Apple Music unveils top 100 streamed artists in SA and Nigeria

The year-end charts in South Africa see amapiano producer Busta 929 and the late Mpura lead the Top Songs of 2021 chart with their hit ‘Umsebenzi Wethu’, which dominated airwaves in the country last summer. South African artists accounted for more than 44% of the Top 100 songs and over 26% of the Top 100 albums on Apple Music in South Africa.

Drake’s latest album Certified Lover Boy shattered streaming records around the world and was the No1 album of 2021 on Apple Music in South Africa. The rapper was also the No 1 artist of the year, while Kabza de Small was the highest-charting local artist in South Africa. Afrikaans musician Riaan Benade’s debut album Spontaan was the top South African album of 2021. ‘LiYoshona’ by Kwiish SA featuring Njelic, MalumNator and De Mthuda was the most Shazamed song of the year, while Kabza De Small was the most Shazamed artist of the year in South Africa.

In Nigeria, the charts see a clean sweep from Wizkid, with his smash hit ‘Essence’ featuring Tems peaking the Apple Music Top Songs of 2021 chart. The Afrobeats star also topped Apple Music’s Top Albums of 2021 chart with his Grammy-nominated album Made in Lagos, as well as the Artist of the Year on Apple Music in Nigeria.

Local artists claimed more than 96% of the Top 100 Songs and over 48% of the Top 100 Albums charts on the music streaming platform in 2021. Former Africa Now cover star and Ghanaian musician Gyakie’s single ‘Forever’ was the most Shazamed song of the year, while Davido was the most Shazamed artist of the year in Nigeria.

Apple Music Top Songs of 2021 (South Africa)

1. ‘Umsebenzi Wethu’ – Busta 929 and Mpura ft. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du & Reece Madlisa
2. ‘John Wick’ – De Mthuda ft. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal Chef
3. ‘LiYoshona’ – Kwiish SA ft. Njelic, MalumNator & De Mthuda
4. ‘SummerYoMuthi’ – Blaq Diamond
5. ‘The Business’ – Tiësto
6. ‘Izolo’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU ft. Madumane, Mpura, Daliwonga & Visca
7. ‘Blinding Lights’ – The Weeknd
8. ‘Vula Mlomo’ – Musa Keys ft. Sir Trill & Nobantu Vilakazi
9. ‘Banyana’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU ft. Sir Trill, Daliwonga & Kabza De Small
10. ‘uLazi’ – Mr JazziQ & 9umba ft. Zuma & Mpura
11. ‘Driver’s License’ – Olivia Rodrigo
12. ‘Essence’ – Wizkid ft. Tems
13. ‘uThando’ – Soa Mattrix & Soulful G ft. Shaun 101
14. ‘Siyathandana’ – Cassper Nyovest ft. Abidoza & Boohle
15. ‘VSOP’ – Mr JazziQ & Busta 929 ft. Reece Madlisa, Zuma, Mpura, Riky Rick & 9umba
16. ‘Your Love’ – Azana
17. ‘Mali Eningi’ – Big Zulu ft. Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai
18. ‘Khuza Gogo’ – DBN Gogo, Blaqnick & MasterBlaq ft. Mpura, AmaAvenger & M.J
19. ‘Superman’ – DJ Stokie ft. Kabza De Small, Masterpiece YVK & Madumane
20. ‘Dinaledi’ – Major League DJz & Abidoza ft. Mpho Sebina

Apple Music Top Albums of 2021 (South Africa)

1. Certified Lover Boy – Drake
2. Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon (Deluxe) – Pop Smoke
3. Made In Lagos – Wizkid
4. Donda – Kanye West
5. Spontaan – Riaan Benade
6. Position – Ariana Grande
7. SOUR – Olivia Rodrigo
8. Justice – Justin Bieber
9. Kokovha – Makhadzi
10. The Off-Season – J. Cole
11. After Hours – The Weeknd
12. Scorpion – Drake
13. Views – Drake
14. I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small
15. Take Care (Deluxe Version) – Drake
16. To the World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician
17. Over It – Summer Walker
18. More Life – Drake
19. B4now – Blxckie
20. Maba Jabul’abantu – Mr JazziQ & Busta 929

