Johannesburg – South African artist Ciza has closed the year on a high after Spotify confirmed that his chart topping hit Isaka is the most streamed song in the country for 2025. The announcement forms part of Spotify’s annual Wrapped report released this week.
The track, officially titled Isaka 6am and featuring Jazzworx and Thukuthela, dominated clubs, parties and social media challenges throughout the year. Spotify recorded 39 million streams for the single while the music video has attracted more than 30 million views on YouTube.
Ciza, whose real name is Nkululeko Nciza, first released the breakout hit in early 2025. Celebrated producer Prince Kaybee previously described the song as one of the strongest South African releases since 2021, an assessment that has since been echoed by its impressive streaming performance.
In September, the twenty four year old expanded the song’s reach by releasing a remix featuring Nigerian stars Tems and Omah Lay. The young performer, who is the son of former music executive TK Nciza and award winning musician and designer Nhlanhla Mafu, said the track was created during a spontaneous studio session with two friends.
He recalled how a live preview of Isaka sparked a wave of online excitement that led to a viral dance challenge and propelled the video to one million views in the first forty eight hours. The track later opened international doors, earning him opportunities to perform alongside global heavyweights including Black Coffee.
Ciza said the reaction to the remix remains one of the most memorable moments of his career, crediting the support of his family, friends and hometown for shaping his journey.
Spotify noted that listeners devoted more than 1.3 billion hours to music on the platform in 2025. The company added that local artists now make up seventy percent of the country’s ten most streamed acts, signalling a growing appetite for home grown talent.
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