The Top Southern African Songs to Stream Right Now: August 2025 Edition For the music highlights from Southern Africa in August, we dig into alternative genres from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, and beyond. music August 30, 2025
11 South African Women Musicians Pushing the Boundaries As Women’s Month concludes in South Africa, OkayAfrica celebrates 11 women in music who are redefining the industry. music August 28, 2025
South Africa Mourns the Passing of Political Journalist Tshidi Madia Tributes are pouring in for the respected Eyewitness News political editor who has died at 42 following a short illness. news August 27, 2025
The Best Amapiano Songs Right Now: August 2025 Edition This list of the latest hits and trending tracks features Aymos, Xduppy, M00tion, and other top amapiano artists. music August 26, 2025
Op-Ed: What Gayton McKenzie’s Controversies Reveal About South Africa’s Fragile GNU A year into his tenure, the Sport, Arts and Culture Minister embodies both the promise and peril of the Government of National Unity. news August 22, 2025
Lesotho’s Sannere Honors His Ancestors on New Album, 'Sehopotso' The singer expands his sound on 'Sehopotso,' a six-track project weaving gospel, reggae, and famo music influences into a meditation on dreams, fame, and ancestral memory. music August 21, 2025
Documentary Photographer William Matlala and the Quiet Power of Everyday Blackness in Apartheid South Africa The South African photographer speaks to OkayAfrica about capturing a side of Black life in apartheid South Africa that went beyond the violence and bloodshed, documenting workers, communities, and quiet dignity often ignored by mainstream media. news August 20, 2025
Who Will Carry on Chief Theresa Kachindamoto’s Fight Against Child Marriage? The senior chief annulled thousands of child marriages in Malawi, sent girls back to school, and forced her country to reckon with harmful traditions. news August 18, 2025
South African Rapper K.Keed Refused to Freestyle, Sparking Hip-Hop Debate Online A radio interview had the Internet talking about whether or not freestyling is still essential in South African hip-hop culture. news August 18, 2025
Did Tyla Flop? The Misunderstanding Behind ‘WWP’ Streaming Numbers Social media debates are calling the South African star's latest EP a ‘flop,’ but her streaming numbers and global impact tell a very different story. music August 14, 2025
Burna Boy, Made Kuti, and Bose Ogulu Unite Behind Nigeria’s Creele Studios’ New 3D Animated Short ‘SOPO’ The short film, which held its private premiere in Lagos, follows the strained relationship between a father and his son, whose rebellious streak is fueled by an unspoken musical gift. film tv August 7, 2025
How Sanza Sandile Turned Johannesburg’s Yeoville Into a Global Food Destination Through his Yeoville Dinner Club, Sanza Sandile blends food, jazz, and migration stories into a bold pan-African experience. news August 7, 2025
Maglera Doe Boy’s “God Is Power” Music Video Turns Township Grit Into Cinematic Art Set in Kanana township and styled like a Roman noir, Maglera’s latest video is a mythic origin story that reframes kasi life through sacred symbolism and surrealist visual language. music August 5, 2025
Thando Zide Finds Healing and Power Through Vulnerability on New Single “Break” The South African artist premieres the visuals for “Break” exclusively on OkayAfrica, offering a powerful glimpse into healing and emotional strength through music. music August 1, 2025
The Best Amapiano Songs Right Now: July 2025 Edition This list of the latest hits and trending tracks features Kabza De Small, Mkeyz, Titto M, Yuppe, and other top amapiano artists. music July 29, 2025
Wizkid and Tyla Unite for Superstar Collaboration, 'DYNAMITE' The single blends trademark Nigerian and South African sounds from the musicians, making for a dynamic new track. music July 25, 2025
‘Relooted,’ a New Video Game, Invites Players to Reclaim Stolen African Artifacts Johannesburg’s Nyamakop Studios turns African artifact repatriation into a bold heist game that reframes the legacy of stolen ancestral objects. news July 21, 2025
Is Mandela Day Still Relevant to South African Youth Today? Amid rising disillusionment, young South Africans are finding new ways to honor Nelson Mandela’s legacy. news July 17, 2025
Malawi’s Refugee Crisis Deepens as UNHCR Scales Back Support As resources dry up, thousands of displaced families at Dzaleka, the Southern African country’s largest refugee camp, struggle with shrinking food rations, healthcare, and overcrowding. news July 17, 2025
15 Years of OkayAfrica, 15 Defining Moments in Pop Culture, Innovation and Activism From Afrobeats going global to groundbreaking films, creative innovation, and youth-led protest movements, this video dives into the African moments that have defined the continent’s identity and transformation since OkayAfrica launched in 2010. video July 16, 2025
Da Capo’s Journey to Become an Afro-House Torchbearer With his new album, 'Indigo Child II: Love and Frequency,' the South African producer asserts himself as one of the most original voices in electronic music. music July 10, 2025
