Basadi in Music Awards 2026: The Full List of Winners

South African music just celebrated its women in a huge way. The winners of the 2026 Basadi in Music Awards were announced across two nights at the Joburg Theatre, and AfrobeatsGlobal has the complete rundown.

A Milestone Fifth Anniversary

Held under the theme REWIND, this year’s ceremony marked the fifth anniversary of the Basadi in Music Awards, bringing together artists, entertainers, and industry figures from across the continent. MaWhoo emerged as one of the biggest winners on the night.

MaWhoo took home both the Amapiano Artist of the Year award and the Highest Airplay Award for her song Bengicela, reinforcing her position as one of the leading voices in South Africa’s amapiano scene right now. Check out our related blog post on this: Basadi Music Awards 2026: Full Nominee List Revealed.

Standout Winners Across Genres

Kelly Khumalo won Afro-Pop Artist of the Year, while Zee Nxumalo was named Artist of the Year overall. Nia Pearl and Boohle picked up Best Female Feature of the Year for their collaboration Shela, and Kharishma claimed Dance Artist of the Year.

DBN Gogo was crowned DJ of the Year, Anele Zondo won Hip Hop Artist of the Year, and Judith Sephuma took home Jazz Artist of the Year. Buhlebendalo was honored as Traditional Artist of the Year for her contribution to genre preservation.

Honouring Legacy and Influence

The ceremony also celebrated established icons, with Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai jointly receiving the G100 Gallo Renaissance Award as Gallo marked its centenary. Bonang Matheba received the Trailblazer of the Year Award for her influence across entertainment and business.

BIMA’s founder, Hloni Modise Matau, described the ceremony as bigger than an awards show, calling it a movement built to ensure women shaping the industry’s future know they belong.

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Which winner are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments and follow AfrobeatsGlobal for more coverage of the biggest awards moments across African music. Check out our previous blog post on P-Square Inspired Me and Made Me Proud to Be African, Says Davido.

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