The Most Famous
SINGERS from South Africa
This page contains a list of the greatest South African Singers. The pantheon dataset contains 3,528 Singers, 9 of which were born in South Africa. This makes South Africa the birth place of the 65th most number of Singers behind New Zealand and Montenegro.
Top 9
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary South African Singers of all time. This list of famous South African Singers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Miriam Makeba (1932 - 2008)
With an HPI of 66.28, Miriam Makeba is the most famous South African Singer. Her biography has been translated into 73 different languages on wikipedia.
Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa. Born in Johannesburg to Swazi and Xhosa parents, Makeba was forced to find employment as a child after the death of her father. She had a brief and allegedly abusive first marriage at the age of 17, gave birth to her only child in 1950, and survived breast cancer. Her vocal talent had been recognized when she was a child, and she began singing professionally in the 1950s, with the Cuban Brothers, the Manhattan Brothers, and an all-woman group, the Skylarks, performing a mixture of jazz, traditional African melodies, and Western popular music. In 1959, Makeba had a brief role in the anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa, which brought her international attention, and led to her performing in Venice, London, and New York City. In London, she met the American singer Harry Belafonte, who became a mentor and colleague. She moved to New York City, where she became immediately popular, and recorded her first solo album in 1960. Her attempt to return to South Africa that year for her mother's funeral was prevented by the country's government. Makeba's career flourished in the United States, and she released several albums and songs, her most popular being "Pata Pata" (1967). Along with Belafonte, she received a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording for their 1965 album An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. She testified against the South African government at the United Nations and became involved in the civil rights movement. She married Stokely Carmichael, a leader of the Black Panther Party, in 1968, and consequently lost support among white Americans. Her visa was revoked by the US government when she was traveling abroad, forcing her and Carmichael to relocate to Guinea. She continued to perform, mostly in African countries, including at several independence celebrations. She began to write and perform music more explicitly critical of apartheid; the 1977 song "Soweto Blues", written by her former husband Hugh Masekela, was about the Soweto uprising. After apartheid was dismantled in 1990, Makeba returned to South Africa. She continued recording and performing, including a 1991 album with Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, and appeared in the 1992 film Sarafina!. She was named an FAO Goodwill Ambassador in 1999, and campaigned for humanitarian causes. She died of a heart attack during a 2008 concert in Italy. Makeba was among the first African musicians to receive worldwide recognition. She brought African music to a Western audience, and popularized the world music and Afropop genres. Despite her cosmopolitan background, she was frequently viewed by Western audiences as an embodiment of Africa: she was also seen as a style icon in both South Africa and the West. Makeba made popular several songs critical of apartheid, and became a symbol of opposition to the system, particularly after her right to return was revoked. Upon her death, former South African President Nelson Mandela said that "her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us."
2. Dave Matthews (1967 - )
With an HPI of 52.01, Dave Matthews is the 2nd most famous South African Singer. His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.
David John Matthews (born January 9, 1967) is a South African-American musician, songwriter, record producer and political activist. He is best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band (DMB). Matthews was born in Johannesburg, and moved frequently between South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States while growing up. Matthews started playing acoustic guitar at the age of nine. From 1991 to 2003, Matthews predominantly focused on songwriting and performing with the Dave Matthews Band, which he started in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. He also has done various solo performances and produced other records. During the period from 2000 to 2010, his band sold more tickets and earned more money than any other act in North America. The band's 2012 album Away from the World made them the only group to have six consecutive studio albums debut at number one on the Billboard charts. This record was extended to seven consecutive number one albums with the 2018 release, Come Tomorrow. In addition to music, Matthews has had multiple acting roles. He has also won two Grammy Awards: one with the Dave Matthews Band in 1997 for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("So Much to Say") and one in 2004 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance ("Gravedigger") from his solo album.
3. Yolandi Visser (1984 - )
With an HPI of 41.98, Yolandi Visser is the 3rd most famous South African Singer. Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.
Anri du Toit (born 1984), known professionally as Yolandi Visser (stylised as ¥o-Landi Vi$$er), is a South African rapper and singer. She is the female vocalist in the rap-rave group Die Antwoord. Her partner in the group is Ninja, Watkin Tudor Jones. Visser appeared in the 2015 Neill Blomkamp film Chappie.
4. Theuns Jordaan (1971 - 2021)
With an HPI of 38.13, Theuns Jordaan is the 4th most famous South African Singer. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Theuns Jordaan (10 January 1971 – 17 November 2021) was a South African singer-songwriter.
5. Brenda Fassie (1964 - 2004)
With an HPI of 36.74, Brenda Fassie is the 5th most famous South African Singer. Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Brenda Nokuzola Fassie (3 November 1964 – 9 May 2004) was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she is also known as the "Queen of African Pop", the "Madonna of The Townships" or simply as The Black Madonna. Her bold stage antics earned a reputation for "outrageousness"; ironically, her Xhosa name, Nokuzola, means "quiet", "calm", or "peace".
6. ZP Theart (1975 - )
With an HPI of 33.28, ZP Theart is the 6th most famous South African Singer. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
ZP Theart (born ZP De Villiers Theart, 27 May 1975) is a South African singer, songwriter and the former lead vocalist for the British power metal band DragonForce and American rock band Skid Row. Theart was also hired by Riot Games for the voice of Karthus in the songs "Deathfire Grasp" and "Last Whisper" by the metal band Pentakill.
7. Shaun Morgan (1978 - )
With an HPI of 30.10, Shaun Morgan is the 7th most famous South African Singer. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Shaun Morgan Welgemoed ([ˈveːl.χɐmut], born 21 December 1978) is a South African musician. He is the lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Seether.
8. Alice Phoebe Lou (1993 - )
With an HPI of 28.88, Alice Phoebe Lou is the 8th most famous South African Singer. Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Alice Phoebe Lou (born 19 July 1993) is a South African singer-songwriter based in Berlin, Germany. She has released five studio albums to date — Orbit (2016), Paper Castles (2019), Glow (2021), Child's Play (2021) and Shelter (2023) — alongside two live albums, three EPs and various singles. Since 2019 she has also been active in her side project Strongboi.
9. Bok van Blerk (1978 - )
With an HPI of 25.14, Bok van Blerk is the 9th most famous South African Singer. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Bok van Blerk (born Louis Andreas Pepler; 30 March 1978) is a South African singer-songwriter who sings in Afrikaans. He became famous in 2006 for his rendition of "De la Rey" by Sean Else and Johan Vorster.Though controversy attended the release of "De la Rey," South Africa's Department of Arts and Culture examined the debate and then wished van Blerk well with the song, writing officially that the Department saw "no problem."
Pantheon has 9 people classified as singers born between 1932 and 1993. Of these 9, 6 (66.67%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living singers include Dave Matthews, Yolandi Visser, and ZP Theart. The most famous deceased singers include Miriam Makeba, Theuns Jordaan, and Brenda Fassie. As of April 2022, 2 new singers have been added to Pantheon including Alice Phoebe Lou and Bok van Blerk.
Living Singers
Go to all Rankings
Dave Matthews
1967 - Present
HPI: 52.01
Yolandi Visser
1984 - Present
HPI: 41.98
ZP Theart
1975 - Present
HPI: 33.28
Shaun Morgan
1978 - Present
HPI: 30.10
Alice Phoebe Lou
1993 - Present
HPI: 28.88
Bok van Blerk
1978 - Present
HPI: 25.14
Deceased Singers
Go to all RankingsMiriam Makeba
1932 - 2008
HPI: 66.28
Theuns Jordaan
1971 - 2021
HPI: 38.13
Brenda Fassie
1964 - 2004
HPI: 36.74