Inside Cape Town's Growing Housing Crisis Decades after apartheid ended, many Capetonians are struggling to find affordable housing, and some are occupying abandoned buildings, as they fight to get their voices heard. news July 3, 2025
"We Are the Dream Diggers:" Poetry Becomes a Lifeline in Malawi’s Dzaleka Refugee Camp Young refugees are using spoken word poetry to reclaim hope and inspire resilience. news July 2, 2025
How Johannesburg’s Coalition Government Crisis is Failing Its People South Africa’s economic hub has cycled through nine mayors since 2016, leaving residents without power, water, and hope as politics trump service delivery. news July 1, 2025
Best Southern African Songs of 2025 So Far - Mid-Year Roundup These are the local legends and breakout stars redefining Southern Africa’s musical landscape. Listen to OkayAfrica’s Best Southern African Songs of 2025 So Far. music June 30, 2025
Best Amapiano Songs of 2025 So Far — Mid-Year Roundup Amapiano is a movement. These are the best amapiano songs of the year so far, which showcase how the genre has grown, stumbled, and soared in 2025. music June 27, 2025
Feya Faku, Jazz Luminary and Generational Bridge, Has Passed On The musician passed away while on tour in Switzerland. music June 24, 2025
Kirsty Coventry Takes Office as First Woman and African to Head International Olympic Committee The former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe previously served as head of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. news June 23, 2025
South African Opposition Party Slams UK Government for Denying Leader Visa The EFF says neither its commander-in-chief, Julius Malema, nor the party “will trade its revolutionary beliefs for a visa.” news June 19, 2025
The Sonic Legacy of Louis Moholo-Moholo Following the passing of the legendary drummer, those who knew, learned from, and played with him gathered in Johannesburg to remember him not with eulogies, but with sound — in the spirit of the freedom he lived for. music June 17, 2025
18 South African Music Acts to Watch in Honor of Youth Day Rising DJs and sonic storytellers reflect on what this day means and what it feels like to be young and free in a country still healing from its past. music June 16, 2025
The Death Toll Continues to Rise in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Floods President Cyril Ramaphosa pledges support as communities face the destruction of homes, schools, and health facilities. news June 13, 2025
Op-Ed: Who Gets to Thrift When Secondhand Gets Expensive? Once a sanctuary for those patching lives together with discarded clothes, thrift markets in South Africa now cater to pseudo-bohemians, shunning the communities that created them. fashion beauty June 11, 2025
Rashid Lombard, Visionary Jazz Promoter and Cultural Icon, Passes Away At 74 The acclaimed photographer and founder of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, who documented the realities of apartheid, leaves behind a legacy of cultural activism and community upliftment. news June 4, 2025
More White South Africans Land in the U.S. as Refugees While revoking visas, refusing to renew protected status, and potentially hitting African countries with travel restrictions, the acceptance of white South Africans as refugees is curious and disturbing. news June 2, 2025
The Best Amapiano Songs Right Now Want to know which Amapiano songs are trending right now?OkayAfrica rounds up the best trending Amapiano songs of 2025. Stream the latest hits from rising stars and legends like De Mthuda, Kelvin Momo, and Sfarzo Rtee. music May 30, 2025
The Best Afrobeats Songs Right Now The standout records from May include songs from Seyi Vibez, Rowlene, King Paluta, Joshua Baraka, and more. music May 29, 2025
The Best Southern African Songs Right Now For the month of May, we’ve got heaters from Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe. music May 28, 2025
Presley Chweneyagae, Star of Oscar-Winning ‘Tsotsi,’ Passes Away at 40 The multi-award-winning actor shone in productions such asThe River,Kalushi,andMandela: Long Walk to Freedom film tv May 27, 2025
Here Are Four Questions Left Unanswered by the Trump-Ramaphosa Meeting The much-publicized meeting between the U.S. and South African presidents is over, but what happens next for trade, tech and the future of U.S.-SA relations. news May 22, 2025
From Golf Talk to a “Documentary” Screening: Inside President Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump’s White House Meeting The U.S. president raised farm murders, played a controversial video featuring Julius Malema, and left the South African president visibly puzzled — here’s what unfolded behind the diplomatic smiles. news May 22, 2025
What to Expect from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Meeting with Donald Trump The South African president will seek to recalibrate the country’s relationship with the U.S., which has deteriorated since President Donald Trump reentered office. news May 21, 2025
First Look: Thuso Mbedu's Latest Powerhouse Role in HBO’s Star-Studded Crime Drama ‘Task’ The South African actress returns to the small screen in the series set to premiere in September. film tv May 19, 2025
