DJ Maphorisa has admitted that the magnitude of the upcoming Scorpion Kings Live concert at FNB Stadium is starting to sink in, revealing a mixture of excitement, nerves and anxiety as he and Kabza De Small prepare for one of the biggest moments in Amapiano history.
The Scorpion Kings will take over Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on 19 September 2026 for Scorpion Kings Live: A Family Affair, with more than 70,000 fans expected to be part of the massive celebration of South African music.
Speaking ahead of the concert, Maphorisa acknowledged the pressure that comes with attempting a production on this scale.
“We’re excited, we’re nervous, too much anxiety, but it’s a good feeling,” Maphorisa told IOL.
From Loftus to FNB Stadium
The FNB Stadium show represents another major step in the evolution of Scorpion Kings Live.
Maphorisa and Kabza previously took the concept to Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria in August 2025, bringing together some of South Africa’s biggest artists for a large-scale celebration of Amapiano.
That experience appears to have given the pair the confidence to think even bigger.
Earlier this year, Maphorisa described Loftus as the moment that proved what an Amapiano live production could become, while positioning FNB Stadium as an opportunity to take the concept to a global stadium level.
Demand has backed up that ambition. More than 70,000 tickets were reportedly sold within the first week, after hundreds of thousands of fans entered online queues when tickets became available.
Scorpion Kings promise bigger production
Fans attending FNB Stadium can expect more than an extended DJ set.
Maphorisa says the Scorpion Kings have expanded their catalogue considerably since their previous stadium show, giving them even more music to incorporate into the production.
Kabza is also expected to bring live musicianship into the performance by playing keys, while greater emphasis will be placed on vocals and instrumentation throughout the show.
The ambition is to create a performance that demonstrates how far Amapiano has developed as a live music experience — moving beyond DJs behind decks towards a full-scale stadium production.
Maphorisa previously said the FNB production would feature a bigger stage, improved sound and greater emphasis on musical storytelling.
Safety also a major priority
With tens of thousands of people descending on Nasrec, the logistics surrounding the event have become just as important as what happens on stage.
Maphorisa acknowledged that organisers experienced challenges during the previous Scorpion Kings Live show and said lessons from that event are being incorporated into the FNB Stadium production.
Safety, crowd movement and the overall fan experience are among the areas receiving attention ahead of the September event.
The official stadium schedule currently has the pre-show running from 14:00 to 18:00, followed by the main Scorpion Kings show from 18:00 until 23:30.
A defining moment for Amapiano
Beyond the pressure facing Maphorisa and Kabza personally, the scale of Scorpion Kings Live represents another significant milestone for Amapiano.
A sound that developed within South African communities and club culture is now capable of commanding one of the continent’s most recognisable stadiums with South African artists at the centre of the bill.
The concert has been positioned under the theme “A Family Affair”, celebrating not only the Scorpion Kings but the artists, collaborators and fans who have contributed to Amapiano’s rise.
For Maphorisa, however, the ultimate objective remains surprisingly simple.
After the massive production, stadium, lights, musicians and thousands of fans are taken into account, he wants people to do what they have always done with Scorpion Kings music, dance.
