Apple Music has unveiled its annual Top 100 charts with the most streamed songs, albums and artists in South Africa and Nigeria, with Ghanaian artiste Gyakie making a significant appearance with her 2020 lethal anthem “Forever”.
Kind courtesy of the remix with Nigerian music sensation Omah Lay, released in March 2021, the song claimed the number 1 spot on the Top Shazamed Songs of 2021 in Nigeria.
It also peaked at number 12 on Apple Music Top Songs of 2021 in Nigeria. She is the only Ghanaian artiste with entries on both charts. The data is an affirmation of her meteoric rise, since her emergence in 2019.
Gyakie released her first single; “Love is Pretty” in February 2019 and preceded to release, “Never Like This.” She released a five-track EP, titled Seed in August 2020.
The “Forever” track on the Seed EP enjoyed airplay in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. It topped music charts such as Billboard’s Top Triller Global and Shazams Top 200 charts. Gyakie released a remix of “Forever” with Nigerian singer Omah Lay in March 2021.
She has signed an international record deal with Sony Music Entertainment, RCA Records UK and Sony Music Africa.
Meanwhile, 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. See full list below, published by Music In Africa.
Apple Music Top Songs of 2021 (South Africa)
- ‘Umsebenzi Wethu’ – Busta 929 and Mpura ft. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du & Reece Madlisa
- ‘John Wick’ – De Mthuda ft. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal Chef
- ‘LiYoshona’ – Kwiish SA ft. Njelic, MalumNator & De Mthuda
- ‘SummerYoMuthi’ – Blaq Diamond
- ‘The Business’ – Tiësto
- ‘Izolo’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU ft. Madumane, Mpura, Daliwonga & Visca
- ‘Blinding Lights’ – The Weeknd
- ‘Vula Mlomo’ – Musa Keys ft. Sir Trill & Nobantu Vilakazi
- ‘Banyana’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU ft. Sir Trill, Daliwonga & Kabza De Small
- ‘uLazi’ – Mr JazziQ & 9umba ft. Zuma & Mpura
- ‘Driver’s License’ – Olivia Rodrigo
- ‘Essence’ – Wizkid ft. Tems
- ‘uThando’ – Soa Mattrix & Soulful G ft. Shaun 101
- ‘Siyathandana’ – Cassper Nyovest ft. Abidoza & Boohle
- ‘VSOP’ – Mr JazziQ & Busta 929 ft. Reece Madlisa, Zuma, Mpura, Riky Rick & 9umba
- ‘Your Love’ – Azana
- ‘Mali Eningi’ – Big Zulu ft. Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai
- ‘Khuza Gogo’ – DBN Gogo, Blaqnick & MasterBlaq ft. Mpura, AmaAvenger & M.J
- ‘Superman’ – DJ Stokie ft. Kabza De Small, Masterpiece YVK & Madumane
- ‘Dinaledi’ – Major League DJz & Abidoza ft. Mpho Sebina
Apple Music Top Albums of 2021 (South Africa)
- Certified Lover Boy – Drake
- Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon (Deluxe) – Pop Smoke
- Made In Lagos – Wizkid
- Donda – Kanye West
- Spontaan – Riaan Benade
- Position – Ariana Grande
- SOUR – Olivia Rodrigo
- Justice – Justin Bieber
- Kokovha – Makhadzi
- The Off-Season – J. Cole
- After Hours – The Weeknd
- Scorpion – Drake
- Views – Drake
- I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small
- Take Care (Deluxe Version) – Drake
