Seen Here: Celebrating five years of fearless women, unforgettable music and African excellence. The Basadi in Music Awards 2026 turned Joburg Theatre into a powerful celebration of talent, legacy and the women shaping the continent’s cultural future. Photo Credit: Community Newsroom
REWIND marks a spectacular milestone as Basadi honours music legends, emerging stars and trailblazing women redefining the continent’s creative economy
JOHANNESBURG, 12 August 2026 — Five years after it first opened its doors to celebrate the women shaping Africa’s music industry, the Basadi in Music Awards has reached a defining milestone — and it chose to look backwards in order to move boldly forward.
Under the evocative theme REWIND, the fifth anniversary edition transformed Joburg Theatre into a celebration of African music, culture, creativity and female excellence on Saturday, 8 August 2026.
The landmark ceremony brought together some of the continent’s most influential artists, entertainers, creatives and industry leaders, delivering a night that was as much about celebrating the journey as it was about recognising the women writing the next chapter.
A celebration five years in the making
Since its inception, Basadi in Music Awards has grown beyond the traditional awards format to become a platform dedicated to visibility, recognition and opportunity for women across the music and entertainment ecosystem.
The 2026 edition captured that evolution through REWIND — a theme centred on remembering where the movement came from, celebrating how far it has travelled and creating space for the generation that will carry it forward.
Hloni Modise Matau, Founder and CEO of Basadi in Music Awards, said the fifth anniversary represented a significant moment for the organisation.
“REWIND was about honouring where we come from, celebrating how far we have come and making sure the women shaping our future know that they belong.”
She added that Basadi had become much bigger than an annual awards ceremony.
“Five years in, Basadi is bigger than an awards ceremony. It is a movement and we are only getting started.”
Four powerhouse hosts reunite
The evening itself embodied the spirit of the theme, with the historic reunion of four prominent women from South Africa’s entertainment landscape.
Unathi, Moozlie, Anele Zondo and Lerato Kganyago joined forces as hosts, bringing together different generations and chapters of South African popular culture.
Their presence reinforced one of the evening’s central messages: that the entertainment industry’s history is built through successive generations of women who create pathways for those who follow.
On stage, that history collided with the present as established musical icons performed alongside some of the contemporary artists defining Africa’s rapidly evolving sound.
A stage filled with African musical excellence
The Joburg Theatre stage became a showcase of musical diversity, featuring performances from Kelly Khumalo, Thatohatsi, Monique Bingham, Makhadzi, Lira, Nia Pearl, MaWhoo, Nothando Hlophe and Anele Zondo.
The line-up reflected the extraordinary range of women contributing to Africa’s musical identity — from gospel and traditional music to Amapiano, Afro-pop and contemporary sounds with global appeal.
Internationally acclaimed artist Monique Bingham added an international dimension to the evening, particularly fitting given that she was also recognised with the International Recognition Award.
MaWhoo dominates with double victory
One of the biggest winners of the night was MaWhoo, who secured two major honours: Amapiano Artist of the Year and the Highest Airplay Award for her hit Bengicela.
The double triumph underscores her growing influence within Amapiano, a South African-born genre that has become one of the country’s most significant cultural exports.
Her success also reflects the broader evolution of South African music, where artists are increasingly building audiences beyond national borders and contributing to an African sound with increasingly global reach.
Honouring the women who built the culture
While emerging and contemporary talent took centre stage, the fifth anniversary also created space to acknowledge women whose careers have left an enduring mark on South African culture.
Music legends Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai received the G100 Gallo Renaissance Award, recognising their contribution to South African music and culture as Gallo marks its centenary.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane and Esta M, celebrating careers that have contributed significantly to the country’s creative heritage.
Meanwhile, entertainment and media powerhouse Bonang Matheba was named Trailblazer of the Year, recognising her influence and pioneering contribution to the entertainment industry.
A new generation takes its place
The awards also demonstrated the depth of emerging female talent across the industry.
Among the night’s winners were Zee Nxumalo, who claimed Artist of the Year; Kelly Khumalo, who won Afro Pop Artist of the Year; DBN Gogo, who took home DJ of the Year; Kharishma, who won Dance Artist of the Year; and Mmatema, who was recognised as Gospel Artist of the Year.
