The Best Southern African Songs Right Now

January ended on a sombre note, with the South African hip-hop and greater music community reeling from the passing of Bravo Le Roux, an artist originally from Cape Town who beat the odds and became one of the country’s beloved stars. His family has launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate his body. 

New albums have already started arriving, with Sjava completing a trilogy of albums he started releasing at the end of January last year. Titled iNkanyezi NeZinkanyezi, which means “a star among the stars,” it features a healthy cast of heavyweights, from Msaki to Shwi to Anatii.

There is a whole lot more. Read on for OkayAfrica's January list of the best songs emerging from Southern Africa.

Sjava - “Madibuseng” feat. Lowfeye and Lacabra (South Africa)

Sjava spent the rest of last year on the road, performing songs from his newly released album, iNkanyezi NeZinkanyezi, songs that arrived as two live albums separated by nine months. “What makes this project special is the way we rolled it out. I wanted to try a different approach, one that allowed me to engage my fans more intimately than before, so I thought, ‘Let me teach them the songs before I release them.’ So the whole of 2025 was the album rollout for iNkanyezi NeZinkanyezi," he shared in a press release. On “Madibuseng,” he dials in with members of the Qwellers crew, Lowfeye and Lacabra, who help him breathe life into the song, a take on the kwaito group Trompies’ song of the same name. 

Nutty O – “Pulla Ma Socks” feat. Sunnyman, Madedid, and Kikky Badass (Zimbabwe)

“Pulla Ma Socks” draws on drill and dancehall influences to mark something of an inflection point in the Zimbabwean music scene. Nutty O gathers a slew of hard-bodied lyricists — Sunnyman, Madedid, and Kikky Badass — each of whom leaves an indelible mark on the track. The result is a rallying cry for ghetto youths everywhere: pull up your socks, chase your dreams, let go of fear, and go all in on your goals.

Runna Rulez – “Spoon” feat. Voltz JT (Zimbabwe)

Rap music has gone through numerous iterations over the years, accumulating layers of style and meaning while inspiring reflection and innovation along the way. “Spoon” sounds and feels like the work of artists figuring out how to add their own twist – an unscripted, relentless drive toward self-definition. Runna Rulez’s flow exists in a languid terrain where trap music goes to reset. It is unhurried and reflexive, with the beat giving him ample room to glide, fully aware that he’s making an impression. With Voltz JT as a sparring partner, the song becomes a snapshot of Zimbabwe’s current rap scene, where experimentation finds willing ears.

Lady Zamar – “Inini Newe” feat. Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe/South Africa)

Lady Zamar arrived like lightning on the music scene, topping charts and staking her claim as a voice to watch across Southern Africa. Multiple award wins followed. She’s still at it, and on “Inini Newe,” she links up with one of Zimbabwe’s foremost voices, Jah Prayzah, who breathes life into the Afrobeats-inflected tune.

9xne – “Ngoda” (Zimbabwe)

On “Ngoda,” Zimbabwean singer, rapper, and producer 9xne leans heavily into melody and lands on something that approaches heaven. The song pulls at the heartstrings, with vocals that reveal a deep sensitivity to the emotional labour of creation. This is music that heals, that journeys with you, holds your hand, and reassures you that everything will be alright. Impeccable.

Queen Kadjah – “Bhejerai” (Zimbabwe)

Queen Kadjah’s voice reflects a high degree of scholarship. She riffs off a long lineage of women in dancehall — from Sister Nancy to Lady Saw, Spice, and many others — less interested in strict adherence to tradition than she is in transplanting it into her own context. “Bhejerai” is energetic, driven by a flow so assured and central to the canon that she might as well establish her own institution. This one’s for sound system lovers, for devotees of sharp lyricism, and for those who like their dancehall uncompromising.

Vumaala - "Memeza Pt. 1" (feat. Masi and Samantha A) (South Africa)

Bubele Booi spent years behind the scenes, crafting Grammy-worthy music for artists ranging from Beyoncé to Manana as one half of The Imports. He released his first single as Vumaala last year, and the momentum has only continued to build. “Memeza Pt.1” gathers the essential elements of 3-Step, with Masi and Samantha A lifting the already spiritual track to greater heights. This is music built for big arenas, for festivals, for weekends that never seem to end. It lifts you up and never stops rising—the result of years spent patiently perfecting the craft.

Litshepe Lr - “Ho Tsekoa Tlholo” (feat. Sannere) (Lesotho)

Litshepe Lr has been consistent with output, especially over the past year, where his profile rose beyond his immediate environment. On “Ho Tsekoa Tlholo,” from his re-released EP, Kopano Ke Matla, he links up with Sannere for a tune that feels at once ancient and very modern.