Yaba Buluku Boyz talk about fusing Afrobeats and amapiano

Comprising DJ Tarico, Nelson Tivane and Preck, Yaba Buluku Boyz have been working together for about four years. They are now signalling their readiness to conquer Africa and the rest of the world with their infectious sound.

“We’re on a mission to unite Africa through music,” DJ Tarico, the trio’s producer, tells Music In Africa. “Our blend of Afrobeats and amapiano is inspired by our passion for crossover reach and our desire to make a mark in the African music scene.”

With the release of their recent album Donsa, it looks like Yaba Buluku Boyz are on their way to positioning themselves at the forefront of the African music scene. At the moment, they’re enjoying about 200 000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and their song ‘The One (Chop Life)’ alongside Nigerian Afrobeats artist Crayon is close to surpassing 7 million plays on the streaming service. 

They’ve also worked with Burna Boy (Nigeria), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Falz (Nigeria), Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe), Makhadzi (South Africa) and Harmonize (Tanzania), proving that cross-border collaborations are where the game is at. Their music has gone even further into the collaborative space by working with Francophone African artists like Ivory Coast’s Didi B and Cameroonians Blanche Bailly and Stanley Enow.

Preck says the idea of blending amapiano with Afrobeats was inspired by their collaboration with Burna Boy on the track ‘Yaba Buluku’, on which he and Nelson Tivane were featured.

“We carry a culture that represents our people, and we’re proud to be the pride of Mozambique. Our pan-African vision keeps us grounded and learning from other cultures,” Preck says.

Lyricist and performer Nelson Tivane adds: “We want our listeners to have an experience whenever they watch us perform or sing our songs ... We hope that our listeners relate to our stories, passion and energy. We want our music to be part of their lifestyle, and we’re grateful for the support.”

Like most others, Yaba Buluku Boyz have faced challenges navigating the music industry, but with hard work, experimenting with different collaborators and the guidance of Geobek Records’ George Beke, they’re finding the success they deserve. 

“We’re not just achieving milestones for ourselves but for our country and the African music industry as a whole. We’ve learnt that making music in African dialects flows smoothly, and our African languages have something that connects us,” DJ Tarico says