Zimbabwean DJ and producer Panashe Mbanje, better known by his stage name Spunj, is carving a new path in the amapiano scene.
A path that is much rooted in faith as it is in rhythm.
His latest single, Pakawanda, has been turning heads across airwaves and streaming platforms.
It’s a track that blends soulful tones with Shona influences and faith-inspired lyrics, creating a sound that feels both deeply spiritual and made for the dance floor.
Over the past few years, Spunj has built a steady following thanks to his high-energy sets at Harare’s top nightspots, Pablo’z and Karma, as well as appearances at major festivals such as Stanbic Jacaranda and Fiesta Fiesta.
But it’s his recent leap into production that’s redefining his artistic journey.
“I love amapiano and 3-step, but I want it to sound like home,” he says with conviction.
Drawing from traditional mbira melodies, Shona vocals, and percussive log drums, Spunj crafts music he describes as “something that moves both the body and the spirit.” It’s a reflection of his belief that spirituality doesn’t have to be separate from dance culture.
His faith runs deep, quite literally tattooed on his neck, and forms the heart of his creative expression. In “Pakawanda,” he channels that belief into a message of hope and gratitude.
“The song is about knowing your steps are being guided, even when the path doesn’t make sense,” he explains.
Spunj’s growing recognition also stems from his ability to reimagine familiar sounds through his own lens.
His remixes of Takura’s ‘Hazvireve Rudo Handina’ and Janet Manyowa’s ‘Somlandela’ earned praise for bridging gospel and pop with amapiano’s groove, opening up fresh ways for faith-based music to resonate with younger listeners.
A pivotal moment in his evolution came after witnessing South African amapiano pioneer Kabza De Small perform at Harare’s Carpe Diem Festival.
“He turned the whole festival into a praise session, that’s when I realised you can worship and still dance,” he says.
Now, with the festive season around the corner, Spunj is gearing up for collaborations with Takura, Janet Manyowa, Verseless, and Denzel, projects he hopes will help cement Zimbabwe’s footprint in the regional amapiano market.
“Zimbabweans love amapiano. We just need to push our own version of it,” he says.
With aspirations to perform at AfroNation and Zimfest in 2026, Spunj sees this as just the beginning of his story.
“It’s a big dream,” he admits, “but a bigger God has been guiding my steps.”
And with his faith-fuelled beats finding a growing audience, it seems Zimbabwe’s amapiano scene might just have found its next breakout sound one where worship meets the weekend.