From Mzansi to the world: Tyla and DJ Maphorisa top Spotify's 2025 Global Impact List

It’s that time of the year again, and Spotify Africa has dropped the South African Global Impact List. 

The 2025 edition highlights the 30 tracks from Mzansi that have made the biggest impact internationally in the first half of the year. 

The list celebrates South African artists whose music is travelling far beyond our borders and finding new audiences across the globe

Leading the list are two of South Africa’s biggest international success stories, Tyla and DJ Maphorisa.

Tyla, who already dominated last year’s Global Impact List, proves once again that she is more than a viral moment. In 2024, she led the rankings with a record-breaking 12 songs, most of them from her self-titled debut album. 

Tracks like “Jump”, featuring Gunna and Skillibeng, “ART” and “Push 2 Start” were among some of the songs on the list. 

Other fan favourites like “Breathe Me”, “Priorities”, “Intro” with Kelvin Momo, and “Back to You” from the deluxe version also secured her place as Spotify’s top South African export.

This year, she appears again with three tracks on the 2025 list. 

The acclaimed single “Show Me Love” by WizTheMc, featuring Tyla, “Bliss” and “Push 2 Start” remix with Sean Paul are all included.

Each song highlights her ability to move between genres while keeping her distinct “popiano” sound intact.

On the Amapiano side, DJ Maphorisa leads the charge with five songs featured. Hit songs like “Abantwana Bakho” with Kabza De Small and Nkosazana Daughter, and “Sangena” with Toss have taken him from South African dance floors to global stages.

Maphorisa’s consistency and ear for collaborations make him one of the biggest cultural exporters of the genre.

Spotify says the Global Impact List is not just about numbers, but about influence. It shows which South African tracks are breaking through internationally and shaping global music trends. 

The 2025 list makes it clear that collaboration is a big part of that success. From Major League DJs joining forces with UK singer Jorja Smith on “Come With Me” to Master KG’s Latin American crossover with “Ngishutheni”, South African artists are blending styles and reaching new audiences.

Amapiano remains a strong presence on the impact list, with local hip hop also making an appearance.

Songs like “Kusho Bani” by Cassper Nyovest and “What If?” (Mngani) by Yanga Chief made the list, and hip hop artist Blxckie also shows up for his contribution on “Ngibolekeni”.

The list also reminds us of the variety in South African music. Kingdmusic and Luma Elpidio’s gospel anthem “Jesus” and THEMBA’s house remix of David Guetta and Sia’s “Beautiful People” all stand alongside the amapiano wave.

Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music in Sub-Saharan Africa, says the 2025 Global Impact List shows just how powerful South African creativity has become. 

“When collaboration fuels creativity, South African music becomes an unstoppable force,” she explains.

The list once again proves that South African music has no borders. Whether it’s amapiano, gospel, or house, the sound of Mzansi is shaping dance floors, playlists, charts and TikTok challenges across the world.