Spotify | Sasha Keable performs live tonight. Joburg is having an R&B moment
Joburg is Having an R&B Moment… and It’s Loud
Something’s in the water—and it sounds a lot like slow jams and heartbreak bangers. According to Spotify’s latest streaming stats, Johannesburg has officially crowned itself South Africa’s R&B capital, with 79 million hours of the genre streamed and counting. That’s not just impressive—it’s a vibe shift.
While Cape Town holds steady with 45 million hours, and Pretoria and Durban follow behind, Jozi is playing R&B like it’s a lifestyle. Drake, SZA, The Weeknd, Beyoncé, and PARTYNEXTDOOR dominate the city’s playlists, soundtracking everything from traffic jams to text games. Gauteng isn’t just listening—it’s living R&B.
The City of Smooth Talkers
This R&B renaissance isn’t just about music trends. It’s cultural. It’s relational. It’s Jozi. Long known as the final boss of dating, Gauteng’s emotional fluency and romantic finesse might just stem from this deep love affair with R&B. The genre’s themes—self-worth, boundaries, longing, love games—are clearly syncing with the province’s mood.
Gen Z’s in the Driver’s Seat
It’s the 18–24-year-olds leading the charge, making up over 40% of all R&B streams in SA. The 25–29s trail at 17%, while older listeners are tuning in more selectively (but still vibing—I Love my 00s R&B is the most played R&B playlist at over 13 million spins). Old school or new wave, the heart still beats in 808s.
R&B Comes Alive in Jozi
All this love is turning into real-world moments. UK soul siren Sasha Keable touches down in Johannesburg for a one-night-only performance at Once Upon A Time on 21 June. Known for her velvet vocals and raw lyrics, Keable will be joined by local gem Lusanda, whose Spotify Single captures the spirit of SA’s new-school R&B.
R&B isn’t just booming in Joburg—it’s shaping the city’s sound, style, and soul. From DMs to IRL events, Gauteng is making it clear: this is the home of heartbreak anthems, smooth talk, and sonic finesse.