Best Southern African Music albums of the 1980s - Rate Your Music
sign in
new music genres
charts
lists
New Music Genres Charts Lists
Current chart
Make your own chart
Saved charts
Soundtracks
Live
Archival
Top albums of all time 2024 2023 2022 2020s 2010s 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1960s 1950s
Share
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Send on Whatsapp
Post on Reddit
More
Link to this page outside of RYM
Copied!

Top Southern African Music albums of the 1980s

Prev
1 2 3 4 5 Next
Updated: 7 May
Average Ratings Reviews
Various Artists - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Cover art
The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
3.71 1k 1,013 14 14
1986 Album
Mbaqanga
Isicathamiya
uplifting playful warm summer rhythmic melodic desert
1k Ratings 14 Reviews 3.71 Average
Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim) - African Marketplace, Cover art
African Marketplace
Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim)
3.56 245 245 5 5
1980 Album
Cape Jazz Afro-Jazz
Smooth Jazz
instrumental uplifting
245 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.56 Average
Various Artists - Instrumental Music of the Kalahari San, Cover art
Instrumental Music of the Kalahari San
3.55 183 183 1 1
1982 Album
Khoisan Folk Music
calm soothing raw
183 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.55 Average
Letta Mbulu - In the Music the Village Never Ends, Cover art
In the Music the Village Never Ends
Letta Mbulu
3.52 155 155 1 1
1983 Album
Boogie Township Bubblegum
Contemporary R&B Smooth Soul
rhythmic sentimental tropical happy warm mellow uplifting lush
155 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.52 Average
Bhundu Boys - Shabini, Cover art
Shabini
Bhundu Boys
3.46 162 162 5 5
1986 Album
Chimurenga Jit
rhythmic happy warm melodic summer hypnotic
162 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.46 Average
Abdullah Ibrahim - Water From an Ancient Well, Cover art
Water From an Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
3.26 428 428 9 9
November 1986 Album
Cool Jazz Cape Jazz
instrumental mellow warm melodic
428 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.26 Average
Juluka - Scatterlings, Cover art
Scatterlings
Juluka
3.50 144 144 1 1
1982 Album
Mbaqanga New Wave
Boogie Maskandi
summer melodic warm introspective
144 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.50 Average
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens - Paris - Soweto, Cover art
Paris - Soweto
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens
3.59 118 118 4 4
1989 Album
Mbaqanga
warm uplifting playful
118 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.59 Average
Stella Chiweshe - Ambuya?, Cover art
Ambuya?
Stella Chiweshe
3.33 141 141
1987 Album
Shona Mbira Music
Chimurenga
rhythmic melodic hypnotic playful warm
141 Ratings 3.33 Average
Miriam Makeba - Sangoma, Cover art
Sangoma
Miriam Makeba
3.66 112 112 1 1
1988 Album
Marabi
A cappella
a cappella passionate repetitive vocal group
112 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.66 Average
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shaka Zulu, Cover art
Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3.16 599 599 13 13
1987 Album
Mbube Nguni Folk Music Isicathamiya
a cappella warm soothing vocal group peaceful
599 Ratings 13 Reviews 3.16 Average
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited - Gwindingwi Rine Shumba, Cover art
Gwindingwi Rine Shumba
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
3.42 128 128 2 2
1980 Album
Chimurenga
warm repetitive pastoral
128 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.42 Average
Johnny Clegg & Savuka - Third World Child, Cover art
Third World Child
Johnny Clegg & Savuka
3.27 139 139 4 4
July 1987 Album
Mbaqanga Pop Rock
rhythmic melodic
139 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.27 Average
Brenda & The Big Dudes - Weekend Special, Cover art
Weekend Special
Brenda & The Big Dudes
3.71 54 54
1986 Album
Boogie Township Bubblegum
uplifting rhythmic holiday romantic melodic mellow love party
54 Ratings 3.71 Average
Abdullah Ibrahim - Zimbabwe, Cover art
Zimbabwe
Abdullah Ibrahim
3.59 68 68 1 1
1983 Album
Cape Jazz
uplifting rhythmic warm eclectic instrumental
68 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.59 Average
Sankomota - Sankomota, Cover art
Sankomota
Sankomota
3.10 100 100 1 1
11 November 1983 Album
Afrobeat Mbaqanga
Jazz Fusion Reggae
rhythmic party energetic lo-fi protest tropical warm uplifting
100 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.10 Average
Bhundu Boys - True Jit, Cover art
True Jit
Bhundu Boys
3.31 80 80 2 2
1987 Album
Jit Chimurenga
Chimurenga
80 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.31 Average
