In Spotify Wrapped 2023, Kabza De Small has been named the most streamed South African artist.
Spotify Wrapped 2023: Consumption of local music increased 101%
A thorough examination of Spotify Wrapped 2023 reveals a notable shift in South African music preferences, with local songs and artists gaining unprecedented popularity.
Compared to 2022, there’s been a 101% increase in local music consumption, indicating a growing appreciation for homegrown talent.
Leading the most streamed songs in South Africa are Tyler ICU’s Mnike and Lady Amar’s Hamba Juba.
Remarkably, nine out of the top ten streamed songs are by South African artists, a stark contrast to previous years dominated by international hits. Additionally, Mnike also tops the list of songs most added to user-generated playlists.
Spotify’s search function has been instrumental in promoting local artists, with Kelvin Momo emerging as the second most searched artist in South Africa, following global star Drake. The platform’s intuitive searching capabilities have played a key role in this trend.
Innovative collaborations like Sjava and Big Zulu’s Inkabi Zezwe have also contributed to the local resonance. Their album Ukhamba and single Umbayimbayi have made significant appearances on Spotify’s most streamed lists, highlighting the impact of culturally rich content like the Bhinca Nation playlist.
Kabza De Small retains dominance as most streamed South African artist
Amapiano remains a dominant genre, with the most streamed songs belonging to this category. Kabza De Small, an Amapiano artist, retains his position as the most streamed South African artist. His projects KOA II Part 1 and The Konka Mixtape: Sweet & Dust are among the top five most streamed South African albums.
While male artists continue to dominate the most streamed lists, female artists are making notable strides, with a 49% year-on-year increase in average streams.
Lady Amar, Makhadzi, and Ami Faku are among the top-streamed female artists, showcasing the growing diversity in the South African music scene.
The country’s global influence in music is evident, with artists like Master KG and Black Coffee featuring on the top exported list. This international recognition underscores the universal appeal of South African music.
Spotify Wrapped 2023: Here are the top rankings for this year
In the realm of podcasts, Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba leads as the most streamed South African female-led podcast, while Podcast and Chill with MacG retains its top spot overall.
Eligible users can access their personalized 2023 Wrapped experience through the Spotify mobile app and web view, offering a unique insight into their listening habits. Additionally, Spotify has launched a Wrapped creator experience for podcasters and artists, allowing them to explore their audience’s listening trends.
Here is the full breakdown of Spotify’s streaming rankings for this year:
| MOST STREAMED SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS IN SA | MOST STREAMED ARTISTS IN SA | MOST STREAMED SONGS IN SA | TOP EXPORTED SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS |
| Kabza De Small | Drake | Tyler ICU – Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee) | Master KG |
| DJ Maphorisa | Kabza De Small | Lady Amar – Hamba Juba (feat. JL SA, Cici, Murumba Pitch) | Black Coffee |
| Sjava | DJ Maphorisa | Soa Mattrix – Mina Nawe | Nomcebo Zikode |
| Kelvin Momo | The Weeknd | DJ Stokie – Awukhuzeki | DJ Maphorisa |
| Mellow & Sleazy | Taylor Swift | 2Point1 – Stimela (feat. Ntate Stunna & Nthabi Sings) | Lebo M. |
| Nasty C | Chris Brown | Mas Musiq – Gangnam Style (feat. DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small) | The Kiffness |
| AKA | J. Cole | Mellow & Sleazy – Imnandi lento (feat. Tman Xpress) | Lucky Dube |
| Tyler ICU | 21 Savage | Aymos – Fatela | Will Linley |
| Joyous Celebration | Travis Scott | Libianca – People | Kabza De Small |
| Aymos | SZA | De Mthuda – Sgudi Snyc | Nasty C |
| MOST STREAMED SOUTH AFRICAN SONGS IN SA | MOST STREAMED ALBUMS IN SA | MOST STREAMED SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS IN SA | MOST STREAMED SOUTH AFRICAN PODCASTSIN SA |
| Tyler ICU – Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee) | SZA – SOS | Kelvin Momo – Amukelani | Podcast and Chill with MacG |
| Lady Amar – Hamba Juba (feat. JL SA, Cici, Murumba Pitch) | Kelvin Momo – Amukelani | AKA – MASS COUNTRY | VT Podcast “Ideas That Matter” |
| Soa Mattrix – Mina Nawe | Metro Boomin – HEROES & VILLAINS | Sjava – Isibuko | Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba |
| DJ Stokie – Awukhuzeki | AKA – MASS COUNTRY | Inkabi Zezwe – Ukhamba | Darren “Whackhead” Simpson’s prank calls on Kfm Mornings |
| 2Point1 – Stimela | Drake – Her Loss | Kabza De Small – KOA II Part 1 | True Crime South Africa |
| Mas Musiq – Gangnam Style (feat. DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small) | Drake – For All The Dogs | Kabza De Small – The Konka Mixtape : Sweet & Dust | Setlhoeng sa Tumelo |
| Mellow & Sleazy – Imnandi lento (feat. Tman Xpress) | The Weeknd – Starboy | DJ Stokie – My Journey Continues | After School Is After School With Sis G.U |
| Aymos – Fatela | Sjava – Isibuko | Mas Musiq – NINI na NINI | KHULUMA NAMI NGILALELE |
| De Mthuda – Sgudi Snyc | Travis Scott – UTOPIA | Murumba Pitch – Horumar | History of South Africa podcast |
| Inkabi Zezwe – Umbayimbayi | Inkabi Zezwe – Ukhamba | Riaan Benadé – Spontaan | The Anglo-Boer War |
