep, Zee Nxumalo, Uncle Waffles and Royal Musiq show how Gqom continues to inspire musicians across neighbouring South African dance genres.
When Amapiano meets Gqom
One reason Gqom remains relevant is that its DNA appears inside newer music. Tracks and remixes increasingly combine Amapiano's groove with Gqom's harder percussion and Durban energy.
Songs referenced in the original visual story—including “Iza Mawala (Piano Remix)” and newer hybrid releases—show that genres do not always replace one another cleanly. They influence, borrow and evolve together.
Bootlegs, virality and Gqom online
Social platforms have created another route back into the culture. Producers have turned global pop and R&B songs into Gqom bootlegs, allowing familiar vocals to introduce the rhythm to new listeners.
These unofficial edits spread quickly because they combine recognition with surprise. Even when a remix is not an official release, it can create discovery, revive dance challenges and reconnect younger listeners with the genre.
So, is Gqom really making a comeback?
The better question may be whether it ever left. Gqom is no longer dominating South African mainstream culture in the same way it did during the late 2010s, but it has continued through loyal artists, growing events, online culture, global audiences and new subgenres.
What we are seeing now may not be a simple comeback. It may be the beginning of Gqom's next chapter: less dependent on one commercial moment, more connected to an international network and increasingly comfortable blending with other sounds.
Gqom music FAQ
What does Gqom sound like?
Dark, sparse and highly percussive, with heavy bass, repeated rhythmic patterns and a raw club-focused energy.
Where did Gqom originate?
The genre is closely associated with Durban, South Africa, and the city's club, dance and street culture.
What is the difference between Gqom and Amapiano?
Gqom is generally harder, darker and more percussive. Amapiano is often smoother and more melodic, with prominent log drums and jazz, lounge or soulful influences.
Genres move through DJs, events and cities.
Explore Tonayt's Music Intelligence pages to see which sounds are shaping nightlife right now.