In a music landscape often shaped by fleeting trends and digital hype, Gusba Banana is quietly carving his own space — measured, distinct and deeply rooted in culture. With the release of his new EP, DZA KAMARANI, the Limpopo-born artist intermingles two of South Africa's most influential sounds: amapiano and hip-hop.
The five-track project, now streaming on major platforms, is more than just a genre blend. It is a bold, personal statement — equal parts groove and grit — delivered with the confidence of an artist charting his own path. "I'm not trying to be anyone else," Gusba says. "I'm making the kind of music I want to dance to, cry to and ride to. That's DZA KAMARANI."
From the opening track, Guduweni, the tone is clear. A mellow beat and understated vocals ease listeners in, signalling Gusba's deliberate, unhurried approach. It's not loud, but it's purposeful.
By the second track, Tshigagarukela, the tempo shifts. The beat borrows from amapiano but leans into hip-hop's urgency. Gusba's delivery is clean, confident and layered with lyrical intent.
"I wanted people to hear that I can rap, properly," he says. "Just because we're vibing doesn't mean we're not thinking."
Each track on DZA KAMARANI adds to a narrative shaped by personal experience, cultural memory and rhythm as language. The title itself is hard to translate — more feeling than phrase. "It came to me as a feeling, not a definition," Gusba explains.
That sense of intuition runs through the project. Eat Humble Pie is bold and infectious, while Mbilu — meaning "heart" in Tshivenda — offers a more introspective moment. The tempo slows, the vocals soften, and space opens for reflection.
The final song, Mudzi, meaning "village", anchors the EP in its origins. With a steady beat and sharp lyrics, Gusba closes the project as he began — grounded, but ambitious.
"I wanted to end it on something that feels like going back to the roots, but also stepping forward," he says.
What sets DZA KAMARANI apart is its balance. It doesn't dilute the lyrical intensity of hip-hop or abandon amapiano's energy. Instead, it weaves both into something distinctly South African — urban, rural, global and hyperlocal at once.
"There's more coming," Gusba promises. "Videos, music, maybe an album, maybe a tour. But right now, I just want people to feel this EP. Live with it. It's for them."
In a fast-changing industry, Gusba Banana isn't chasing momentum — he's quietly setting it.