Kabza De Small is heading into September with yet another reminder of why he remains one of the most influential figures in Amapiano, following a dominant showing at the 32nd South African Music Awards and with a massive Scorpion Kings Live date at FNB Stadium now just weeks away.
The producer entered SAMA32 as one of the ceremony’s most nominated artists and walked away as one of its biggest winners, collecting three awards at the ceremony held at Sun City on 15 August.
His latest victories arrive at an important moment in his career. On 19 September 2026, Kabza and longtime collaborator DJ Maphorisa will take their Scorpion Kings partnership to FNB Stadium in Johannesburg for Scorpion Kings Live: A Family Affair, where more than 70,000 fans are expected.
‘Bab’Motha’ wins Best Amapiano Album
At SAMA32, Kabza’s Bab’Motha was crowned Best Amapiano Album, further extending an extraordinary run for an artist whose catalogue has helped define the sound of modern Amapiano.
Kabza had entered the awards with four nominations, including Best Amapiano Album and Best Engineered Album for Bab’Motha, while his collaborations “Abantwana Bakho” and “Dlala Ka Yona” were both nominated for Best Collaboration.
The eventual results further demonstrated his ability to dominate beyond his solo releases.
“Abantwana Bakho”, by DJ Maphorisa and Xduppy with Kabza De Small featuring Thatohatsi, Young Stunna and Nkosazana Daughter, won Best Collaboration, while Kabza was also among the night’s three-award leaders alongside gospel star HLE.
It was another significant night for Amapiano at South Africa’s biggest music awards, with the genre continuing to demonstrate its commercial and cultural strength alongside the strong showing of gospel and Maskandi at this year’s ceremony.
From award stages to FNB Stadium
There will not be much time for Kabza to celebrate.
Attention has already shifted towards Scorpion Kings Live at FNB Stadium, arguably one of the biggest tests yet of the pulling power of Amapiano as a stadium genre.
Kabza and Maphorisa are expected to perform in front of more than 70,000 people when they take over the Johannesburg venue on 19 September. More than 500,000 people reportedly entered the ticketing queue when tickets initially went on sale, with over 70,000 tickets eventually sold within the first week.
The numbers alone illustrate the scale at which the Scorpion Kings now operate.
Their forthcoming show follows the success of Scorpion Kings Live with Friends at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria in 2025. FNB Stadium represents another significant jump in ambition, both for the duo and for the genre they have helped push around the world.
Kabza will take to the keys
Fans should also get an opportunity to experience another side of Kabza’s musicianship.
Maphorisa recently revealed that the FNB Stadium production will feature more live instrumentation and vocals, with Kabza expected to play keys during the performance.
The pair also have considerably more music to work with than they did at their previous stadium concert, meaning the show is expected to incorporate newer releases alongside the catalogue that has established Scorpion Kings as one of South African music’s most successful partnerships.
The main Scorpion Kings show is scheduled to run from 18:00 until 23:30, following a pre-show from 14:00 to 18:00.
Kabza’s influence continues to grow
The timing of the FNB Stadium concert makes Kabza’s latest SAMA success particularly significant.
For years, his influence could be measured through releases, streaming numbers, collaborations and the emergence of artists influenced by his production style.
Now there is another measurement: stadiums.
Selling tens of thousands of tickets for a South African dance-music event demonstrates how far Amapiano has travelled from its roots in Gauteng’s townships, clubs and parties.
It also illustrates Kabza’s unusual position within the movement. Despite Amapiano continuously producing new stars and evolving into different subgenres and interpretations, the producer commonly referred to as the King of Amapiano remains firmly at the centre of the conversation.
September could become another defining month
SAMA32 has already given Kabza De Small a major start to the final stretch of 2026.
FNB Stadium could make September even more significant.
If Scorpion Kings Live delivers on the scale suggested by its ticket demand, the show will be more than another milestone for Kabza and Maphorisa. It will be another demonstration of what South African dance music is capable of building on home soil.
Kabza enters that moment with fresh awards on his shelf, another acclaimed Amapiano album behind him and tens of thousands of fans preparing to watch him perform on one of the biggest stages in Africa.
