The Basadi in Music Awards is proud to announce that 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.
Hloni Modise Matau, Founder and CEO of the Basadi in Music Awards, said: “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. Whether she was hosting South Africa’s
biggest music stages, dominating radio and television or building one of the continent’s most successful
luxury brands, Bonang has consistently raised the standard of excellence.
The Trailblazer Award is reserved for individuals whose impact changes the course of an industry.
Bonang has done exactly that. She has inspired women to own their voices, recognise their value and
understand that success is something you intentionally create. As Basadi celebrates five years of
championing women in music, there is no one more deserving of this honour. We are immensely proud to
celebrate a woman whose legacy will continue to inspire Africa and the world for generations to come.”
Bonang Matheba said: “Thank you to the Basadi in Music Awards for this incredible honour, to be
recognised alongside women who've shaped this industry is a privilege I don't take for granted. 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, and that means more to me than I can put into words. It's 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. As an MCC
brand, we’re already growing beyond South Africa, and the ambition is bold: I’d love to see House of BNG
on the world stage and show the world African luxury in the way I've always known it, world class,
undeniable, and ready to shine. To every woman out there: start today, back yourself and watch how far it
takes you.”
Dichaba Phalatse, Head of Video Entertainment at SABC2, said: “Bonang Matheba has redefined
what it means to be a broadcaster, storyteller and cultural ambassador. From music television to live
entertainment, she has consistently raised the standard of excellence while representing South Africa
with distinction on some of the world’s biggest stages. 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: “Joburg City
Theatres is honoured to celebrate a woman whose career has become part of South Africa’s cultural
story. Bonang Matheba has spent more than two decades breaking barriers, challenging perceptions and
proving that African excellence belongs on every stage around the world. 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. Through her excellence, innovation and unwavering belief in her own
vision, she has redefined success for African women in media, business and entertainment. She has
shown that leadership is not simply about achieving personal success, but about opening doors for others
to follow. The Basadi in Music Awards is proud to honour a woman whose influence will continue to
shape the future of African creative industries for generations to come.”
The Basadi in Music Awards believes that true trailblazers leave every industry they enter stronger than
they found it. Bonang Matheba’s influence can be measured not only through the stages she has
commanded, the audiences she has captivated or the businesses she has built, but through the
confidence she has inspired in countless young African women who now believe that their dreams are
valid and their ambitions limitless.
As the Basadi in Music Awards celebrates its fifth anniversary, this honour pays tribute to a woman
whose excellence, resilience, innovation and leadership continue to redefine what African success looks
like on the global stage.
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.
Event Details
Basadi in Music Awards 2026
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Date: Saturday, 8 August 2026
Tickets are available now at www.joburgtheatre.com
