The Basadi in Music Awards returned in 2026 for a very special milestone — its fifth edition — and this year’s celebration felt bigger, more reflective, and more significant than ever. Held over two nights at the Joburg Theatre on the 7 and 8 August, the 2026 Basadi in Music Awards celebrated five years of recognising, celebrating, and amplifying the women who continue to shape South Africa and Africa’s music industry. The theme, “REWIND,” invited guests to look back at the defining moments, themes, fashion, and milestones that have shaped the awards’ journey, while still looking forward to the future. For me, this was another opportunity to be on the ground from the very beginning, covering both evenings from the red carpet through to the backstage winner interviews and celebrations.
Night One: The Vanguard Awards
The first evening was dedicated to the Vanguard Circle Awards, which shine a much-needed spotlight on the women who work behind the scenes and contribute to the success of the entertainment industry. While the second night focuses primarily on the artists creating and performing the music, the Vanguard evening recognises the people whose work often happens away from the spotlight — including managers, producers, presenters, journalists, stylists, choreographers, and other industry professionals. The categories include Artist Manager of the Year, Entertainment Journalist of the Year, Radio Producer, Radio Presenter, Music TV Presenter, Podcast Presenter, Stylist, Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist, among others.
I arrived from the start of the evening to cover the red carpet, capturing the fashion, excitement and anticipation as nominees and guests made their way into the venue. It was a particularly busy evening for interviews, and I had the privilege of interviewing 25 artists and industry personalities, including Kuhle Adams, Zanele Potelwa, Jamali and Khany Mars, among many others. One of the things I particularly enjoy about red-carpet coverage is that it provides an opportunity to go beyond the usual “What are you wearing?” questions. It is about understanding what the recognition means to each person, hearing about their journey and finding out what continues to inspire them to contribute to the industry.
Once the red carpet came to an end, the work continued backstage. Alongside the rest of the media, we waited to welcome the winners as they came through after receiving their awards. There is something incredibly special about witnessing those moments immediately after someone has heard their name called. The excitement, emotion and sense of achievement are still fresh, making the backstage interviews feel much more personal. The Vanguard Awards are an important reminder that an industry does not function solely because of the people on stage. There are countless women working behind the scenes whose vision, creativity, leadership, and expertise help make the music industry what it is.
Night Two: Celebrating the Artists
The second evening brought a completely different energy. This was the Main Music Awards, the flagship celebration of the artists, performers, hitmakers, newcomers and established names who continue to shape the sound of South Africa and beyond. Again, I was there from the beginning, covering the red carpet and speaking to an incredible range of talent. This time, I had the opportunity to interview 39 artists, including Kelly Khumalo, Anele Zondo, Monique Bingham, Rebecca Malope and Thabsie, among many others. The diversity of artists and musical styles represented at Basadi is one of the reasons the awards are so important. The 2026 categories recognised women across genres including Amapiano, Afro Pop, Gospel, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Pop, Reggae, Dance and Traditional music, as well as categories celebrating collaborations, songwriting, music videos, DJs and more. The red carpet once again provided the perfect opening to the evening, with fashion, personality, and plenty of excitement as everyone arrived ready to celebrate.
But, just as on Night One, the real media work continued after the carpet. Once the ceremony was underway, we headed backstage with the other members of the media to engage with the winners. Interviewing someone moments after they have received one of the biggest recognitions of their career creates a very different conversation. There is a genuine emotion, excitement and gratitude, and you get to capture those first reactions while the experience is still unfolding.
Five Years of Basadi
What made this year particularly meaningful was the five-year milestone. Basadi in Music Awards has grown from an awards ceremony into a platform dedicated to recognising and amplifying women across the music industry. The 2026 edition also marked an important step in its evolution, with the awards expanding their reach across Africa and opening selected categories to participation from the continent. The two-night format also makes an important statement. By separating the Vanguard Circle from the Main Music Awards, Basadi creates space to celebrate both sides of the industry — the people creating the music and the people helping to build the ecosystem around it. And perhaps that is what made covering both nights so rewarding. From the first person stepping onto the red carpet to the final winner coming backstage, there was a genuine sense of community. Artists, presenters, producers, stylists, journalists, managers, and other industry professionals were all part of the same celebration.
A special thank you to the incredible Khaya PR team for the exceptional work on the ground throughout the Basadi Music Awards. Covering the red carpet from the very beginning of both nights requires precision, coordination, professionalism, and a team that understands the demands of media, and the Khaya PR team delivered on every level. Their warmth, efficiency and constant support made it possible for me to move seamlessly from one interview to the next while ensuring that every artist received their moment in the spotlight. Thank you for creating such a welcoming and well-organised environment and for making the media experience such a pleasure — your hard work behind the scenes truly deserves to be recognised and appreciated.