List of South African musicians
This list of South African musicians includes notable individual musicians as well as musical ensembles whose members are South African by birth or nationality.
A
- African Children's Choir
- AKA, rapper
- aKing, South African acoustic rock band
- Amampondo, award-winning traditional Xhosa percussion group from Cape Town
- Leigh Ashton, South African solo artist from Johannesburg.
- Assagai
- The Awakening, gothic rock
B
- Ballyhoo, 80s pop band best known for the hit Man on the Moon
- The Bang
- Leonel Bastos, Mozambiquan adult contemporary musician and producer working in South Africa
- Battery 9
- BLK JKS
- Elvis Blue, musician and songwriter
- Boo!
- Bles Bridges (1947–2000), singer
- Stef Bos
- Cristina Boshoff
- Jonathan Butler, singer-songwriter and guitarist
- The Brother Moves On
- Brasse Vannie Kaap
- Bright Blue, 1980s pop band, best known for the hit song "Weeping"
- Buckfever Underground
- Beatenberg
- Bongo Maffin
- Boom Shaka
- Bucie (born 1987), R&B and soul singer
C
- Adrienne Camp, singer-songwriter
- Captain Stu, ska, funk, punk, and soul fusion band
- Arno Carstens, former lead singer of Springbok Nude Girls
- Cassette
- Cassper Nyovest, rapper and record producer
- Tony Cedras (born 1952), musician
- Yvonne Chaka Chaka, singer
- Chris Chameleon, solo artist, lead singer and bass guitarist for Boo
- Blondie Chaplin, singer and guitarist
- Johnny Clegg
- Clout, 1970s rock group
- Basil Coetzee, saxophonist
- Mimi Coertse, musician
- Tony Cox, guitarist
- Crashcarburn
- Crossingpoint, Christian progressive hardcore band
- Cutting Jade
- Civil Twilight
- Crow Black Sky
D
- Da L.E.S (born 1985), hip hop artist
- Simphiwe Dana (born 1980)
- Danny K (Daniel Koppel), R&B singer-songwriter
- Kurt Darren, singer
- Steven De Groote (1953–1989), classical pianist and winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
- Fanie de Jager, operatic tenor
- Die Antwoord
- Die Heuwels Fantasties
- Bonginkosi Dlamini, poet, actor, and singer also known as Zola
- Dollar Brand
- Donald, Singer
- Dorp
- Downfall
- Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, reggae
- Dreamteam, hip hop group from Durban
- Jabulani Dubazana, singer, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Lucky Dube (1964–2007)
- Duck and Cover, hard rock band
- Ampie du Preez, singer and guitarist
- Johnny Dyani (1945–1986), jazz double bassist
E
- Alton Edwards, singer
- Eden
- Endorphine
- Emtee (born 1992), hip hop artist
- Dawid Engela (1931–1967), composer and musicologist
- éVoid, '80s new wave
- Erica Eloff, Soprano
F
- Falling Mirror
- Brenda Fassie (1964–2004)
- Ricky Fataar (born 1952), drummer
- Duncan Faure, singer-songwriter formerly with the band Rabbitt
- Mongezi Feza (1945–1975), trumpet player and flautist
- Anton Fig, drummer
- Josh Fix
- Fokofpolisiekar, Afrikaans rock band
- Foto na Dans, Afrikaans rock band
- Four Jacks and a Jill
- Johnny Fourie, guitarist
- Freshlyground
- Fuzigish
G
- Hotep Idris Galeta (born 1941), jazz pianist
- Goldfish
- Anton Goosen (born 1946), singer
- Die Grafsteensangers
- Goodluck
H
- Paul Hanmer, composer, pianist, and jazz musician
- The Helicopters
- Henry Ate
- Sonja Herholdt
- Hog Hoggidy Hog
- Steve Hofmeyr (born 1964), singer and actor
- Die Heuwels Fantasties
I
J
- Jabu Khanyile
- Jae
- Robbie Jansen
- Jay Andromeda
- Jeremy Loops, modern folk, singer
- Jesse Jordan Band
- Theuns Jordaan, singer and songwriter
- Claire Johnston, lead singer of Mango Groove
- Trevor Jones (born 1949), composer
- Joy, a vocal group
- John Edmond, singer
- Juluka
- Just Jinjer (previously Just Jinger)
- Jack Parow
- JR (rapper)
- Junkyard Lipstick
K
- Kabelo Mabalane (born 1976), kwaito artist, former member of TKZee
- Kalahari Surfers
- Wouter Kellerman, South African Flautist
- Johannes Kerkorrel (1960–2002)
- Sibongile Khumalo (born 1957), singer
- KOBUS!
