R&B is having a major moment in Mzansi. Recent Spotify data shows that South African listeners spent more than 8.5 billion minutes streaming R&B in 2025 – the equivalent of over 142 million hours dedicated to one of music’s most enduring genres.
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A genre that continues to resonate deeply
The numbers reveal a genre that continues to resonate deeply with South Africans, particularly younger listeners. Nearly half of all R&B listeners on Spotify in South Africa are aged 18-24 (40.9%), while 25-29-year-olds account for more than 18.7%, highlighting how a new generation is embracing both classic and contemporary R&B.
Leading the country’s R&B soundtrack is global superstar Tyla, who tops the list of the most-streamed South African R&B artists in 2025. She is joined by fellow local talents Sondae, Lloyiso, Elaine, and Jordan G Welch.
Across the continent, listeners are gravitating towards a blend of established stars and new-school innovators. Africa’s most-streamed R&B artists in 2025 were Tyla, Tems, Ayra Starr, Omah Lay, and Fireboy DML, while tracks like Venus, Baby (Is It A Crime), Arike, Lost and Gimme Dat were among the most streamed songs on the continent.
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Passion far beyond streaming
Nearly two months ago, Johannesburg hosted the latest edition of Once Upon A Time In Joburg, one of South Africa’s leading R&B and neo-soul live music experiences headlined by an American singer, SiR. The event highlighted the vibrant community that continues to support the genre nationwide.
Speaking during his visit to Johannesburg, SiR reflected on the warm reception from South African fans. “The audience is always wonderful when I’m out here. The people are always showing love, and I definitely had a great time. I think this was one of my best shows,” he said.
The singer also praised South Africa’s growing R&B ecosystem, singling out local artist Manana as a standout discovery. “Having experienced him, man, I’m a fan already,” SiR said. “To find out that my mother was already a fan, I was in tears.”
Spotify’s playlist ecosystem continues to fuel discovery across the genre. Africa’s most-streamed playlists are Ginja, while Spotify’s Editor’s picks are Cocoa Butter and Afro R&B.
Within South Africa, R&B streaming is heavily concentrated in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, and Port Elizabeth. More broadly, the genre’s biggest markets across the continent include Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Zambia.
As artists continue to push the genre forward and fans continue to champion the music they love, one thing is clear: R&B is thriving in South Africa. From billions of streams on Spotify to sold-out live experiences and the rise of homegrown stars, R&B remains one of the most powerful forces connecting music lovers across Africa.
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