Apple Music Top Artists of 2021 (South Africa)

1. Drake
2. Kanye West
3. Justin Bieber
4. Pop Smoke
5. J. Cole
6. The Weeknd
7. Kabza De Small
8. Beyoncé
9. Taylor Swift
10. DJ Maphorisa

Top Shazamed Songs of 2021 (South Africa)

1. ‘LiYoshona’ – Kwiish SA ft. Njelic, MalumNator & De Mthuda
2. ‘Vula Mlomo’ – Musa Keys ft. Sir Trill & Nobantu Vilakazi
3. ‘Umsebenzi Wethu’ – Busta 929 & Mpura ft. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du & Reece Madlisa
4. ‘Wamuhle’ – Boohle Feat. Njelic, Ntokzin & De Mthuda
5. ‘Izolo’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU Feat. Madumane, Mpura, Daliwonga & Visca
6. ‘Banyana’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU Feat. Sir Trill, Daliwonga & Kabza De Small
7. ‘John Wick’ – De Mthuda Feat. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal Chef
8. ‘Senzeni’ – Mthandazo Gatya Feat. DJ Manzo SA & Comado
9. ‘Dlozi ‘lam’ – DJ Obza Feat. DJ Freetz & Nkosazana
10. ‘Emathandweni’ – Zandimaz ft. Nokwazi

Top Shazamed Artist of 2021 (South Africa)

• Kabza De Small

Apple Music Top Songs of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. ‘Essence’ – Wizkid ft. Tems
2. ‘Ginger’ – Wizkid ft. Burna Boy
3. ‘Bounce’ – Ruger
4. ‘The Best’ – Davido ft. Mayorkun
5. ‘Feeling’ – Ladipoe & Buju
6. ‘Infinity’ – Olamide ft. Omah Lay
7. ‘Godly’ – Omah Lay
8. ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan & Lincoln
9. ‘Blessed’ – Wizkid ft. Damian Jr. Gong Marley
10. ‘Understand’ – Omah Lay
11. ‘Jowo’ – Davido
12. ‘Forever’ (Remix) – Gyakie & Omah Lay
13. ‘Kilofeshe’ – Zinoleesky
14. ‘Rock’ – Olamide
15. ‘Peru’ – Fireboy DML
16. ‘Holy Ground’ – Davido ft. Nicki Minaj
17. ‘Felony’ – CKay
18. ‘Outside’ – Buju
19. ‘Kpk’ – Rexxie & MohBad
20. ‘Monalisa’ – Lojay & Sarz

Apple Music Top Albums of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. Made in Lagos – Wizkid
2. A Better Time – Davido
3. Twice As Tall – Burna Boy
4. Carpe Diem – Olamide
5. Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon – Pop Smoke
6. What Have We Done EP – Omah Lay
7. Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic – Joeboy
8. UY Scuti – Olamide
9. PANDEMIC EP – Ruger
10. Justice – Justin Bieber
11. APOLLO – Fireboy DML
12. 19 & Dangerous – Ayra Starr
13. African Giant – Burna Boy
14. Certified Lover Boy – Drake
15. Sex Over Love – Blaqbonez
16. WONDALAND – Teni
17. LV N ATTN EP – Lojay & Sarz
18. Boo of the Booless – Chike
19. The Voice (Deluxe) – Lil Durk
20. Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial – Roddy Ricch

Apple Music Top Artists of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. Wizkid
2. Davido
3. Burna Boy
4. Olamide
5. Omah Lay
6. Pop Smoke
7. Drake
8. Fireboy DML
9. Bella Shmurda
10. Lil Durk.

Top Shazamed Songs of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. ‘Forever’ – Gyakie
2. ‘Bounce’ – Ruger
3. ‘Big Thug Boys’ – AV
4. ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan & Lincoln
5. ‘Medicine’ – Jaywillz
6. ‘Feeling’ – Ladipoe & Buju
7. ‘Infinity’ – Olamide Feat. Omah Lay
8. ‘KPK (Ko Por Ke)’ – Rexxie & MohBad
9. ‘Ke Star’ – Focalistic ft. Vigro Deep
10. ‘Monalisa’ – Lojay & Sarz

Top Shazamed Artist of 2021 (Nigeria)

• Davido