South African rising star Ciza has ended 2025 on a monumental high note. His breakout hit Isaka (6AM) — featuring Jazzworx and Thukuthela — has officially been crowned the most-streamed song in South Africa this year, according to the annual data released by Spotify.
The announcement, made by Album Talks HQ on X, triggered an outpouring of enthusiasm from fans across the country — many celebrating the track as 2025’s defining SA anthem.
🎶 From Studio Experiment to National Anthem
Released in early 2025, “Isaka (6AM)” emerged as a genre-blending track combining the rhythms of Amapiano with Afro-house inflections — a style that allowed it to strike a chord across diverse listenership.
According to charts, the song amassed roughly 39.2 million streams on Spotify alone by December 2025, with a music video that garnered over 30 million views on YouTube.
That widespread appeal saw “Isaka (6AM)” dominate parties, playlists, radio rotations, and social media — becoming in many ways “the soundtrack of 2025” for many South Africans. Clubs, braais, car rides, and weekend hangouts were filled with its upbeat tempo and dance-ready energy.
🌍 A Pan-African & Global Moment
What began as a Johannesburg studio release quickly transformed into a Pan-African phenomenon. The track gained traction beyond South Africa, resonating strongly across the continent — and even beyond.
Part of “Isaka (6AM)”’s success came from a viral dance challenge that swept across social media platforms, especially TikTok. This online momentum allowed the song to reach listeners who might not typically engage with amapiano or house music, expanding Ciza’s fan base across diverse geographies.
🚀 Remix, Legacy & What Comes Next
Building on the original version’s momentum, Ciza dropped an official remix — Isaka II (6AM) — in August 2025 featuring Nigeria’s acclaimed stars Tems and Omah Lay. The move signalled a bid to deepen the song’s continental appeal and stretch its lifespan beyond the South African market.
Ciza — born Nkululeko Nciza — comes from a music-inclined family: his father is record executive TK Nciza, and his mother is musician/designer Nhlanhla Mafu. Despite the musical lineage, “Isaka (6AM)” is widely regarded as his breakthrough — a piece that firmly establishes him as a formidable voice in the evolving soundscape of South.
In August 2025, Ciza celebrated another milestone: the song had reportedly hit 80 million streams across all platforms — reinforcing just how much “Isaka (6AM)” resonated locally and globally.
🎤 What This Means for South African Music
The success of “Isaka (6AM)” and Ciza speaks volumes about the shifting dynamics in South African and African music consumption. For one, it underscores a growing appetite for local talent and homegrown sounds — with listeners embracing artists from within their borders rather than defaulting to international imports.
Second, it demonstrates how African artists are leveraging digital platforms, social media, and cross-continental collaborations to attain global relevance. The remix with Tems and Omah Lay isn’t just a musical collaboration — it’s a strategic move positioning Ciza among the wider Pan-African music wave.
Finally, it signals hope and inspiration for emerging artists: if a relatively new musician can achieve this within a year, it proves that the era of breakthrough success — built on talent, creativity, and community support — is alive and thriving.
In 2025, “Isaka (6AM)” didn’t just top charts — it became a cultural moment: the beat that brought people together, made nights memorable, and showed the world that South African music is still pulsing with fresh energy.
