South African music is heading into one of gaming’s biggest releases, with DJ Lag, Robot Boii and Kamo Mphela’s collaboration ‘Shay’sana’ confirmed for Grand Theft Auto VI’s AfroBank FM radio station.
By Lucky Nyathi | PiE Entertainment | 10 October 2026
South African music is set to reach a global gaming audience as DJ Lag, Robot Boii and Kamo Mphela’s hit collaboration Shay’sana joins the soundtrack of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6).
Rockstar Games has revealed the track as part of the music lineup for AfroBank FM, one of the in-game radio stations featured in the upcoming open-world title. The announcement marks a significant moment for South African music, placing a homegrown collaboration within one of the most recognisable gaming franchises in the world.
The song appeared in Rockstar’s official radio previews released ahead of the game’s scheduled launch on 19 November 2026. It is also being reported as the first South African song confirmed for the Grand Theft Auto series.
‘Shay’sana’ Brings South African Gqom to GTA 6
Produced by Durban-born DJ and producer DJ Lag, Shay’sana features Robot Boii and amapiano star Kamo Mphela. The collaboration brings South African dance music into a game known for using its radio stations to introduce players to different musical scenes and cultures.
Credits: GTA VI Soundtrack: DJ Lag & Robot Boii ft Kamo Mphela – “Shay’sana” | via Grand Theft Auto Legacy Radio
DJ Lag has been instrumental in taking gqom beyond its Durban roots, helping bring the genre’s heavy percussion, driving rhythms and distinctive electronic sound to international audiences. Robot Boii has built a profile through his energetic performances and dance-driven collaborations, while Kamo Mphela has become one of the recognisable faces of South Africa’s amapiano movement.
Together, their appearance on the GTA 6 radio lineup connects different strands of the country’s contemporary dance music culture.
For South African artists, the placement offers exposure to a gaming audience that stretches well beyond traditional music-listening platforms. Players exploring the fictional state of Leonida will be able to encounter the track as part of the game’s wider radio experience.
Inside AfroBank FM
AfroBank FM is dedicated to African music, combining contemporary sounds with older recordings and musical discoveries from across the continent.
Rockstar’s preview identifies Burna Boy and DJ Palms Trax as the station’s hosts, presented in-game as Burna and Palmsy. Its musical direction includes amapiano, 3-step, African classics and other sounds that reflect the breadth of the continent’s music.
The previewed playlist includes:
- ‘Joha’ — Asake
- ‘Gye Wani’ — Pat Thomas featuring Ebo Taylor
- ‘Shay’sana’ — DJ Lag and Robot Boii featuring Kamo Mphela
The selection places a contemporary South African dance track alongside music from Nigeria and Ghana, offering players a snapshot of African music across different eras and styles.
The station’s range is particularly notable because it moves beyond treating African music as a single sound. Instead, it brings modern club music and amapiano-adjacent influences into the same listening environment as established African recordings.
Why GTA 6 Is a Major Platform for African Music
The Grand Theft Auto series has long used music to help define the atmosphere of its fictional worlds. Its radio stations are more than background entertainment: they introduce players to artists, genres and cultural references while they drive, explore and interact with the game.
With GTA 6, Rockstar says players can expect its broadest selection of in-game radio and podcasts yet. The newly revealed stations cover several musical styles, with AfroBank FM giving African music a dedicated space in the game’s soundscape.
The inclusion of Shay’sana matters because video games have become an increasingly important route for music discovery. A song featured in a major release can reach players who may never have encountered the artist through radio, streaming playlists or music television.
For DJ Lag, Robot Boii and Kamo Mphela, the placement creates an opportunity to introduce their work to an international audience through an entertainment platform with a global following.
It also gives South African music another point of entry into the worldwide conversation around gaming, popular culture and digital entertainment.
A Milestone for South African Music
The reported first for the Grand Theft Auto franchise is significant, but it also reflects a wider shift in how African sounds travel internationally.
South African genres such as gqom and amapiano have developed distinctive audiences outside the country through streaming, live performances, dance culture and collaborations. Their growing visibility demonstrates that local music can travel internationally without losing the character that made it distinctive.
The GTA 6 placement gives Shay’sana a new context. Rather than reaching listeners only through a conventional music release, the track will be part of an interactive world where music accompanies the player’s experience.
The full in-game playlist may also reveal more South African representation as further details emerge. For now, Shay’sana is among the tracks confirmed in Rockstar’s published AfroBank FM preview.
GTA 6 Release Date and Platforms
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has been gradually revealing more about the game, including its radio stations and selected songs, in the run-up to release.
The game is set in the fictional state of Leonida, featuring Vice City and surrounding locations. Its radio lineup is part of Rockstar’s broader effort to create a world shaped by music, regional culture and the everyday sounds of its fictional setting.
For South African fans, the inclusion of Shay’sana gives them a homegrown sound to listen out for when the game arrives.
Local Sound, Global Reach
The appearance of Shay’sana in GTA 6 is more than a soundtrack credit. It is a reminder that South African music can travel through unexpected channels, from dance floors and streaming platforms to one of the world’s biggest interactive entertainment releases.
DJ Lag, Robot Boii and Kamo Mphela bring a recognisably South African collaboration into a global gaming environment, giving gqom and the country’s wider dance music culture another opportunity to be discovered.
When players tune into AfroBank FM this November, they will hear more than a song. They will encounter a piece of South African music culture woven into the sound of a major global release.
GTA 6 launches on 19 November 2026. ‘Shay’sana’ is confirmed for AfroBank FM in Rockstar’s official radio preview.
