THE 2026 Basadi in Music Awards hyped as rewinding five years of African excellence and celebrating women, music and culture, saw singer-songwriter MaWhoo claim two awards on the second evening of the annual shindig held at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein, on the eve of both Women’s Day and the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March.
With her double achievement in the Amapiano Artist of the Year and Highest Airplay categories, the Amapiano and Afro-house exponent, a.k.a. Thandeka Ngema, was one of the notable recipients – along with Song of the Year recipient, Nothando Hlophe – during an evening which saw no less than 26 awards presented.
If MaWhoo and her fellow emerging young artists such as Zee Nxumalo, Nia Pearl and Nonny Muji, et al. constitute the en-vogue cohort which scored big at the glittering occasion – then the seasoned cohort consisting of the likes of Judith Sephuma and Kelly Khumalo et al., are far from being démodé, since they also triumphed in notable categories.
The latter cohort’s continued tenure in an industry which over the years has seen one-hit wonders come and go, would have been assured, considering that victors are primarily determined via a popular public voting system – in categories which also pit cross-generational nominees.
As if to acknowledge their contemporary relevance, two of Sephuma and Khumalo’s peers, viz , Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwa were even honoured with the G100 Gallo Renaissance Award by South Africa’s oldest and largest independent record label, Gallo Music Africa – which were personally presented by the label’s CEO, Antos Stella, who happens to be the first woman to lead the historic hitmaking platform.
With the event, whether by design or coincidence, reflecting an intergenerational mix among both nominees and attendees, other honoured ‘old-timers’ – who shared the limelight with the ‘youngbloods’ – were Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane and Esta M, both of whom received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Added to the duo was American dance/electronic singer Monique Bingham – who received an International Recognition Award.
The remainder of the awards were bestowed unto the younger generation, who included the multi-talented media personality Anele Zondo, a.k.a. ‘Ney The Bae’, who – in betwixt serving as one of the hostesses of the event – claimed the Hip-Hop Artist of the Year award.
Zondo’s co-hostesses included singer and radio presenter Unathi Nkayi, media personality Lerato Kganyago and rapper Moozlie – who wore varying eye-catching outfits with chameleonic regularity throughout the event.
The awards even made provision for a wardrobe pertinent category referred to as Best Styled Artist of the Year, which was claimed by SAMA recipient, singer Thabsie – who at the event wore an outfit designed by Imprint ZA and styled by Eric by Design, which drew curious stares from the media corps working the red carpet zone.
Bonang Matheba, the flamboyant media personality whom the event’s organizer had whetted the media’s curiosity with the pre-show announcement that her House of BNG MCC brand would be the official beverage served at the event, as well as being due to be presented with the Trailblazer award – was a no-show.
With the awards also assuming a pan-African stature, one of the victorious nominees was Cindy Sanyu, a Ugandan musician who garnered the Reggae Artist of the Year award.
An impressive roster of awardees on the night also performed for the audience – with these consisting of Dr. Mkhwebane, Esther M, Kelly Khumalo, MaWhoo and ‘Ney The Bae’.
Other notable celebrities who attended the event included Abigail Kubheka who, even though wheelchair-bound, was always as ever dressed-up, Dr Rebecca Malope – whom some of the youngbloods in the audience teased for her tendency of punctuating her statements with “Hallelujah!” – ‘Amacala’ hitmaker Siphokazi and Lady Zamar, et al.
The event, dubbed Music Night, had succeeded the Friday evening segment of the awards dubbed Night One, at which women working across the entertainment ecosystem – be it in journalism, radio, television, podcasting, fashion, beauty and artist management – were honoured in various categories.
Some of the awardees on the preceding evening included familiar names such as Minnie Dlamini and Candice Modiselle (winners in the Entertainment TV Producer of the Year and TV Show Presenter of the Year categories, respectively), et al.
It would be some while past midnight after the dizzying evening had truly segued into Women’s Day when Bingham brought the curtain down on proceedings with a rendition of one of her familiar hits that attendees – some clutching lengthy trains of their especially picked gowns in all their peacock-esque strutting exhibitionism – dispersed.
Image Jacob MAWELA (Kelly Khumalo limned while accepting the award in the Afro Pop Artist of the Year category at the Basadi in Music Awards event at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein.)
