We might be a country facing issues such as loadshedding and the like but musically, 2023 has been the best year for South African artists. Our artists created hits that took the world by storm.
Pumping on global platforms are these three songs: Tyler ICU’s Mnike, singer Tyla’s Water and Nigerian singer Davido’s song Unavailable featuring Mzansi’s golden boy, Musa Keys.
Recently surfaced on social media is a video where Bajan billionaire and multi-award winner Rihanna was asked what her favourite album of 2023 was.
The Umbrella hitmaker responded:
“Album of the year? Ohhh am I an album girl or am I a streaming single girl?”
She went on to add:
“Unavailable [referring to Davido’s song] and Mnike, it’s spelled MNIKE [referring to Tyler ICU’s song].”
Mzansi social media users expressed their excitement after seeing South African artists recognised by the best in the business.
WATCH: Rihanna names Mnike and Unavailable as her 2023 favourite song:
Song of the year, Rihanna said it๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ South Africa is doing the most ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
Mnike ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/EDHb7rrI5i
โ Xhosa is ๐ฅ๐ฟ๐ฆ โขยฎ (@TakaTina1) December 21, 2023
Letโs be Honest, if Mnike plays we listenโฆ even if weโre tired.. that song is different
โ Minister Of Corruption (@batman0843) December 21, 2023
Others refused to hear that there was a better song of the year than Mnike, commenting:
Mnike is song of the year
Donโt argue with me please ๐ https://t.co/MUfbwKOsLuโ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ค๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ (@tatendaGTM) December 21, 2023
More commented:
If Rihanna says Mnike is the song of the year, then Mnike is truly the song of the year. No debate! pic.twitter.com/5xptZovAfq
โ Amechi Reuben (@AmechiReuben) December 21, 2023
Others expressed how Mzansi should recognise Tyler ICU’s work on the global scale the same way international artists recognise him.
Song of the year, Are nyake go rasa, Mnike ke plane. ๐ฅ๐ฅ
S/o to Tyler ICU
Letโs not fail this man in his own country, if Rihanna said it herself letโs support the man. pic.twitter.com/I7TFvRWlC1
โ Paledi Mothapo (@Paledian) December 21, 2023
Also see: Chris Brown feature lands Naledi Aphiwe her own gig