Although amapiano is one of South Africa’s biggest musical exports as it has reached global audiences from all over the world, mzansi is the land of many talents, with a plethora of artists outside of amapiano who are worth a listen.
When it comes to entertainment, it is safe to that South Africa is arguably among the best on the continent, as the industry has made great strides to catch up to the Western world, after being left behind. The development of social media has made sharing cultures, including music much easier, and South African musicians have managed to turn a few eyes their way.
Mzansi has proven to have a great balance of versatility and diversity as our amapiano, hip-hop and house artists continue to climb international charts and come home with some significant awards on some of the biggest platforms.
This article will share a few non-amapiano artists that we think are worth including in your 2025 playlists if they haven’t already.
Manana
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LUSANDA
This upcoming artist broke out into the scene with her viral cover of Andre 300’s smash-hit ‘Hey ya’ which took over TikTok in 2023. Using the clout from the video, LUSANDA has released a few projects, including some collaborations with some notable names such as hip-hop sensation Tony Dayimane and amapiano giants Pabi Cooper and Focalist. Her versatile vocal ability makes listening to her a breeze, and we believe she is one to watch for R&B and soul lovers.
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Tony Dayimane
Umlazi native Tony Dayimane has made it his mission to ensure the country that mzansi hip-hop is in safe hands as he and his peers have been delivering some quality projects. Tony has stood out as one of the rappers to look out for as 2024 was definitely his take-off year. After featuring various singles and collaborations, the newbie delivered a timeless project in his debut EP’Red October Induction’ which hit 1 million streams across digital platforms, cementing him as one of the upcoming youngsters ready to take over the reins. His sound and style is reminiscent of the likes of OKMALUMKOOLKAT, while still remaining completely unique and true to himself, a truly refreshing sight.
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Zoe Modiga
This is for jazz lovers, here we have a multifaceted artist with diverse talents and the ability to play multiple instruments such as guitars, piano and clarinet. Zoe Modiga is a jazz artist who deeply incorporated some African and spiritual elements, and has secured mzansi’s spot as one of the best producers of jazz music with her extensive catalogue, including 3 studio albums for all to indulge in. Zoe has also garnered a reputation for electric sage presence and her ability to connect with her audience to deliver performances that transcend all expectations.
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Also see: Bongani Zungu permanently finds a new home with AmaZulu
