DJ Maphorisa

DJ Maphorisa dominated the South African Spotify Charts in 2020, featuring on almost every list. Image via Instagram @djmaphorisa

Here is Spotify’s top local artist for 2020 and it’s not Master KG

The streaming platform’s list gives a glimpse of what South Africans have been bobbing heads to during this weird year.

DJ Maphorisa

DJ Maphorisa dominated the South African Spotify Charts in 2020, featuring on almost every list. Image via Instagram @djmaphorisa

Spotify Wrapped Global Top Lists have revealed the country’s top songs and artists at a time when, battered as we were by pandemic fears and hard lockdowns, music played a huge role in getting South Africans through 2020.

Wrapped 2020 South African artists included the likes of Nasty C, Elaine and Spoegwolf, but the top-streamed artists, songs and albums according to the music platform may surprise you. 

SPOTIFY WRAPPED TOP SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS OF 2020

Wrapped statistics show an exceptional year for Amapiano artists, who bagged numerous entries in various top lists.

DJ and record producer DJ Maphorisa dominated the South African Spotify charts, featuring on almost every list. 

However, DJ Kabza De Small claimed the top spot after being the only local artist to feature on the Most Streamed Artists in South Africa list alongside the likes of Drake and Latin star J Balvin.

Pretoria R&B singer Elaine, at just 21, cropped up as the most streamed female artist in July. She earned her position as the only female artist on the Most Streamed Local Artist in South Africa list.

Afrikaans musicians were also well represented with four of the top 10 artists being Afrikaans. Spoegwolf, Snotkop, Bok van Blerk and Appel were all featured on the Most Streamed Local Artist list.

DOUBLE GLORY FOR KABZA DE SMALL

Wrapped revealed DJ Kabza De Small as the Most Streamed Local Artist in South Africa in 2020. Kabza De Small has topped Spotify’s streaming list for the second year in a row. The Amapiano muso shot to fame 2019, after being approved as a hitmaker by his fans.

In addition to bagging the Most Streamed Local Artist top spot, the Most Streamed Album nod also went to Kabza De Small’s 2020 debut album titled I am the King of Amapiano: Sweet and Dust.

The musician occupied more than one spot on the Most Streamed Album in South Africa list.

His albums Scorpion Kings Live and The Return of the Scorpion Kings took second and third positions respectively.

According to the latest Spotify Wrapped statistics, the uptake of social distancing 2020 brought an increase in people streaming nostalgia-themed playlists and work-from-home themed playlists.

It is not surprising that the lockdown saw more people streaming music from home. 

Spotify also accounts for the amplification of black voices, with figures showing more than 64-million streams of Spotify’s Black Lives Matter playlist.

Below is a summary of the top streamed artists and songs in South Africa.

Most streamed artists in South Africa

  1. Drake
  2. Juice WRLD
  3. Kabza De Small
  4. Khalid
  5. The Weeknd
  6. Travis Scott
  7. Pop Smoke
  8. Post Malone 
  9. Billie Eilish
  10. Eminem

Most streamed Local Artists in South Africa

  1. Kabza De Small
  2. DJ Maphorisa
  3. Nasty C
  4. Spoegwolf
  5. Joyous Celebration
  6. Elaine
  7. Cassper Nyovest
  8. Snotkop
  9. Bok Van Blerk
  10. Appel

Most streamed Tracks in South Africa

  1. You’re the One by Elaine
  2. eMcimbini (live) by Aymos, DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Mas Musiq, Myztro, Samthing Soweto
  3. Tender Love (feat. DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small) by Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small
  4. Jerusalema (feat. Nomcebo Zikode) by Master KG, Nomcebo Zikode
  5. Risky by Elaine
  6. Xola Moya Wam’ (feat. Master KG) by Master KG, Nomcebo Zikode
  7. Lorch by DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Kammu Dee, Miano, Semi Tee
  8. Into Ngawe by Ami Faku, Sun-El Musician
  9. Love You Tonight (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Sha Sha, Kabza De Small) by DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Mfr Souls, Sha Sha
  10. Sandton by Bontle Smith, DJ Maphorisa, Focalistic, Kabza De Small, Kamo Mpela

WATCH: Elaine sings her hit song ‘You’re the One’:

Catch a listen of the Top South African Artists of 2020 Playlist and view more global trends on the Spotify website.