tempo varies, no sourced figure

Afro tech in African electronic music

Afro tech is a darker, techno-leaning strand of Afro house created by South African producers in the early 2010s.[1]

10 artists on Pulse3 cities4 sets to play

Pulse

What afro tech is

It sets live-sounding percussion such as djembe and congas against synthetic, techno-style sounds, and its instrumentals tend to be darker than mainstream Afro house; vocals are often in isiZulu and isiXhosa. Producers describe it as borrowing from techno while lowering the tempo and adding an African groove.[1]

Afro tech, also written Afro-tech, AfroTech, Afro tech house, gqomtech (gqom hybrid).

Tempo

No sourced tempo. No sourced figure. Sources say only that it borrows from techno but 'drops the BPM'. Perfecto Mlu (Mixmag, 2023) says Afro tech borrows from techno, lowers the BPM and adds an African groove. In practice it shares Afro house's range; the Afro house range is 115 to 125 BPM (Beatportal 2024). Do not state a separate number. Pulse shows no BPM number for this sound; the city tempos on the map are the cities' own pulse figures.

Where it comes from

South Africa · Early 2010s[1][2]

  • Shimza

    called one of its pioneers; says Afro tech added techno to Afro house to reach new markets; runs Kunye[1]

  • Black Coffee, Culoe De Song, Bekzin Terris, DJ Themba (Euphonik), Punk Mbedzi, Da Capo

    named on Wikipedia as popularisers (lead only)[2]

  • Enoo Napa

    Durban; co-founder of the AYC events; says 'it's always been Afro house'[1]

Where the sources disagree

Is it a genre?. Shimza presents it as a deliberate techno-leaning move; Enoo Napa rejects the separate name.[1]

Who carried it

  • Kunyeevents and label

    Shimza's[1]

  • Anywhere In Your City (AYC)events (Durban)

    co-founded by Enoo Napa; third event sold out to 8,000; AYC Festival on 16 December 2023[1]

  • Key Musicevents

    run by Perfecto Mlu[1]

  • Africa Gets Physical (Get Physical Music)compilation series

    curated by Thandi Draai[1]

  • Lockdown House Partybroadcast

    Shimza's virtual DJ series during Covid lockdowns, later weekly on Channel O[1]

Moments

  1. 2020-07Shimza becomes the first DJ to play a set on Robben Island[2]
  2. 2022-07-14Caiiro b2b Enoo Napa for Mixmag's In The Lab Johannesburg[2]
  3. 2023Spotify launches an 'AfroTech Now' playlist; Mixmag scene report notes big festivals still put Afro tech on smaller stages[2][1]
  4. 2023-10Dlala Thukzin's 'iPlan', mixing gqom, Afro tech and amapiano, debuts at number one on Billboard South Africa Songs[2]
  5. 2025-11-14DJ Lag's 'Southside' blends gqom with Afro tech and 3-step[3]

The rooms it was made for

  • Durban park and stadium-side events

    AYC drew a sold-out 8,000; its 2023 festival was set in a park beside a major Durban stadium.[1]

  • Lockdown living rooms

    Shimza's Lockdown House Party streamed DJ sets into homes, then onto satellite TV.[1]

  • Smaller festival stages

    Mixmag notes major South African festivals often relegate Afro tech to smaller stages.[1]

Cities on Pulse

Cities whose signature sound or style tags include Afro tech. The number is each city's own pulse tempo.

Artists on Pulse

10 artists and collectives tagged Afro tech in our data, busiest cities first.

Sets to play

One tap plays here; the next Afro tech set follows, then Pulse Radio carries on.

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Questions about Afro tech

What is Afro tech?

A darker, techno-influenced strand of Afro house, created by South African producers in the early 2010s.[1]

Is Afro tech different from Afro house?

It adds techno elements and darker instrumentals, but some pioneers, including Enoo Napa, say it has always been Afro house under a new name.[1]

Who started Afro tech?

Mixmag names Shimza as one of its pioneers; Black Coffee, Culoe De Song, Da Capo and Punk Mbedzi are often cited as early popularisers.[1][2]

What language are Afro tech vocals in?

Often isiZulu and isiXhosa.[1]

Sources

Last checked 16 October 2026 · Send a correction or a tip

Other sounds on Pulse

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All sounds and the tempo table