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.
Basadi in Music Awards 2026
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Date: Saturday, 8 August 2026
Tickets are available now at www.joburgtheatre.com