South African and Rwandan Presidents Advocate for African Solutions to African Problems Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Kagame were in good spirits at a panel during the Africa CEO Forum, easing speculations of tense relations between the two. news May 14, 2025
Karabo Lediga’s Sabbatical Mines Old Memories to Make Treasure In this feature-length directorial debut, the South African filmmaker goes back in time to move forward, unraveling a frail relationship between mother and daughter. film tv May 9, 2025
Xduppy, South Africa's Rising Star, Thinks Amapiano Can Get Even Bigger With DJ Maphorisa by his side, the producer moves between genres and generations to deliver a defining statement on South African sound. music May 7, 2025
On 45th Independence Anniversary, Zimbabweans Express Uncertainty, Frustration and Cautious Hope OkayAfricaspeaks to Zimbabweans from various walks of life to understand what independence means for them in 2025. news April 18, 2025
Africa Is Expanding Its Reach in Artificial Intelligence The continent's first AI factory could democratize computing resources and challenge Western dominance in technology. news April 16, 2025
A City's Fight to Reclaim Its Library A determined 82-year-old activist and her community fought to reopen the Johannesburg City Library after five years of closure. news April 16, 2025
The Return of Nakhane With new work on the horizon, South Africa’s Nakhane reflects on artistry, mourning, and the beauty of sounds that refuse to behave in this exclusive interview withOkayAfrica. music April 15, 2025
Tyla Leads the African Wave at Coachella 2025 With Coachella kicking off today, Tyla and fellow African artists Amaarae, Rema, and others transform the desert into a showcase of the continent's musical diversity. music April 11, 2025
A 7-Year-Old's Reported Rape Case Has Reignited GBV Protests in South Africa As demonstrations spread across South Africa, community voices question school safety and demand that gender-based violence be declared a national disaster. news April 10, 2025
Listen to Riky Rick’s Posthumous Album ‘Boss Zonke Forever’ Featuring 17 tracks that embody Riky Rick’s fearless spirit,Boss Zonke Forevercements the rapper’s influence on South African music, fashion, and culture. news April 4, 2025
In ‘Matabeleland,’ a Zimbabwean Filmmaker Confronts an Unburied Past With her feature documentary debut, director Nyasha Kadandara tells a powerful story of one man’s search for healing in a country still reckoning with its past. film tv April 3, 2025
What to Watch in Southern Africa This Month ForOkayAfrica’sApril TV and films guide, we have some reality television, some eye-catching documentaries, and a sci-fi feature film. film tv April 3, 2025
Zimbabwe's Deserted Streets Tell a Story of Disillusionment Citizens refuse to be pawns in the factional Zanu-PF power struggle as Emmerson Mnangagwa seeks extended rule. news April 1, 2025
Zimbabwe President’s Term Extension Bid Sparks Political Tension A major critic of President Emerson Mnangagwa has called for a march but public disillusionment stands in the way of any widespread civic movement. news March 27, 2025
340ml’s Timeless Legacy Lives On The Mozambican band opens up about their long hiatus, the chemistry that never faded, and what it took to get back on stage together. music March 27, 2025
Oxford English Dictionary Adds Nine New Loanwords from South Africa ‘Yoh,’ ‘Gatvol,’ and ‘Tjoekie’ join 20 words from Nigeria and Ghana recently added to the English dictionary. news March 26, 2025
Namibia’s First Female President Appoints New Women-Majority Cabinet Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reduced the number of ministries, citing the need to reduce the cost of governance and improve efficiency. news March 24, 2025
South African President Remains Optimistic About U.S. Relations Despite Ambassador Expulsion President Cyril Ramaphosa says he’ll receive a full report from former Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool while charting a way forward for restored relations with the U.S. news March 17, 2025
Proposed VAT Increase Continues to Mar South Africa's Budget Process The revised budget presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is unsatisfactory to opposition parties and some partners in the Government of National Unity. news March 12, 2025
A Decade After #FeesMustFall: South Africa's Unending Education Crisis Despite promises of reform following the 2015 protests, South African students face mounting debt, housing crises, and mental health challenges, while universities struggle with funding shortfalls. news March 11, 2025
“The Moral Conscience of a Generation:” Tributes Pour in for Iconic Playwright Athol Fugard The socially conscious South African playwright dedicated his life’s work to portraying the plight of Black people under cruel apartheid laws. news March 10, 2025
Johnny Clegg’s Music Returns to New York City Jesse Clegg will honor his father’s legacy with a powerful tribute concert in New York City. music March 10, 2025
President Donald Trump, Here's What You Need to Know About Lesotho The American president claimed “nobody has ever heard of” the Southern African country. Here’s a list to help him get up to speed. news March 5, 2025
