The 2026 Basadi in Music Awards have announced a star-studded list of nominees that stretches far beyond South Africa, cementing the event’s reputation as a truly pan-African celebration of women in music. Announced in mid-June, the nominations feature heavyweights from Nigeria, Lesotho, eSwatini, and beyond, competing in categories that span Amapiano, Afropop, Gospel, Hip-Hop, and Dance. The lineup underscores how female artists are not only dominating the charts but are also reshaping the sound and style of the continent’s music industry.
The marquee Artist of the Year category is a showdown between some of the biggest names in African music, including Nigeria’s Ayra Starr and South Africa’s Tyla, who are joined by Tyla’s frequent collaborators and rivals like MaWhoo, Nkosazana Daughter, and Zee Nxumalo. They face stiff competition from Kharishma, Mmatema, and Shandesh, creating a field that balances global superstars with regional powerhouses here. The Amapiano Artist of the Year category is equally fierce, with DBN Gogo, Kamo Mphela, MaWhoo, Nkosazana Daughter, Nobuhle, Thatohatsi, and Zee Nxumalo all vying for recognition in the genre that has become South Africa’s biggest cultural export.
Style and collaboration are also front and center, with the Best Styled Artist of the Year category featuring fashion-forward icons like DJ Zinhle, Nia Pearl, Thabsie SA, Uncle Waffles, Zawadi Yamungu, and Zee Nxumalo. The Collaboration of the Year and Best Female Feature categories highlight the power of teamwork, with nods for pairings like Cici and Naledi Aphiwe’s “Amen,” DJ Zinhle and Thabsie SA’s “Kusazokhanya,” and MaWhoo and Zee Nxumalo’s “Sesamukela.” These categories celebrate not just individual talent but the networks of women who are lifting each other up through features, production, and creative direction.
Gospel, Hip-Hop, and Dance Music each have their own powerhouse nominees, from Nigeria’s Ada Ehi in Gospel to Rogue, Nadia Nakai, and Moozlie in Hip-Hop, and Babes Wodumo, DJ Zinhle, and Uncle Waffles in Dance. The DJ of the Year category features DBN Gogo, DJ Lesa, Kasi Duchaz, Kele Megano, LKG, and Uncle Waffles, showcasing the women behind the decks who are driving the sound of clubs, festivals, and radio across the continent here . Together, these nominations paint a picture of an industry where women are not just present but are leading the charge in every lane.
The 2026 Basadi in Music Awards nominees reflect a moment of abundance and confidence for African women in music, with a depth of talent that makes any single winner hard to predict. As voting opens, the conversation is already less about who will take home the trophy and more about what this breadth of excellence means for the next generation of girls picking up a mic, a DJ controller, or a pen.