WeeklySA_AdminINFLUENCE: Rising stars and music legends share the spotlight as the Basadi in Music Awards celebrate five years of female excellence…
By Jacob Mawela
The 2026 Basadi in Music Awards celebrated five years of African excellence with a glittering tribute to women in music and entertainment — and singer-songwriter MaWhoo emerged as one of the evening’s biggest winners.
Held at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein on the eve of Women’s Day and the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women’s March, the ceremony brought together emerging performers and some of the industry’s most enduring stars.
MaWhoo, whose real name is Thandeka Ngema, walked away with two awards — Amapiano Artist of the Year and Highest Airplay — during the second evening of the two-day event.
She shared the spotlight with gospel singer Nothando Hlophe, who won Song of the Year for Empini, while Zee Nxumalo was named Artist of the Year.
For MaWhoo and fellow young artists such as Nxumalo, Nia Pearl and Nonny Muji, the awards reflected the growing influence of a new generation of female performers.
Yet the evening also demonstrated that seasoned artists such as Judith Sephuma and Kelly Khumalo remain formidable forces in an industry in which musical trends and public tastes can change rapidly. Many of the winners are determined through public voting, placing established performers and newcomers before the same cross-generational audience.
That blend of youth and experience became one of the defining features of the ceremony, with the night honouring both contemporary chart success and decades of artistic contribution.
Music icons Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai received the G100 Gallo Renaissance Award in recognition of their contribution to South African music. The honours were presented by Gallo Music Africa chief executive Antos Stella, the first woman to lead the historic record label.
Veteran performers Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane and Esta M received Lifetime Achievement Awards, while American dance and electronic music singer Monique Bingham was presented with the International Recognition Award.
Among the younger winners was multitalented media personality and rapper Anele Zondo, popularly known as Ney the Bae. Between her duties as one of the evening’s hosts, Zondo collected the Hip-Hop Artist of the Year award.
She shared hosting duties with singer and radio personality Unathi Nkayi, media personality Lerato Kganyago and rapper Nomuzi “Moozlie” Mabena. The four hosts kept the ceremony moving while appearing in a succession of eye-catching outfits.
Fashion also received its own moment in the spotlight through the Best Styled Artist of the Year category, won by singer Thabsie. She attracted attention on the red carpet in an outfit designed by Imprint ZA and styled by Eric by Design.
Bonang Matheba, whose House of BNG MCC was announced as the official beverage partner for the event, did not attend the ceremony. She was nevertheless named the recipient of the Trailblazer of the Year Award.
The awards’ growing pan-African character was reflected in the recognition of Ugandan musician Cindy Sanyu, who won Reggae Artist of the Year. Several winners also performed during the ceremony. The line-up included Dr Mkhwebane, Esta M, Kelly Khumalo, MaWhoo and Ney the Bae.
Among the other well-known guests was veteran singer Abigail Kubheka, who arrived elegantly dressed despite using a wheelchair. Gospel star Dr Rebecca Malope, Amacala hitmaker Siphokazi and singer Lady Zamar were also in attendance.
The ceremony, known as Music Night, followed Friday evening’s first instalment of the awards. Night One honoured women working across the broader entertainment industry, including journalism, radio, television, podcasting, fashion, beauty, choreography and artist management.
Among the winners were Minnie Dlamini and Candice Modiselle, who received the Entertainment TV Producer of the Year and TV Show Presenter of the Year awards respectively.
The second evening stretched beyond midnight and into Women’s Day before Bingham brought the celebration to a close with a performance of one of her familiar hits. Guests eventually filed out of the theatre, some carefully gathering the long trains of their gowns, after an evening that united flamboyant fashion, contemporary music and tributes to women whose careers have helped shape the industry.
The fifth Basadi in Music Awards ultimately belonged to several generations: the young artists driving today’s charts, the established stars continuing to command public support and the veterans whose work laid the foundations on which the new generation now stands.
