Spotify Wrapped 2023 has revealed that the African queen Makhadzi has been named as the most streamed South African female artist. Spotify Wrapped 2023 also revealed that South Africans are listening to more local songs as compared to 2022.
Local music consumption has grown rapidly increasing by 101% in 2023. Tyler ICU’s Mnike and Lady Amar’s Hamba Juba lead the most streamed songs in South Africa, in a list dominated by local songs.
Nine out of 10 of the top-streamed songs in South Africa are all South African, which is a major difference from the two previous years when international songs dominated the list.
Phiona Okumu, Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa’s head of music, said: “The South African music industry is evolving and growing with every song released. We are glad to see the local creators resonating with South African users.”
Kelvin Momo (born Thato Kelvin Ledwaba in Soweto) is on the second most searched artist list behind Drake. The results show that South African users like to share what they are listening to, especially on social media.
The amapiano genre continues to dominate the lists as the most streamed songs are from the genre. The top two on the most streamed South African artists list are amapiano artists.
Kabza De Small remains the most streamed South African artist for the second year in a row. Two of his projects KOA II Part 1 and The Konka Mixtape: Sweet & Dust respectively round up the top five most streamed South African albums.
Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa are the only two South African artists to feature in the top 10 most streamed artists overall in South Africa, ranking second and third after Drake.
Male artists are still dominating the most streamed lists, but female artists are making progress in average streams overall.
Leading podcasts in SA
Female amapiano artist Lady Amar appeared on the most streamed South African songs in the SA list. While Taylor Swift leads the most streamed female artists in South Africa, Makhadzi is the most streamed South African female artist, followed by Ami Faku with Nkosazana Daughter, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Nomfundo Moh and MaWhoo.
The Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba podcast is the most streamed South African female-led podcast in SA. Podcast and Chill with MacG remains the most streamed South African podcast in the SA list.
