Black Motion

South African house duo Black Motion’s sound is a nuanced interplay of ancestral traditions and global dance trends. Formed in 2010 by Robert Mahosana and Thabo Mabogwane, Black Motion use electronic production and traditional live drums to put a deeply regional print on glistening nightclub grooves. Both musicians were raised in the Soshanguve township just north of Pretoria, and they started working together in high school. At first they were inspired by South Africa’s booming ’90s house scene, but they set themselves apart with rhythms borrowed from rural dances and vocal tracks sung in regional languages like Zulu and Tsonga. Over the years, their vision has grown richer and more panoramic—their 2020 album, a 41-track opus titled The Healers: The Last Chapter, reaches across the country (and on some tracks, the continent) for fresh ideas, unexpected connections, and guest appearances.