From Makeba to Tyla: South African women continue to shape the country’s musical identity

South Africa’s story has always had a soundtrack, and women have written some of its most memorable chapters. From Miriam Makeba taking South African stories to audiences around the world to Brenda Fassie’s fearless cultural influence, female artists have played a defining role in shaping the country’s musical and cultural identity.

That legacy continues with a new generation of artists, including Tyla and Busiswa, who are expanding the possibilities of South African music while introducing local sounds to audiences beyond the country’s borders. Across generations, women have influenced how South Africans speak, dance, dress and connect, while helping to establish the country as a significant force in global music.

Spotify’s listening data since the platform launched in South Africa in 2018 offers a snapshot of that continuing evolution. The figures point to a female music community that spans established international stars, rapidly growing artists and musicians whose work remains closely connected to South Africa’s languages, traditions and cultural experiences.

Tyla leads the ranking as South Africa’s most-streamed female artist on Spotify and also has the country’s largest international audience and the highest level of global playlist inclusion among the artists analysed. Her music has accumulated more than 7 billion streams globally across the categories measured, underlining the scale of her international reach. She is followed by artists including Nomcebo Zikode, Alice Phoebe Lou, Babalwa M, MaWhoo, Zee Nxumalo, Nkosazana Daughter, Uncle Waffles, Ami Faku and Makhadzi, each representing different strands of South Africa’s contemporary musical landscape.

The growth of newer artists is equally significant. Azana recorded the highest stream growth among South African female artists since 2018, followed by Nia Pearl, Boohle, Lady Du, Tyla, Naledi Aphiwe, DBN Gogo, Ami Faku, Nomfundo Moh and Shandesh. Their rise reflects the continuing expansion of female participation across amapiano, Afro-pop, soul, electronic music and other contemporary genres.

Yet international reach is only one measure of influence. Some of the strongest listening trends remain closely tied to local identity, with artists such as Nomcebo Zikode, Ami Faku, Nkosazana Daughter, Babalwa M and MaWhoo contributing to the continued popularity of music performed in South Africa’s indigenous languages. Their success suggests that audiences are still drawn to music that reflects their own communities and cultural experiences, even when those songs travel far beyond South Africa.

The volume of music being released also illustrates the scale of the country’s female talent. Since 2020, Makhadzi has released more new tracks than any other South African female artist in the data set, followed by DBN Gogo, MaWhoo, Lady Du, Nkosazana Daughter, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Tyla, Moonchild Sanelly, Kharishma and Azana.

The breadth of the female music community is further reflected in Spotify’s audience figures. More than 780 South African female artists are available on the platform, while nearly 700 were streamed by international audiences during the past year. In South Africa, 645 female artists were streamed over the same period, highlighting the depth of the local talent pool and the demand for music made by women.

The international audience figures also demonstrate that South African women are not being defined by a single sound or generation. Tyla ranks first, followed by Nomcebo Zikode and Alice Phoebe Lou, while Moonchild Sanelly, Busiswa, Miriam Makeba, Yugen Blakrok, Uncle Waffles, Babes Wodumo and Ami Faku also feature among the artists with the largest international audiences.

The continued presence of Makeba in the international rankings is particularly significant. Her influence extends beyond streaming figures, representing an earlier generation of South African musicians who established pathways for local music on the international stage. The emergence of artists such as Tyla, Uncle Waffles and Busiswa shows how those pathways have continued to expand across different genres and audiences.

Women’s Month provides an opportunity to consider this broader musical history. South African women have not only contributed hit songs and performances; they have preserved languages and traditions, challenged social expectations, created new sounds and built connections between local culture and international audiences.

Spotify’s data provides one measure of that influence, but the wider story is cultural. From Makeba and Fassie to Tyla and the many emerging artists following behind them, South African women continue to shape how the country sounds to itself and how it is heard by the rest of the world.

Most-streamed South African female artists since 2018

Female artists with the highest stream growth since 2018

Female artists who released the most new tracks since 2020

Female artists with the largest international audiences

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