Women's Month: meet the trailblazing female artists redefining South African music

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3 days ago

Adelle Nqeto's artistry is quiet but radical - speaking to the messy, beautiful truths of being human.
Image: Instagram
Every August, South Africa pauses to honour the courage, strength and brilliance of its women - and, in 2025, the celebration feels especially resonant as a new wave of dynamic young women reshapes the music industry with unapologetic talent and fearless creativity.
From soulful vocalists to genre-bending producers and sharp-tongued lyricists, these young artists are not only creating music - they are crafting culture.
Whether it is the hypnotic beats of Amapiano, the healing power of gospel or the raw truth-telling of hip hop, women are commanding the mic and shifting the narrative.
They are occupying space in genres traditionally dominated by men and carving out their own identities in sonic landscapes that have long lacked their voices.
Here are six rising stars whose journeys, voices and artistry deserve the spotlight this Women's Month:
For Thatohatsi, every song is a conversation, and every performance an offering of vulnerability and power.
Image: Thabang Mathibele Sebata
Thatohatsi
Hailing from the tight-knit community of Payneville Springs in Gauteng, Thatohatsi's musical path began in the pews of her local church and the grassroots platforms of community arts.
Her voice - both emotionally rich and technically honed - developed early, not in glossy studios, but in shared spiritual experiences and community connection.
Her breakout track 'Xolele', created alongside Ntando Yamahlubi, Mphoet, Blaq Note and Jaz, became a runaway hit on TikTok, resonating deeply with a generation hungry for music that is both catchy and meaningful.
But it was not just virality that defined her moment - it was her raw sincerity. Her voice does not just sing; it speaks, it reaches, it heals.
Since then, she has continued her rise, impressing industry veterans not with gimmicks, but with consistency, lyrical honesty and a fierce work ethic.
For Thatohatsi, every song is a conversation, and every performance an offering of vulnerability and power.
Neo Dube's rise to fame has been both inspiring and uplifting.
Image: Neo Dube Instagram
Neo Dube
Born and raised in Umlazi, Dube's journey from church choirs to major awards stages is a testament to passion, vision and soul.
Music has always been a vehicle for storytelling for Dube - a way of honouring her history and healing the present.
With roots planted in gospel harmonies and a spirit shaped by community, her sound blends soul, jazz, R&B and African folk into something deeply personal.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Sjava, Jill Scott, Busi Mhlongo, Thandiswa Mazwai and NAO, Dube creates sonic landscapes that echo with memory, resistance and love.
Earlier this year, she was named Best New Artist at the Metro FM Awards - a well-deserved recognition of an artist who does not just sing songs, but tells stories that linger.
Dube's music is emotionally intelligent, poetic and layered - the kind that stays with you long after the final note. And as she continues to evolve, she is not just creating music - she is shaping a legacy.
Rapper, poet and cultural activist Lex LaFoy is a force of nature.
Image: Johny
Lex LaFoy
Durban-born rapper, poet and cultural activist LaFoy is a force of nature.
From her early days as a battle MC under the name Lexikon to her evolution as a genre-fusing artist, LaFoy has never shied away from the uncomfortable or the bold.
She is the creator of Honey Bass, a sound that blends hip hop, trap and electronic textures with sharp lyricism and spiritual femininity.
Armed with a degree in Psychology and Philosophy, she brings critical thought, introspection and activism to every bar she spits.
Her projects 'Honey Bass', '22' and 'NewWorldDaughter' are more than music releases - they are statements of identity, resilience and empowerment.
Adelle Nqeto's artistry is quiet but radical - speaking to the messy, beautiful truths of being human.
Image: Instagram
Adelle Nqeto
Nqeto is a quiet storm. A folk-rooted, jazz-influenced singer-songwriter with an introspective gaze and poetic sensitivity, she crafts music that feels like a conversation with your soul.
Raised on a steady diet of piano lessons, violin, church choirs and acoustic guitar, Nqeto's sound is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
She began her career as part of a beloved acoustic duo performing across South Africa, and in 2015, boldly stepped into her light as a solo artist. Since then, she has released two EPs, performed in Europe and SA, and made Berlin her creative home base.
Nqeto's artistry is quiet but radical - speaking to the messy, beautiful truths of being human. Her music is for those seeking refuge in melody, complexity in simplicity and comfort amid chaos.
Whether performing solo or leading her band, Nobuhle Ashanti plays with the finesse of a veteran and the curiosity of a pioneer.
Image: Lauren Manning
Nobuhle Ashanti
A classically trained violinist and a powerhouse jazz pianist, Ashanti is one of Cape Town's most exciting new musical voices.
With a deep understanding of both Western classical structures and African sonic traditions, she crafts compositions that are intellectually rich and emotionally stirring.
Having honed her skills through the Beau Soleil Music Centre and a host of prestigious youth programmes, Ashanti founded her project Ashanti Tribe in 2018, fusing South African jazz, R&B, jazz fusion and soul into a sound that is both innovative and rooted.
Whether performing solo or leading her band, she plays with the finesse of a veteran and the curiosity of a pioneer.
Her music is textured, layered and deeply intentional - the kind of sound that rewards repeated listening and reveals something new every time.
Carla Franco's music is timeless - fusing classical sensibilities with modern songwriting, all wrapped in lyrical vulnerability.
Image: Facebook
Carla Franco
Franco's journey is one of defiance and deep artistry. Born with 20-30% hearing loss and reliant on hearing aids, Franco has never let her condition define her capabilities.
It has given her an extraordinary sensitivity to sound and emotion - a gift evident in every lyric she writes and every chord she plays.
She began playing piano at age seven, and in 2022, released her debut album 'Chapter I' - a deeply intimate and musically sophisticated offering that marked her arrival as a bold new voice in South African pop and indie music.
The album is more than just a debut; it is a mirror to the soul, exploring themes of identity, loss, growth and self-acceptance.
Franco's music is timeless - fusing classical sensibilities with modern songwriting, all wrapped in lyrical vulnerability. Her resilience is not just inspirational - it's transformative.
This Women's Month, we do not just celebrate them; we listen, we amplify, and we honour their work. Because in every beat, every lyric and every performance, they remind us that the most powerful revolution often begins with a song.