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.

Zoë Modiga takes a moment to laugh while posing for a press picture. Her body is covered in an orange tussel, and orange highlighter decorates her eyelids.

Photo by Tatenda Chidora.

Zoë Modiga makes her amapiano debut on “Guqa.”

On this month’s roundup, we spotlight some of the freshest and most compelling sounds emerging from Southern Africa’s vibrant music scene. From the hypnotic amapiano prayers of Zoë Modiga to the punk-fueled urgency of Lerato Orchestral Collective*, to Zimbabwe’s Chillmaster and Botswana’s Titose, these tracks traverse borders and moods with confidence. Be it deep house grooves that get your body moving, famo’s relentless lyrical flow, or poetic reflections on love and longing, this selection is yet another testament to the variety that keeps brewing throughout the region.

Kota Embassy, Zoë Modiga, Ivy Beatz, Dj Mremz - “Guqa” (South Africa)

Zoë Modiga is absolutely goated, a legit, forthright, self-assured artist who makes magic out of every situation she is in, especially when the situation involves music. When she’s not selling out venues with her solo work or composing head-nod bangers with her Seba Kaapstad collective, she steals our souls covertly over electronic beats. “Guqa,” meaning ‘kneel,’ is prayer in the form of an amapiano heater. Kota Embassy (comprising N’kay and Nim), DJ Mremz, and Ivy Beatz create the perfect soundscape for her to fly. This is sheer excellence, proof of what an artist at the top of their game is capable of doing. Such range, such brilliance shouldn’t be allowed.

Lerato Orchestral Collective * - “Swim” (South Africa)

Lerato Orchestral Collective* are about as punk as it gets. On “Swim,” they channel raw emotional intimacy through swelling guitars, a bassline that hits with precision and purpose, and drums that rattle like distant thunder. Their vocals are gritty, soulful, and unapologetically human, trained to sing the blues for the oppressed, carrying stories of struggle and defiance.

Chillmaster - “Wakahwina Kare” (Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe has a long and rich tradition of guitar-driven music, stretching from the infectious grooves of the Bundu Boys to the revolutionary Chimurenga rhythms of Thomas Mapfumo, the soulful melodies of Eric Macheso, and the timeless storytelling of Oliver Mtukudzi. These artists shaped the country’s musical identity and created a legacy where rhythm, melody, and narrative intertwine seamlessly. That enduring spirit of Zimbabwean music continues to thrive today, carried forward by a new generation of artists who reinterpret these influences for contemporary audiences. Chillmaster Music’s latest release embraces this heritage, riding the wave of guitar-led tradition while infusing it with Afrobeats energy, modern production, and his own distinct flair.

Mohlaka Motšo - “Tsielala” (Lesotho)

“Tsielala” is a word used to quieten the masses during public engagements, usually uttered by an authoritative figure such as a chief. In the hands of Mohlaka Motšo, it becomes a call-to-action, a re-grounding of famo’s core principles of sharp lyricism and driving accordion-led instrumentation. This particular format of the song is known as Masholu, where the artist raps continuously with no chorus to interrupt the flow. For seven unbroken minutes, Mohlaka Motšo proves he’s more than capable of holding his own against anyone.

Nutty Nys - “You Say” (South Africa)

Nutty Nys is an established figure on South Africa’s deep house front. After spending his early years championing groundbreaking rap acts on his YFM radio show, he transitioned into a fully-fledged artist, producing a string of notable hits. His latest release, “You Say,” continues in the vein of his recent output: experimental and exploratory, yet grounded in familiar Afro-house textures, gqom-inflected rhythms, and, crucially, the vocal, that ever-central feature of great electronic music.

Sannere - “Sentebale” (Lesotho)

Sannere paints relatable images with his words, exercising a linguistic freedom that lets him take risks others might fumble. A song feels safe in his hands. He knows how to mold emotion, how to move in lockstep with the rhythm, and how to deliver performances that linger. On “Sentebale,” he dips into his loverboy bag, singing about waiting for a sign from the ancestors that the woman he desires is truly the one chosen for him. “Hobane mabopong a Mohokare, ho na le sentebale/ ke thotse ka palesa e monko o monate, sentebale,” (on the shores of the Mohokare River, there’s one I can’t forget/ I found a sweet-smelling flower, the one I can’t forget) is a lyric so tender, steeped in romantic longing, so poetic and arresting, and Sannere delivers it with the ease of a master.

Titose - “Falling” (Botswana)

Botswana’s Titose is a revelation. A masterful songwriter, her voice is both enticing and grounding, carrying an edge that navigates the space between the sacred and the profane. On “Falling,” she bares her vulnerability, confessing to being utterly captivated by a suitor and completely powerless in the face of her emotions. “Yes, it’s true that I’m falling for you,” she admits, her declaration winding through a maze of desire and uncertainty, wrapped delicately in a ribbon of sweet, irresistible harmonies. The song captures the thrill and fragility of surrendering to love, painting intimacy in shades both tender and bold.

Chynamusique - “Don’t Wait Till I’m Gone” (feat. Poizen, Earful Soul, Lilac Jeans, Diamondancer) (South Africa)

Chynamusique’s latest release is a house music masterpiece, and “Don’t Wait Till I’m Gone” offers just a taste of the brilliance he’s cooked up. The track showcases his talent for crafting unforgettable hooks and building moments that keep the dance floor moving, blending infectious energy with finely tuned production. It’s a song that stays with you as much as it gets your feet moving, and demonstrates his signature ability to marry melody with rhythm.

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