- Koos Kombuis
- John Kongos
- Kongos
- Gé Korsten
- David Kramer
- Kwesta, hip hop artist and poet
L
- Felix Laband, electronic musician
- Riku Lätti, songwriter, composer, music producer
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo (born 1960), isicathamiya group
- Don Laka, jazz musician, pianist, producer
- Robert Lange (born 1948), music producer
- Lani Groves
- Lark
- Jack Lerole (c.1940–2003), tin whistle player; singer
- Solomon Linda, songwriter
- Lira
- Locnville
- Lucan, R&B Singer
- Roger Lucey, singer & guitarist
- Lucky Dube,singer & keyboard player
M
- Sipho Mabuse (born 1951), singer
- Arthur Mafokate, kwaito singer and composer
- Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, a mbaqanga band
- Vusi Mahlasela
- Makgona Tsohle Band (1964–1999), a mbaqanga instrumental band
- Bongi Makeba (1950–1985), singer-songwriter
- Miriam Makeba (1932–2008)
- Malaika (group)
- Petronel Malan (1974–), concert pianist
- Man As Machine
- Mandoza (born 1978), kwaito singer
- Mango Groove
- Mildred Mangxola (born 1944), singer in Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens and member of the Mahotella Queens
- Manfred Mann
- MarcAlex, group known for the hit Quick Quick
- Josef Marais
- Hugh Masekela
- Dorothy Masuka (born 1935), jazz singer
- Dave Matthews (born 1967), lead singer and founding member of Dave Matthews Band
- Illana May
- Abednego Mazibuko, singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Albert Mazibuko (born 1948), singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Thandiswa Mazwai
- Chris McGregor (1936–1990), pianist and composer
- Busi Mhlongo (1947–2010)
- Mind Assault
- Moreira Chonguica, Jazz saxophonist and producer
- Kippie Moeketsi (1925–1983), saxophonist
- Pops Mohamed (born 1949), jazz musician
- Louis Moholo (born 1940), drummer
- Matthew Mole
- Lebo Morake (aka Lebo M)
- Shaun Morgan (born 1980), singer also known as Shaun Morgan Welgemoed
- Mshengu White Mambazo (1976–2003), junior choir of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Russel Mthembu, singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Mzekezeke
N
- Nádine, singer-songwriter
- The Narrow
- Nasty C (born 1997), hip hop artist and record producer
- Bongani Ndodana-Breen, composer
- Jim Neversink, alternative country singer-songwriter and guitarist
- New Academics
- Steve Newman
- Bernoldus Niemand
- Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde (1937–1999), Mbaqanga singer
- West Nkosi (1940–1998), mbaqanga musician
- Nobesuthu Mbadu (born 1945), singer in Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens and member of the Mahotella Queens
- Siphiwo Ntshebe (1974–2010), operatic tenor from New Brighton, Port Elizabeth
- Ashton Nyte, solo artist as well as lead singer and producer of The Awakening
- Thys Nywerheid
O
- Wendy Oldfield, rock singer-songwriter
- Orkez
- Oskido, record producer and songwriter
- Sonny Okosun
P
- Jack Parow, hip hop artist
- The Parlotones
- Al Paton, singer-songwriter, producer, and percussionist
- Petit Cheval
- James Phillips, singer-songwriter also known as Bernoldus Niemand
- Anke Pietrangeli (born 1982), winner of the second series of Idols
- Dizu Plaatjies, founder and former lead singer of Amampondo
- Plush
- PJ Powers
- Prime Circle
- Dudu Pukwana (1938–1990), saxophonist, pianist, and composer
- Purified, Christian hip hop artist
Q
R
- Rabbitt
- Trevor Rabin (born 1954), musician
- Dolly Rathebe
- Laurika Rauch, Afrikaans singer
- Riddare av Koden
- Surendran Reddy (1962–2010) pianist and composer
- Riky Rick (born 1987), hip hop artist and record producer
S
- Sandy B
- Savuka
- Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo
- Leon Schuster
- Seether, formerly called Saron Gas
- Gerard Sekoto
- Judith Sephuma
- Jockey Shabalala (1943–2006), singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Joseph Shabalala (born 1941), lead singer and founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Msizi Shabalala (born 1975), singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Sibongiseni Shabalala (born 1973), singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Thamsanqa Shabalala (born 1977), singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Thulani Shabalala (born 1968), singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Margaret Singana
- Skylight (band)
- Kyla-Rose Smith (born 1982), violinist and dancer
- Dino Sofos, composer and multi-instrumentalist
- Enoch Sontonga, teacher, lay-preacher and composer who wrote "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"
- South African National Youth Orchestra
- Springbok Nude Girls
- Zanne Stapelberg (born 1977), opera soprano
- Dale Stewart
- Sterling EQ
- Stimela band formed in 1982
- Straatligkinders
- Sugardrive
- Valiant Swart
T
- Tananas
- Taxi Violence
- Peta Teanet, singer
- Michael Tellinger
- TKZee, kwaito group
- Hilda Tloubatla (born 1942), lead singer of Mahotella Queens, and singer in Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens
- Tokollo Tshabalala, kwaito singer also known as Magesh
- Toya Delazy, pop singer and pianist
- Tribe after Tribe
- Tuks, South African multi-award winning Hip hop Artist
- Tumi and the Volume
U
- Uhuru— Kwaito and afropop music group
- Urban Creep
V
- Bobby van Jaarsveld, singer-songwriter and actor
- Bok van Blerk
- Van Coke Kartel
- Amor Vittone
W
- Watershed
- Shaun Welgemoed
- Heinz Winckler (born 1978), singer who won the first series of Idols
- Wonderboom
- Markus Wormstorm, electronic musician and composer
Y
- Pretty Yende (born 1985), operatic soprano from Piet Retief, Mpumalanga
Z
- Zahara, singer-songwriter and poet
- Zebra & Giraffe
- Karen Zoid
- Zola