Pabi Cooper is one of the younger names who helped push Amapiano deeper into South Africa’s mainstream. Born Paballo Basetsana Mothapo, she first built attention as a dancer and performer before breaking through musically with tracks like “Isphithiphithi” and “Banyana Ke Bafana.” Her sound sits firmly in Amapiano, but there’s a strong pop instinct to it too, which is part of why her music works so well with younger crowds and festival audiences.
Her 2022 album Cooperville helped establish her beyond the viral-hit phase, with songs like “Waga Bietjie” and collaborations with artists including Focalistic, Young Stunna, Mellow & Sleazy and others. She has also featured on tracks such as “Dali Wam” and “Thula Mabota,” keeping her closely connected to the wider Amapiano scene rather than operating as a standalone pop act.
Pabi Cooper is best suited to festivals, youth-focused events, university functions, nightlife events, brand activations and high-energy private celebrations. Her appeal comes from the combination of recognisable songs, dance-led performance and the kind of stage energy that works particularly well when the crowd wants to participate rather than simply watch.
Her more recent releases show that she is still actively collaborating with some of the genre’s biggest names. In late 2025, she appeared on “Pelo Tse Thata” alongside DJ Maphorisa, Focalistic, Boohle and Mulest Vankay, following earlier recent releases such as “Pabi Jo” and “Thula Mabota.”
For an event looking for current Amapiano, a strong younger audience pull and a performer who brings both music and movement to the stage, Pabi Cooper is an easy fit for anything from a major festival slot to a packed corporate celebration or launch.
