South African vocalist Scotts Maphuma has reached a major milestone in his career after being named the most-heard South African artist on Nigerian radio during the first half of 2026.
According to data from TurnTable Charts, Maphuma accumulated an impressive 1.42 billion cumulative radio audience impressions across Nigerian commercial and regional radio stations between January and June 2026. The achievement highlights the growing reach of his music beyond South Africa and further reflects the expanding connection between Amapiano and Nigeria’s Afrobeats-driven music market.
TurnTable Charts shared the achievement on social media, announcing: “Scotts Maphuma is the most-heard South African Artist of Mid-Year 2026 on Radio in Nigeria.”
For Maphuma, the milestone represents another significant step in his rapidly developing career. The vocalist has become increasingly recognisable among audiences across the continent, with his distinctive delivery helping him establish a strong presence within the Amapiano movement.
A major factor behind his impressive Nigerian radio footprint has been his growing list of collaborations with artists from both South Africa and Nigeria. Maphuma has worked alongside names including TxC, Davido, Shoday, Al Xapo and Zlatan, creating music that connects Amapiano’s rhythmic identity with the sounds of Afrobeats.
Songs such as “Nakupenda” have further strengthened his connection with Nigerian audiences, giving radio programmers and listeners an opportunity to engage with his sound through collaborations featuring established Nigerian acts.
The success of these cross-border partnerships also points to the increasingly collaborative nature of African music. South African Amapiano artists and Nigerian Afrobeats stars have continued to find common ground, combining their different sounds to create records capable of travelling across markets.
Maphuma’s achievement provides a notable example of how this collaboration-driven approach can translate into measurable audience reach. His 1.42 billion radio impressions during the first six months of the year demonstrate the scale of his exposure on Nigerian airwaves.
The milestone also adds to the broader story of Amapiano’s continued expansion across the African continent. What began as a distinctly South African sound has increasingly found audiences in markets such as Nigeria, where local artists and producers have embraced elements of the genre and incorporated them into their own musical landscape.
As 2026 continues, Scotts Maphuma’s Nigerian radio achievement places him at the centre of an increasingly interconnected African music industry. With more collaborations and releases expected from the vocalist, his influence across the continent will be one to watch as artists continue breaking down borders through music.
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