- To the World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician
- Over It – Summer Walker
- More Life – Drake
- B4now – Blxckie
- Maba Jabul’abantu – Mr JazziQ & Busta 929
Apple Music Top Artists of 2021 (South Africa)
- Drake
- Kanye West
- Justin Bieber
- Pop Smoke
- J. Cole
- The Weeknd
- Kabza De Small
- Beyoncé
- Taylor Swift
- DJ Maphorisa
Top Shazamed Songs of 2021 (South Africa)
- ‘LiYoshona’ – Kwiish SA ft. Njelic, MalumNator & De Mthuda
- ‘Vula Mlomo’ – Musa Keys ft. Sir Trill & Nobantu Vilakazi
- ‘Umsebenzi Wethu’ – Busta 929 & Mpura ft. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du & Reece Madlisa
- ‘Wamuhle’ – Boohle Feat. Njelic, Ntokzin & De Mthuda
- ‘Izolo’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU Feat. Madumane, Mpura, Daliwonga & Visca
- ‘Banyana’ – DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU Feat. Sir Trill, Daliwonga & Kabza De Small
- ‘John Wick’ – De Mthuda Feat. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal Chef
- ‘Senzeni’ – Mthandazo Gatya Feat. DJ Manzo SA & Comado
- ‘Dlozi ‘lam’ – DJ Obza Feat. DJ Freetz & Nkosazana
- ‘Emathandweni’ – Zandimaz ft. Nokwazi
Top Shazamed Artist of 2021 (South Africa)
- Kabza De Small
Apple Music Top Songs of 2021 (Nigeria)
- ‘Essence’ – Wizkid ft. Tems
- ‘Ginger’ – Wizkid ft. Burna Boy
- ‘Bounce’ – Ruger
- ‘The Best’ – Davido ft. Mayorkun
- ‘Feeling’ – Ladipoe & Buju
- ‘Infinity’ – Olamide ft. Omah Lay
- ‘Godly’ – Omah Lay
- ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan & Lincoln
- ‘Blessed’ – Wizkid ft. Damian Jr. Gong Marley
- ‘Understand’ – Omah Lay
- ‘Jowo’ – Davido
- ‘Forever’ (Remix) – Gyakie & Omah Lay
- ‘Kilofeshe’ – Zinoleesky
- ‘Rock’ – Olamide
- ‘Peru’ – Fireboy DML
- ‘Holy Ground’ – Davido ft. Nicki Minaj
- ‘Felony’ – CKay
- ‘Outside’ – Buju
- ‘Kpk’ – Rexxie & MohBad
- ‘Monalisa’ – Lojay & Sarz
Apple Music Top Albums of 2021 (Nigeria)
- Made in Lagos – Wizkid
- A Better Time – Davido
- Twice As Tall – Burna Boy
- Carpe Diem – Olamide
- Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon – Pop Smoke
- What Have We Done EP – Omah Lay
- Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic – Joeboy
- UY Scuti – Olamide
- PANDEMIC EP – Ruger
- Justice – Justin Bieber
- APOLLO – Fireboy DML
- 19 & Dangerous – Ayra Starr
- African Giant – Burna Boy
- Certified Lover Boy – Drake
- Sex Over Love – Blaqbonez
- WONDALAND – Teni
- LV N ATTN EP – Lojay & Sarz
- Boo of the Booless – Chike
- The Voice (Deluxe) – Lil Durk
- Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial – Roddy Ricch
Apple Music Top Artists of 2021 (Nigeria)
- Wizkid
- Davido
- Burna Boy
- Olamide
- Omah Lay
- Pop Smoke
- Drake
- Fireboy DML
- Bella Shmurda
- Lil Durk.
Top Shazamed Songs of 2021 (Nigeria)
- ‘Forever’ – Gyakie
- ‘Bounce’ – Ruger
- ‘Big Thug Boys’ – AV
- ‘Cash App’ – Bella Shmurda, Zlatan & Lincoln
- ‘Medicine’ – Jaywillz
- ‘Feeling’ – Ladipoe & Buju
- ‘Infinity’ – Olamide Feat. Omah Lay
- ‘KPK (Ko Por Ke)’ – Rexxie & MohBad
- ‘Ke Star’ – Focalistic ft. Vigro Deep
- ‘Monalisa’ – Lojay & Sarz
Top Shazamed Artist of 2021 (Nigeria)
- Davido