South Africa’s gospel scene came into 2025 with momentum — a mix of seasoned legends collecting lifetime honours, choirs and collectives preserving massive streaming audiences, and breakout soloists turning viral moments into chart traction. Below we round up the top 10 gospel acts that, by awards, streaming performance, chart placements and social-media reach, defined the sound of South African gospel in 2025.
1. Nontokozo Mkhize — the breakout streaming star
Nontokozo moved from strong industry chatter to measurable dominance in 2025. Her single Esandleni became one of the most-streamed South African gospel tracks of the year and repeatedly entered the South African Spotify daily charts — a rare feat for a solo gospel artist. Her rapid climb was also reflected in multiple award nominations and playlist placements. South African Gospel Music Magazine
2. Xolly Mncwango — award-winning album + consistent streams
Xolly enjoyed a banner awards year: his work was recognised at major ceremonies (including the Metro FM Music Awards) while singles of his kept appearing on streaming playlists and national charts. In 2025 he remained a benchmark for how contemporary gospel artists can cross from church circles into mainstream radio and DSP visibility. facebook.com+1
3. Nothando Hlophe — chart momentum on Spotify
Nothando made waves late into 2025 by breaking into South Africa’s Spotify daily chart with her Methodist Medley — a reminder that medleys and worship arrangements can still cut through on streaming platforms when delivered with distinct voice and performance. Industry coverage emphasised her chart peaks and playlist adds. South African Gospel Music Magazine
4. Spirit Of Praise (choir/collective) — huge monthly listeners, big live recordings
Choirs remained a cornerstone of the genre — Spirit Of Praise in particular continued to post huge monthly-listener numbers on streaming services and staged a high-profile live recording in 2025 that reinforced their status as one of the country’s most-listened-to gospel collectives. Their Trace/award recognitions and playlist strength made them essential to any round-up of the year. Spotify+1
5. Dr Rebecca Malope — lifetime achievement and legacy moments
The “Queen of Gospel” was celebrated across award platforms in 2025, receiving a high-profile Lifetime Achievement recognition at Metro FM’s awards. Beyond the trophy, Malope’s catalogue continued to see renewed streaming and social engagement as media retrospectives and tribute performances reintroduced her music to younger listeners. News24+1
6. Medupi Seane — regional awards and growing profile
Medupi took home key honours at the Central Music Awards in 2025, and local coverage noted his ascent in radio rotations and regional streaming charts. For many listeners and programmers, Seane represented the new wave of gospel voices finding traction outside traditional hubs. Free State World –
7. Tikae Maestro (TK Mabelane) — global moves, domestic acclaim
Tikae Maestro continued to translate SAMA and regional recognition into international placements and collaborations in 2025. Coverage of his new releases and overseas appearances positioned him as one of the gospel artists from South Africa balancing domestic acclaim with growing international visibility. Spotify+1
8. Joyous Celebration — institutionally strong, festival and streaming power
The Joyous Celebration brand — festivals, album releases and touring — remained central to South African gospel culture in 2025. Their event calendar and catalogue plays kept them in rotation on playlists and at live events, translating institutional pedigree into sustained commercial impact. facebook.com+1
9. Benjamin Dube — veteran consistency and worship demand
Benjamin Dube’s live worship outings and catalogued hits continued to register strongly on streaming platforms and live bookings in 2025. For audiences who seek classic worship and live-recorded energy, Dube’s catalog and concert appearances kept him among the most-requested names. Songstats+1
10. Sipho Makhabane — new releases and video traction
Sipho released a new album/project in 2025 that gained traction on Apple Music and YouTube; his live and studio content generated notable view counts and reasserted him as a consistent presence on playlists and in worship programming. His growing digital footprint rounded out this year’s top ten. Spotify+1