Ephat Mujuru & The Spirit of the People - Mbavaira, Cover art
Mbavaira
Ephat Mujuru and The Spirit of the People
3.39 67 67
1983 Album
Shona Mbira Music
melodic peaceful acoustic energetic repetitive
67 Ratings 3.39 Average
Abdullah Ibrahim - Ekaya (Home), Cover art
Ekaya (Home)
Abdullah Ibrahim
3.65 55 55 2 2
1983 Album
Cape Jazz
55 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.65 Average
Johnny Clegg & Savuka - Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World, Cover art
Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World
Johnny Clegg & Savuka
3.18 87 87 2 2
1989 Album
Mbaqanga
New Wave
quirky rhythmic melodic playful
87 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.18 Average
Yvonne Chaka Chaka - Sangoma, Cover art
Sangoma
Yvonne Chaka Chaka
3.00 88 88
1987 Album
Township Bubblegum Synthpop
Euro-Disco
rhythmic warm melodic love energetic
88 Ratings 3.00 Average
Johnny Clegg & Savuka - Shadow Man, Cover art
Shadow Man
Johnny Clegg & Savuka
3.16 77 77 2 2
1988 Album
Mbaqanga
77 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.16 Average
Johnny Dyani - Afrika, Cover art
Afrika
Johnny Dyani
3.67 39 39 1 1
1984 Album
Cape Jazz Marabi
39 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.67 Average
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited - Chamunorwa, Cover art
Chamunorwa
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
3.58 38 38 2 2
1989 Album
Chimurenga
38 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.58 Average
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens - Thokozile, Cover art
Thokozile
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens
3.51 40 40 3 3
1988 Album
Mbaqanga Township Jive
happy summer uplifting playful
40 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.51 Average
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited - Mabasa, Cover art
Mabasa
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
3.36 43 43
1983 Album
Chimurenga
43 Ratings 3.36 Average
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Ulwandle Oluncgwele, Cover art
Ulwandle Oluncgwele
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3.44 45 45 2 2
30 March 1981 Album
Mbube Isicathamiya
45 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.44 Average
Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya ‎ - African River, Cover art
African River
Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya ‎
3.24 50 50
1989 Album
Cape Jazz
50 Ratings 3.24 Average
Manka Le Phallang - Mokhosi, Cover art
Mokhosi
Manka Le Phallang
3.11 49 49
1989 Album
Famo
49 Ratings 3.11 Average
Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited - Corruption, Cover art
Corruption
Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited
3.69 29 29
1989 Album
Chimurenga
29 Ratings 3.69 Average
Bhundu Boys - Pamberi, Cover art
Pamberi
Bhundu Boys
3.43 35 35 1 1
1989 Album
Chimurenga
35 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.43 Average
The Blue Notes - Blue Notes for Johnny, Cover art
Blue Notes for Johnny
The Blue Notes
3.64 26 26
1987 Album
Cape Jazz
Free Jazz
improvisation rhythmic warm acoustic uplifting spiritual playful passionate
26 Ratings 3.64 Average
Boyoyo Boys - Back in Town, Cover art
Back in Town
Boyoyo Boys
3.45 31 31 1 1
1987 Album
Mbaqanga Township Jive
happy warm playful energetic
31 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.45 Average
Yvonne Chaka Chaka - Thank You Mr. D.J., Cover art
Thank You Mr. D.J.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka
3.31 29 29 1 1
1986 Album
Township Bubblegum
29 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.31 Average
Miriam Makeba - Welela, Cover art
Welela
Miriam Makeba
3.59 23 23
1989 Album
Marabi
23 Ratings 3.59 Average
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Journey of Dreams, Cover art
Journey of Dreams
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3.15 34 34 2 2
March 1988 Album
Mbube Isicathamiya
34 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.15 Average
Afro Sunshine - This Is Afrika, Cover art
This Is Afrika
Afro Sunshine
2.86 39 39 1 1
1989 Album
Sotho-Tswana Folk Music Funk
Soukous Mbaqanga
39 Ratings 1 Reviews 2.86 Average
Juluka - African Litany, Cover art
African Litany
Juluka
3.45 26 26 1 1
1981 Album
Mbaqanga
26 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.45 Average
Thomas Mapfumo - Ndangariro, Cover art
Ndangariro
Thomas Mapfumo
3.40 23 23 1 1
1983 Album
Chimurenga
23 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.40 Average
Various Artists - Healing Dance Music of the Kalahari San, Cover art
Healing Dance Music of the Kalahari San
3.55 19 19
1982 Album
Khoisan Folk Music
Field Recordings
ritualistic rhythmic repetitive nature vocal group tribal
19 Ratings 3.55 Average
ADVERTISEMENT
Prev
1 2 3 4 5 Next