Other notable winners included Judith Sephuma for Jazz Artist of the Year, Buhlebendalo for Traditional Artist of the Year, Anele Zondo for Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Kamo Mphela, whose Partii won Music Video of the Year.
Uganda’s Cindy Sanyu claimed Reggae Artist of the Year, reinforcing the awards’ increasingly Pan-African outlook.
The 2026 winners at a glance
| Category | Winner |
| Afro Pop Artist of the Year | Kelly Khumalo |
| Amapiano Artist of the Year | MaWhoo |
| Artist of the Year | Zee Nxumalo |
| Best Female Feature of the Year | Nia Pearl & Boohle — Shela |
| Best Styled Artist of the Year | Thabsie |
| Collaboration of the Year | Lwah Ndlunkulu & Starr Healer |
| Dance Artist of the Year | Kharishma |
| DJ of the Year | DBN Gogo |
| Gospel Artist of the Year | Mmatema |
| Hip-Hop Artist of the Year | Anele Zondo |
| Jazz Artist of the Year | Judith Sephuma |
| Music Video of the Year | Kamo Mphela — Partii |
| Newcomer of the Year | Siphiwe Black |
| Pop Artist of the Year | Ava Like Lava |
| Reggae Artist of the Year | Cindy Sanyu |
| Song of the Year | Nothando Hlophe — Methodist Medley |
| SAMRO Songwriter of the Year | Nonny Muji — Lo Bhuti |
| Traditional Artist of the Year | Buhlebendalo |
| Highest Airplay Award | MaWhoo — Bengicela |
| International Recognition Award | Monique Bingham |
| G100 Gallo Renaissance Award | Simphiwe Dana |
| G100 Gallo Renaissance Award | Thandiswa Mazwai |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Esta M |
| Trailblazer of the Year | Bonang Matheba |
Recognition as a pathway to opportunity
For the organisers, recognition is not merely ceremonial. It is part of building an ecosystem in which women can gain visibility, credibility and access to new opportunities.
Manaileng Maphike, Managing Director of Maphike Inc. and a member of the Basadi in Music Awards Advisory Board, captured the philosophy behind the platform:
“Recognition creates visibility, and visibility creates opportunity.”
According to Maphike, the past five years have been about creating an ecosystem where women’s contributions are acknowledged and remembered.
“REWIND reminded us where we started — now we must build what comes next,” she said.
That emphasis on legacy was also reflected by Joburg Theatre.
Xoliswa Nduneni Ngema, CEO of Joburg City Theatres, said the venue was proud to be associated with Basadi at its fifth-anniversary milestone.
“Basadi creates space for women to be seen, celebrated and remembered,” she said, adding that REWIND honoured the past while providing a clear view of the future.
Taking Basadi to millions of homes
The celebration will reach an even wider audience when SABC2 broadcasts the awards on 16 August, extending the event beyond the Joburg Theatre audience to viewers across South Africa.
Dichaba Phalatse, Head of Video Entertainment at SABC2, said the broadcaster’s involvement reflected its commitment to showcasing South African culture and the women shaping it.
The broadcast, she said, would allow the country to celebrate these women collectively while showcasing the richness of African excellence.
The next chapter is Pan-African
Perhaps the most significant message to emerge from the fifth anniversary is that Basadi’s ambitions extend well beyond a single annual event.
The organisation is increasingly positioning itself as a Pan-African cultural platform, connecting women in music and entertainment across borders and creating greater visibility for African creative talent internationally.
That evolution comes at a pivotal moment for Africa’s creative economy. African music is reaching unprecedented international audiences, while genres such as Amapiano continue to influence global popular culture.
Women are central to this transformation — not only as performers, but as producers, songwriters, DJs, executives, entrepreneurs, presenters, creative directors and cultural leaders.
Basadi’s challenge and opportunity now is to ensure that recognition translates into sustained participation, economic opportunity and greater representation across the industry.
Five years down. A new era begins.
The fifth Basadi in Music Awards was ultimately more than a glamorous evening of trophies and performances.
It was a statement about legacy.
The women honoured on the night represented different eras, genres and career paths, but together they told one story: African culture continues to evolve because generations of women continue to create, challenge, inspire and open doors.
REWIND therefore did not simply look backwards.
It reminded a new generation that the future is theirs to shape.
Five years have now been written into the Basadi story.
The next chapter starts now.
Basadi in Music Awards — celebrating the women shaping Africa’s sound, culture and future.
