The Top Southern African Songs Right Now: September 2025 Edition

Southern Africa’s music scene continues to evolve, shaped by artists who blend different styles in the pursuit of something entirely original. This month, we’ve got sonic treats that stretch from lekompo to amapiano, to dancehall, hip-hop, and everything in between. Whether returning home, confronting loss, or claiming power, each track offers a distinct moment. These are the hottest songs in the region right now.

Ntate Stunna, Dalom Kids - “Ekhaya” (Lesotho)

Dalom Kids are icons of the nineties, darlings of Black South African youth who were finding their post-apartheid stance and losing all inhibitions. “Ekhaya” finds them going head-to-head with Ntate Stunna, himself an icon in the making, with a legion of artists from Lesotho and beyond already drawing heavily from his blueprint. The track slides between lekompo and amapiano, while keeping its pulse rooted in the bubblegum and kwaito eras that first inspired them. It’s a December anthem – for the season when everyone heads home to reconnect, reflect, and recharge. Ntate Stunna’s verse maps his own return, tracing the road from Bloemfontein through Free State towns and across the border into Lesotho. Along the way, he calls out the places that raised him, and that he continues to return to – from Khubetsoana to Mafeteng, Butha-Buthe to Mokhotlong, his hometown.

Indigo Stella - "Power" (South Africa)

Indigo Stella radiates talent. The Johannesburg-based artist knows how to command a track, and on "Power," she turns in a performance built for standing ovations and endless rewinds. She slides effortlessly between rapping and singing, showing that no single style or genre can contain her expression. With nods to pop culture (including a playful reference to K.O’s “Sete”), reflections on her journey so far, and a confident grip on her craft, she makes freedom and control sound inseparable.

Hunter Rose - "Fine Wine" (South Africa)

Hunter Rose is one of South African R&B’s rare gems, able to unearth emotions and frame them as steady, heartfelt offerings over rich production. “Fine Wine” is lush and restorative, a gentle reminder that storms pass, calm returns, and the present moment deserves our full attention, down to every nickel and dime that graces our path.

Mufaro - "TIWYW" (Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe-born and Netherlands-based artist Mufaro’s pursuit of sonic perfection knows no bounds. Her textured voice carries the weight of countless ancestors before the first note even lands. On “TIWYW,” she sends out signals of freedom and redemption, blueprints for revolution. “This is what you wanted all along,” she repeats, the refrain gathering momentum with each cycle, stretching the song’s melodic and rhythmic dimensions. It’s a masterclass in control and transcendence.

DJ Lag, Ape Drums - "GQTECH" (South Africa)

Gqom-Tech – the alchemic fusion of gqom and Afro-tech – remains an under-explored but deeply potent wave. On this track, gqom pioneer DJ Lag teams up with Major Lazer’s Ape Drums, crafting a sound suspended between Durban and Miami. It’s humid, high-voltage, and built for endless rewinds on the dance floor.

Nisha Ts - “Mabhonzo” (Zimbabwe)

On “Mabhonzo,” Zimbabwe’s Nisha Ts tells of the grief of losing a parent. Produced by Jamal No Limits, the beat borrows from dancehall to make something distinctly Zimbabwean and deeply personal. “Mabhonzo ekuti vakadya nyama / ndinozoona ndosuka mangwana” (“Bones that show others ate meat / I only see them tomorrow when washing dishes”), she sings, a display of sorrow wrapped in metaphor, highlighting the emotional aftermath of absence and the lingering impact of those left behind.

Sylent Nqo - “Call Me Back” (Zimbabwe)

On “Call Me Back,” Sylent Nqo demonstrates that there’s no shame in vulnerability, even if it means being on your knees, pleading for a call. With his signature blend of guitar-driven soul and understated emotion, he wears loneliness openly, exploring the ache of unreciprocated affection and the quiet desperation of waiting. Rather than mask his feelings, he leans into them and offers a raw, honest portrait of longing in the modern age.