SA: Dankie Boi, DJ Tira release Welcome To Durban EP

The project pairs Dankie Boi, a newer figure associated with gqom’s evolving sound, with DJ Tira, widely recognised for his role in popularising the genre in South Africa. The release reflects both the established and emerging elements of Durban’s electronic music scene.

Spanning multiple tracks, the EP incorporates township-inspired rhythms and dance styles, including gawule and is’qophi, alongside themes associated with nightlife and coastal culture. The sound maintains gqom’s characteristic percussive structure while incorporating elements aimed at a broader audience.

Dankie Boi, who originates from Inanda Township, has gained attention through recent releases and collaborations with artists such as Goldmax, Blacks Jnr and DJ Tira. His rise has been supported by online engagement and dance-driven trends linked to his music.

DJ Tira, whose real name is Mthokozisi Khathi, has been active in the music industry for more than two decades. He is credited with helping to bring gqom into the mainstream and is the founder of Afrotainment, a label that has contributed to the development of several artists in the genre.

The EP arrives amid continued interest in qqom, a style that originated in Durban and has since gained both national and international audiences. Welcome To Durban presents a collaboration that reflects the genre’s ongoing development while maintaining its established stylistic elements.

Contributors: Collins Matsepe and Mandla Mhlongwa