HALLOWEEN UNDER THE SPELL OF AMAPIANO

This Halloween season, South African celebrities brought their creativity to new heights, blending tributes to local music icons with nods to Hollywood characters. The celebration highlighted how South African stars are bridging local culture and global pop influence, with inventive costumes that captivated fans and social media alike. This year, the world saw a Halloween that was not only bold but infused with the spirit of South Africa’s entertainment scene.

AMAPIANO STARTS LEADING THE CHARGE

Among the Halloween headliners were many of South Africa’s Amapiano stars. Tyla, one of Amapiano’s rising global talents, stepped out with her unique flair, channeling Halle Berry’s character, “Sharon Stone,” from The Flintstones movie. Wearing a tiger-print costume, she paired her look with a flowing black wig and bold makeup for a stunning Stone Age-inspired look. Though Tyla is now based in the U.S., she proudly represents Amapiano worldwide. In a remarkable achievement, her self-titled album even surpassed Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter with 2.34 million streams this week, making it 2024’s seventh best-selling album.

Uncle Waffles, another Amapiano sensation, brought humor and nostalgia to Halloween as Jim Carrey’s iconic, green-faced character from The Mask. Known for her energy on stage, Uncle Waffles’ costume echoed her playful personality and cemented her status as a force in Amapiano.

DBN Gogo, one of Amapiano’s most respected female DJs, went for a sleek transformation as Agent 47 from Hitman. Her bold choice reflected her confident approach to the music scene.

TxC, the popular Amapiano duo comprising Tarryn and Clair, kept it lighthearted by dressing as Max and Caroline from 2 Broke Girls. Their costumes, channeling the comedic duo, brought out their sense of humor and gave fans a fresh look at the pair outside of their music.

SOMIZI AND PEARL THUSI HONOURED SOUTH AFRICAN ICONS

Local stars also paid homage to South African icons, creating memorable looks with a cultural twist. Somizi Mhlongo stunned fans with his spot-on portrayal of rapper Shebeshxt, earning praise and laughter from fans. His friend and renowned vocalist, Nhlanhla Mafu, even crowned him Halloween’s winner, saying, “You win, mayivalwe (let’s close it).” Somizi embraced the role fully, with temporary facial tattoos and Shebeshxt’s signature throat tattoo, earning him the nickname “Somshxta” for his flawless resemblance.

Pearl Thusi took the opportunity to embody Emtee, one of South Africa’s most celebrated rappers. Her transformation included replicas of Emtee’s tattoos, such as the signature Mercedes-Benz tattoo on his neck. She completed the look with Emtee merch and a cap, echoing his style with impeccable detail. The timing couldn’t have been better, as her tribute coincided with Emtee’s release of his new album, DIY 3, which includes collaborations with artists like Saudi, Just G, and Nanette.

HALLOWEEN SOUTH AFRICAN STYLE

Halloween 2024 in South Africa was a showcase of local creativity, with stars embracing elements from both their heritage and the global stage. From Tyla’s look to Somizi’s tribute to Shebeshxt and Uncle Waffles’ comedic take on The Mask, this Halloween season celebrated South Africa’s rich entertainment culture and its vibrant community of creators.

In a time when Halloween costumes are becoming more elaborate and thoughtful, South African stars reminded the world that true creativity lies in celebrating both the local and the global, making 2024 a Halloween to remember. We hope to see more in 2025!