Customize charts

There are unlimited ways to filter charts: You can make a personalized chart based on any combination of genres, descriptors, countries, languages and more.

Top
Albums
of
1980s
Include genres
Southern African Music
Include influences
Include as either genre or influence
Include descriptors
Include languages
Include Artist Locations
Include User Locations
Exclude genres
Exclude influences
Exclude as either genre or influence
Exclude descriptors
Exclude languages
Exclude Artist Locations
Exclude User Locations
Close
Filter this chart by genre, country, language, location or descriptor
Only include ratings from users...
Exclude releases that I have:
Live releases:
Separate
Edit...
Archival releases:
Separate
Edit...
Soundtracks and scores:
Separate
Edit...
Show advanced options Show all advanced options Hide advanced options
Update chart
Support RYM by becoming a subscriber to access additional chart features, including:
  • Adjust popularity weighting
  • Filter by minimum or maximum number of ratings
  • Filter by age of users who rated
  • See 1.5 times as many results per chart (Standard) or 2x (Select)
  • Access charts that are updated daily (Select)
View subscription options
ADVERTISEMENT

Saved charts

Press the icon at the top of the chart to save it here for easy access in the future. Press the icon to make the chart your default when visiting charts.

Soundtracks

  • Abdullah Ibrahim - Mindif, Cover art
    Mindif
    1988 Album
    57 Ratings 3.59 Average
    3.59 57 57
    • See all 1 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Abdullah Ibrahim - South Africa, Cover art
    South Africa
    1986 Album
    35 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.88 Average
    3.88 35 35 1 1
  • Dollar Brand - Round Midnight at the Montmartre, Cover art
    Round Midnight at the Montmartre
    1989 Album
    11 Ratings 3.77 Average
    3.77 11 11
  • Abdullah Ibrahim with Carlos Ward - Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 1, Cover art
    Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 1
    1983 Album
    10 Ratings 3.16 Average
    3.16 10 10
  • Amampondo - Feel the Pulse of Africa, Cover art
    Feel the Pulse of Africa
    1989 Album
    9 Ratings 3.48 Average
    3.48 9 9
  • Amampondo - Amampondo Live: Uyandibiza (Heartbeat of Africa), Cover art
    Amampondo Live: Uyandibiza (Heartbeat of Africa)
    1983 Album
    7 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.20 Average
    3.20 7 7 1 1
    • See all 8 Include in main chart

    Archival

  • Johnny Dyani, Mongezi Feza & Okay Temiz - Rejoice, Cover art
    Rejoice
    1988 Album
    30 Ratings 3.57 Average
    3.57 30 30
    • See all 2 Include in main chart
    ADVERTISEMENT