Darque, born Molapo Malatji in 1992 in the Limpopo province, is a mainstay of South Africa’s deep house scene. While growing up in the 2000s, Darque was an avid collector of house music compilations released by South African labels such as Soul Candi and House Afrika and started producing at the age of 13. He entered the mainstream scene through writing and producing Garth and G-Rel’s 2012 song “Inhliziyo Yami,” and became one of the nation’s most sought-after producers and DJs with the arrival of “Ready for the World,” his 2013 collaboration with the South African house music titan Black Coffee. After a string of singles and compilation placements, he released his debut album, Must Be Africa, in 2020 and continues to shape songs and projects by artists such as Bucie, Kaylow, and Demor.