Top Musicians in South Africa 2023

Between January 2023 and March 2023, Research 8020 embarked on a journey to discover the top 10 musicians in South Africa. The study examined the popularity of musicians in South Africa. This would help inform industry players and also set the stage for comparisons.

Without any further ado, here is the list of the top 10 musicians in South Africa 2023:

1. Die Antwoord

South African alternative hip-hop group Die Antwoord was established in 2008 in Cape Town. The albums and singles by Die Antwoord have achieved mainstream success globally. They chart in the top 50 and top 10 of nations in Europe, North America, Australia, and other regions. Their hit song “Baby’s on Fire” has over 267 million views as of March 2023. This has established them as one of the most popular artists in South Africa.

2. Master KG

“Jerusalema” became a viral hit and made Master KG one of South Africa’s most well-liked musicians. Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode collaborated on the song “Jerusalema”, which was released in December 2019. It became popular online in the middle of 2020, reached international charts, and gave rise to a Burna Boy remix. By December 2022, “Jerusalema” had received over 549 million views.

3. Prince Kaybee

Prince Kaybee has already made a name for himself as one of the most sought-after musical figures. This comes thanks to his electrifying performances, catchy music, and stellar DJing abilities. The popular hits by the South African entertainer include “Yonkinto, “Friend Zone” and “Wajellwa.” His hit song “Banomoya” received over 28 million views.

4. DJ Maphorisa

DJ Maphorisa is a record producer, singer, songwriter, and DJ from South Africa. After creating several successful singles for artists from various musical genres, including Uhuru (“Y-Tjukuta”), Kwesta (“Ngud'”), Busiswa (“Lahla”), and DJ Zinhle (“My Name Is”), he became well-known among fans. He has since established himself as a household name given his single ‘Izolo’ has amassed over 22 million views.

5. Blaq Diamond

Blaq Diamond is a South African Afro-pop duo that first connected during a music cypher. They both took part in the cypher in the school bus while on a field trip in 2010. They joined the record company Ambitiouz Entertainment and put out their debut album, Inqola (2017). The album hit number one on iTunes on its debut. They have not shown any sign of slowing down given the release of their chart-topping songs. Their hit single ‘SummerYoMuthi’ has garnered over 20 million views on YouTube.

6. Makhadzi

South African singer Makhadzi started her career at the age of 12 as a dancer. She, later on, decided to pursue a singing career. After the release of her single “Tshanda Vhuya” in 2017, she gained local notoriety. She released the single “Ghanama “, which has received over 20 million views on YouTube. This demonstrates her continued relevance and popularity in the South African music industry.

7. Mafikizolo

Mafikizolo has repeatedly shown themselves to be among the greatest musical groups to have ever existed. Theo Kgosinkwe, a composer, and Nhlanhla Nciza, a lead singer, make up the South African Afro-pop duo. The group was founded in 1996. They became popular after the release of their singles “Ndihamba Nawe kuphela”, “Kwela Kwela“, “Sibongile” and “Udakwa Njalo”. They continue to be popular both domestically and internationally. This is evidenced as seen with their song “Love potion”  amassing more than 35 million views on YouTube.

8. Costa Titch

Before his untimely passing on March 11, 2023, Costa Titch was a South African Amapiano rapper and dancer. He was regarded as a crafty musician who took the South African music industry by storm. His hit song “Big Flexa” catapulted him into the top tier of South African artists. The song has pulled in over 50 million views as of March 2023.

9. Nasty C

Nasty C is a rapper, songwriter, and record producer from South Africa. He signed a joint venture agreement with Def Jam Records in March 2020. The track “There They Go”  was his first official single in the United States. The track helped him become a fan-favourite around the world. Nasty C’s most popular song on YouTube, “SMA (Vol 1)”, has received over 31 million views.

10. Kwesta

Kwesta is a South African rapper and songwriter. His debut studio album ‘Special ReKwest’ (2010) and second album ‘DaKAR’ (2013) performed exceptionally. They did so by peaking at number three on the iTunes South African Hip-hop/Rap chart. He has established himself as a formidable force in the South African music industry. This is seen by the song ‘Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe’ garnering over 14 million views on YouTube. This feat has cemented him among the most popular South African musicians.

View the full report with 50+ artists here.

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