From Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie to Tyla, Uncle Waffles and Nkosazana Daughter, South African women continue to shape how the country sounds, moves and connects with the world.

South Africa has always had a soundtrack, and some of the most powerful voices behind it have belonged to women.

From Miriam Makeba taking South African stories to international audiences, to Brenda Fassie becoming one of the country’s most fearless cultural icons, women have played a defining role in shaping the sounds, stories and identity of South African music.

Today, that legacy continues through a new generation of artists pushing boundaries across amapiano, Afro pop, R&B, soul and electronic music. According to Spotify’s latest listening data, female artists are not only dominating local listening, but are increasingly becoming some of South Africa’s biggest cultural exports.

Since Spotify launched in South Africa in 2018, Tyla has emerged as the country’s most streamed female artist, while also leading when it comes to international listenership and global playlist inclusion. Across the categories analysed, her music has generated more than 7 billion global streams, cementing her position as one of South Africa’s biggest global music exports.

But Tyla’s success is part of a much bigger story.

Joining her among South Africa’s most streamed female artists are Nomcebo Zikode, Alice Phoebe Lou, Babalwa M, MaWhoo, Zee Nxumalo, Nkosazana Daughter, Uncle Waffles, Ami Faku and Makhadzi, each contributing to the ever expanding sound of South African music.

A NEW GENERATION IS MAKING NOISE

While established names continue to dominate, Spotify’s data also highlights a wave of women experiencing significant growth.

Azana, Nia Pearl, Boohle, Lady Du, Tyla, Naledi Aphiwe, DBN Gogo, Ami Faku, Nomfundo Moh and Shandesh are among the female artists recording some of the strongest growth in streams since 2018.

Their rise reflects just how much the local music landscape has evolved, with women continuing to find new ways to innovate within amapiano, Afro pop, soul and electronic music.

And they’re not just making music. They’re influencing fashion, language, dance, internet culture and the way South African creativity is experienced beyond our borders.

LOCAL STORIES, GLOBAL AUDIENCES

Global success is only one part of the story.

South African audiences are also continuing to connect deeply with music rooted in local languages and cultural identity. Artists including Nomcebo Zikode, Ami Faku, Nkosazana Daughter, Babalwa M and MaWhoo are among those driving streams of music performed in South Africa’s indigenous languages.

Their success proves that music does not need to lose its cultural identity to travel.

In fact, the opposite may be true. As South African sounds continue reaching international audiences, the language, stories and cultural influences at the heart of the music remain a major part of what makes it resonate.

MORE WOMEN, MORE MUSIC

The numbers also highlight the sheer depth of female talent coming out of South Africa.

There are currently more than 780 South African female artists available on Spotify, with nearly 700 streamed by international audiences over the past year. Within South Africa, 645 female artists were streamed by local listeners, demonstrating both the scale of the country’s female creative community and the appetite for women led music.

The volume of music being released is just as significant.

Makhadzi leads the ranking for female artists who have released the most new tracks since 2020, followed by DBN Gogo, MaWhoo, Lady Du, Nkosazana Daughter, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Tyla, Moonchild Sanelly, Kharishma and Azana.

It’s a reminder that the women shaping South African music aren’t simply participating in the culture. They’re consistently creating, experimenting and expanding it.

THE SOUND OF A CULTURE IN MOTION

Women’s Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the women whose voices have helped define South Africa, both historically and today.

From the trailblazers who opened doors for generations of artists, to the emerging names creating entirely new sounds, South African women continue to influence how the country sees itself and how the rest of the world experiences its creativity.

Spotify’s latest data makes one thing clear: the future of South African music is being shaped by women who aren’t afraid to take up space, break boundaries and put their own sound on the map.

And if the current numbers are anything to go by, we’re only hearing the beginning.

THE NUMBERS

Most streamed South African female artists since 2018

1. Tyla
2. Nomcebo Zikode
3. Alice Phoebe Lou
4. Babalwa M
5. MaWhoo
6. Zee Nxumalo
7. Nkosazana Daughter
8. Uncle Waffles
9. Ami Faku
10. Makhadzi

Female artists with the highest stream growth since 2018

1. Azana
2. Nia Pearl
3. Boohle
4. Lady Du
5. Tyla
6. Naledi Aphiwe
7. DBN Gogo
8. Ami Faku
9. Nomfundo Moh
10. Shandesh

Female artists releasing the most new tracks since 2020

1. Makhadzi
2. DBN Gogo
3. MaWhoo
4. Lady Du
5. Nkosazana Daughter
6. Hlengiwe Mhlaba
7. Tyla
8. Moonchild Sanelly
9. Kharishma
10. Azana

Female artists with the largest international audiences

1. Tyla
2. Nomcebo Zikode
3. Alice Phoebe Lou
4. Moonchild Sanelly
5. Busiswa
6. Miriam Makeba
7. Yugen Blakrok
8. Uncle Waffles
9. Babes Wodumo
10. Ami Faku