South African music is the bridge that connects all of us to the country’s diverse history and culture. The rich musical styles that define the nation’s identity ranges from rhythmic deep house, jazz, and the sounds of Amapiano music to Gqom, the Kwaito subgenre that inspired the gwara gwara dance.

This Heritage month, Deezer, the global music streaming service, unveiled a Heritage Day collection of nine artist-curated music playlists to celebrate the many facets of South African culture and allow people to share their musical traditions with others. The collection was compiled by leading South African artists: Zahara, Kurt Darren, Kid X, Oskido, Deborah Fraser, Nduduzo Makhathini, Khuzani, Mafikizolo, and the Springbok Nude Girls and is exclusively available on the platform all throughout September.

“Our Heritage Day collection embodies who we are as a rainbow nation. Each featured artist represents the local sounds that make South Africa so unique,” says Sotiris Moldovanos, Deezer’s Music Editor for Africa. “Whether you want to take a trip down memory lane with familiar classics or discover new and exciting favourites – there’s a track for just about anyone.”

“Heritage Day means acknowledging and celebrating the rich and colourful cultural background I come from,” says South African rapper Kid X. “My playlist reflects South Africa’s heritage by including records from a wide range of artists and music that I was exposed to while growing up. This is what laid the foundation for the music that I gravitate towards today.”

The collection features a variety of genres, including Afro Soul, Afrikaans, Hip Hop, Gospel, Dance, Jazz, Maskandi, Pop, and Rock. Music lovers can also listen to popular hits like ‘Jerusalema’ by Master KG and Nomcebo, ‘Thathi Sgubu’ by Bongo Maffin, ‘Feel Good’ by Lira, and ‘Mag Hy’ by Andriette.