ctrl NIGHTS: Omagoqa [SA] 18+

Omagoqa is a trio coming from Durban, South Africa, very active in the past two years throughout Europe, with Sonar, NTS Radio, Rinse UK, Refuge Radio & Kiosk Radio being part of their tour.

They are the gqom new wave pioneers, set to elevate traditional dance music with some indigenous influences. With a sound deeply rooted in Zulu drums, Omagoqa bring a unique blend of kwaito (South African sub-genre of house music) and gqom and add a modern twist to it.

Actually, they coined their version of gqom as ‘uThayela’ & ‘Is’qinsi’. These translate into “a rougher sound with a harder bassline that it is made for clubs” and an infusion of electronic sounds generally associated with foreign based Electronica type musical elements.Raw, rhythm, repetition – these are the quintessential qualities of a gqom track.

Pan-African Music described them as “having the freshest, rawest, sound around”.