Basadi in Music Awards reunites former hosts for fifth anniversary celebration

The awards, which recognise the achievements of women in music and entertainment, will return to the Joburg Theatre for a two-night event, with the Basadi in Music Awards Vanguard Awards scheduled for 7 August 2026 and the main awards ceremony taking place on 8 August 2026.

According to the organisers, this will be the first time all four presenters who have hosted the awards since its launch will appear together on stage. Anele Zondo and Moozlie hosted the inaugural ceremony in 2022, Unathi presented the 2023 and 2024 editions, while Lerato Kganyago hosted the 2025 ceremony, which also introduced the Vanguard Awards.

The 2026 edition marks the fifth anniversary of the awards and revisits themes from previous years. The inaugural event in 2022 was held under the theme Ballgowns and Tiaras, followed by Glam with a Touch of Africa in 2023, Girl in the Mirror in 2024 and The Four Elements of Nature in 2025. This year’s theme, REWIND: The Rise, reflects on the platform’s development over the past five years.

Basadi in Music Awards founder and chief executive Hloni Modise-Matau said the organisers wanted the anniversary to celebrate the platform's history through the people who had been part of its journey.

“When we started the Basadi in Music Awards five years ago, we were building more than an awards ceremony – we were building a legacy. Every year has had its own heartbeat, its own message and its own unforgettable moments,” Modise-Matau said. “Instead of telling our story through archive footage alone, we chose to tell it through the remarkable women who have stood on our stage and helped shape the Basadi experience. Anele Zondo, Moozlie, Unathi and Lerato Kganyago are more than returning hosts; they each represent a chapter in our history.”

She added that the organisers believe the reunion is the first time an awards platform has brought together all of its previous hosts to collectively tell the story of the event.

Manaileng Maphike, director of Maphike Inc. Attorneys and legal partner of the awards, said the fifth anniversary highlights the platform's growth and legacy.

“This year’s theme, REWIND: The Rise, is a powerful reminder that every milestone is built on the courage, resilience and excellence of the women who came before us. Reuniting the hosts who have helped shape each chapter of the Basadi journey is a meaningful way of honouring that legacy,” Maphike said.

Dichaba Phalatse, Marketing Manager for SABC Video Entertainment, said the broadcaster was proud to continue its association with the awards.

“As the Basadi in Music Awards celebrates five years of recognising and elevating women in music, SABC 2 is proud to celebrate this milestone as one of the platform's early broadcast partners,” Phalatse said. “This year’s reunion of Anele Zondo, Moozlie, Unathi and Lerato Kganyago is a powerful tribute to that journey.”

Tickets for both events are available through the Joburg Theatre.

Contributors: Collins Matsepe, Sipho Ndlovu and George Seloane