CELEBRATED media personality, broadcaster, entrepreneur and global businesswoman Bonang Matheba will be honoured with the 2026 Trailblazer Award at the 5th Annual Basadi in Music Awards, taking place on Saturday, 8 August 2026, at the Joburg Theatre.
Presented under this year’s theme, REWIND, and the campaign Africa to the World, the Trailblazer Award recognises an individual whose vision, courage and innovation have transformed the entertainment industry while creating opportunities for generations to come.
Few women have influenced the South African entertainment landscape as profoundly as Bonang Matheba. For more than two decades, she has consistently challenged convention, broken barriers and redefined what is possible for African women in media and entertainment.
From captivating audiences as one of the country’s most recognisable presenters on LIVE (later Live Amp), to becoming one of South Africa’s most celebrated voices on YFM and Metro FM, Bonang has built a broadcasting career defined by excellence, authenticity and influence.
Her remarkable career has seen her host some of Africa’s most prestigious music and entertainment events, including the South African Music Awards (SAMAs), Metro FM Music Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, Miss South Africa, Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, the BET Awards International Red Carpet, Global Citizen: Mandela 100, and numerous landmark television productions that have reached audiences across the continent and beyond.
Beyond broadcasting, Bonang has built one of Africa’s most successful lifestyle brands.
As the founder of House of BNG, executive producer and star of the award-winning reality television series Being Bonang, bestselling author of From A to B, and an accomplished entrepreneur, she has redefined what it means to build an African brand with global appeal.
Her journey has inspired an entire generation of women to dream boldly, lead confidently and create opportunities beyond traditional boundaries. Through her relentless pursuit of excellence, Bonang has become more than an entertainer—she has become a cultural icon whose influence spans media, business, fashion, luxury, philanthropy and African storytelling.
“Some people succeed within an industry. Bonang Matheba transformed it. She showed an entire generation of African women that it is possible to dream without limits, occupy spaces once thought unattainable and build a globally respected brand while remaining unapologetically African,” said Hloni Modise Matau, founder and CEO of the Basadi in Music Awards.
“The Trailblazer Award is reserved for individuals whose impact changes the course of an industry. Bonang has done exactly that. We are immensely proud to celebrate a woman whose legacy will continue to inspire Africa and the world for generations to come,” added Modise.
Bonang Matheba acknowledged: “Thank you to the Basadi in Music Awards for this incredible honour. An award like this means so much because it’s not just recognition, it’s affirmation, from women who understand exactly what it took to get here. It made me reflect on why I started House of BNG and the Bonang Matheba Foundation in the first place, because building something bigger than yourself is always worth it.”
“These businesses exist because of the doors that were opened for me, and this award is a reminder to keep opening them for the next generation. To every woman out there: start today, back yourself and watch how far it takes you,” Matheba added.
Dichaba Phalatse, Head of Video Entertainment at SABC2, said: “At SABC2, we are proud to celebrate a woman whose journey continues to inspire the next generation of broadcasters, creatives and entrepreneurs. As the broadcast home of the Basadi in Music Awards, we applaud this well-deserved recognition of a true trailblazer whose impact extends far beyond television and into the heart of African culture.”
Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema, Chief Executive Officer of Joburg City Theatres, said: “ As we host the fifth anniversary of the Basadi in Music Awards, it is fitting that we recognise a woman whose influence has transcended entertainment to become a symbol of ambition, resilience and possibility. Her legacy reminds us that when women are given the platform to lead, they inspire generations to dream without limits.”
Manaileng Maphike, Managing Director of Maphike Inc., Legal Partner of the Basadi in Music Awards and Member of the Advisory Board, said: “Trailblazers are those who challenge convention, create opportunities where none existed and leave every industry stronger than they found it. Bonang Matheba has done exactly that.”
The 2026 Basadi in Music Awards promises an unforgettable celebration of women shaping African music through world-class performances, prestigious honours, powerful collaborations and unforgettable moments as Africa’s leading celebration of women in music continues to take African excellence from Africa to the World.
The 2026 Basadi in Music Awards will be held at the Joburg Theatre on the Saturday evening of August 8.
Tickets are available now at www.joburgtheatre.com
House of BNG is a beverage sponsor for the awards.
Image supplied (Bonang ‘Queen B’ Matheba, the recipient of the 2026 Trailblazer Award at the Basadi in Music Awards.)
