Darque, Nontokozo Mkhize and Mpho.Wav come together on “Amaphupho,” a collaboration from Open Your Eyes More (Deluxe). Released with the expanded project on 16 October 2026, the song brings the three artists into Darque’s continuing exploration of South African house music.
“Amaphupho” runs for six minutes and 55 seconds and occupies the ninth position on the ten-track release. It arrives near the end of a project that brings together several vocalists and producers, with each collaboration contributing to Darque’s broader musical direction.
For listeners discovering the release through Nontokozo Mkhize or Mpho.Wav, the song also offers an introduction to the musical partnerships running throughout the deluxe edition.
The Artists Behind Amaphupho
The recording’s credits identify Darque and Mpho.Wav as producers, under their names Molapo Malatji and Mpho Gift Mohlong. Nontokozo Mkhize and Mpho.Wav are also listed as vocalists, while the lyric-writing credit names Nontokozo Hlengwa.
Those contributions show that Mpho.Wav’s involvement extends across production and performance. Alongside Darque’s work on the recording, his participation connects the musical arrangement with the vocal side of the collaboration.
Nontokozo Mkhize’s presence adds another voice to the project’s varied lineup. “Amaphupho” places her within a release that also includes collaborations with artists such as Nkosazana Daughter, Mashudu and Zee Nxumalo.
The result is a meeting of artists across several creative roles, with the production and performance credits offering a clearer picture of how the recording came together.
Part of Open Your Eyes More (Deluxe)
Darque has described the expanded project as an opportunity to develop the story introduced on Open Your Eyes. His aim was to introduce additional perspectives and deepen the ideas explored through the music.
That intention gives “Amaphupho” a useful context. It belongs to a larger body of work shaped around collaboration, emotional experiences and the possibilities of dance music as a vehicle for storytelling.
Within the running order, the song follows “Mali Yephepha” and comes immediately before “Ke Mang.” Listening to those three selections together offers a straightforward way to explore the closing stretch of the deluxe edition.
The project was released through Tambor Projects, under exclusive licence to Universal Music South Africa. Its ten tracks run for approximately 65 minutes, giving listeners a substantial collection to explore beyond this collaboration.
More Connections Across the Project
Mpho.Wav also appears alongside Darque and Ezra on “Open Your Eyes.” That connection makes the title track a natural next selection for anyone interested in hearing more of their shared work.
Elsewhere, “Hamba Nawe” brings in Mashudu, while “Mali Yephepha” connects Darque with Nkosazana Daughter. The closing track, “Ke Mang,” features the collaboration between Darque and Zee Nxumalo.
These songs provide different starting points into the same project. Rather than treating the guest list as background information, listeners can follow individual artists across the release and discover how each partnership contributes to Darque’s catalogue.
Amaphupho Release Details
- Artists: Darque, Nontokozo Mkhize & Mpho.Wav
- Song: Amaphupho
- Project: Open Your Eyes More (Deluxe)
- Release date: 16 October 2026
- Track number: 9
- Duration: 6:55
- Label: Tambor Projects, under exclusive licence to Universal Music South Africa
“Amaphupho” gives followers of all three artists a shared release to explore, while adding another collaboration to Darque’s latest project. Its place near the album’s conclusion also makes it worth hearing within the full sequence.
Start with the song, continue through the surrounding tracks, and explore the linked artist pages on Amapiano Groove for more music from Darque, Nontokozo Mkhize and Mpho.Wav.
