Basadi in Music Awards (BIMA) officially announces that nominations for the 2026 edition
are now open, marking a major milestone as the awards celebrate five years of honouring
women across the music and entertainment industry.
Nominations are now open and will close on 30 May 2026 at 23:59 CAT.
Now in its fifth year, Basadi in Music Awards continues to stand as a powerful platform celebrating the excellence, impact, and influence of women across the music ecosystem. From artists and DJs to radio producers, television presenters, journalists, and artist managers, BIMA recognises the women shaping Africa’s cultural and creative landscape.
“Opening nominations each year is a defining moment for us. It signals not only the start of awards season, but the continued growth of a movement that uplifts and recognises women across every corner of the music industry,” said Hloni Modise Matau, CEO and Founder of Basadi in Music Awards.
“As we expand across Africa and invite global participation, we are building a platform that is inclusive, representative, and forward-looking.”
Expanding Across Africa
In a landmark development, the 2026 edition expands beyond South Africa, officially
opening nominations to women across the African continent. In addition, fans from around the world are invited to participate in the nomination process, reinforcing BIMA’s position as an inclusive and globally accessible platform.
At its core, the awards remain rooted in community participation. Built on the principle of
“for the people, by the people,” BIMA empowers the public to recognise and elevate women who are shaping the industry.
“Africa’s story is told through its people, and the women in this industry are among its mostpowerful narrators,” said Leroy Monaheng CEO of Black Mobile.
“For the second consecutive year, Black Mobile is proud to support the Basadi in Music
Awards. By powering the SMS platform across borders, we are expanding access and
enabling broader participation across the continent.”
Two-Night Celebration Returns
Following its successful introduction, the two-night awards format returns for 2026:
Night One: Vanguard Circle Awards
This evening honours the architects behind the scenes – those driving innovation and
excellence within the industry. Categories include Radio Producer of the Year, Artist
Manager of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Stylist of the Year, Make-Up Artist of the
Year, and Journalist of the Year.
Night Two: Music Awards Night
The flagship celebration recognises mainstream and fan-driven categories such as Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, DJ of the Year, and Amapiano Artist of the Year.
More than an awards ceremony, the Basadi in Music Awards represents a cultural
movement – one that creates opportunities, drives visibility, and champions the
advancement of women in music across Africa and beyond.
The 2026 edition will culminate in August 2026 with its signature two-night celebration.
Supporters may nominate as many times as they wish, ensuring their favourite candidates stand a strong chance of making it to the top.
“As legal representatives and partners of Basadi in Music Awards, we are proud to support a platform that is not only celebrating excellence but actively reshaping the landscape for women in the entertainment industry. The expansion of BIMA across Africa reflects a necessary and timely shift toward greater inclusion, protection, and recognition of women’s intellectual property, creative rights, and economic participation. At Maphike Attorneys Inc, we remain committed to safeguarding the interests of women in entertainment while enabling platforms such as BIMA to grow with integrity, transparency, and lasting impact across the continent.” Said Managing Director of MaphikeInc Manaileng Maphike
More than an awards ceremony, Basadi in Music Awards represents a cultural movement
one that creates opportunities, drives visibility, and champions the advancement of women in music across Africa and beyond.
The 2026 edition will culminate in August 2026 with its signature two-night celebration.
How to Nominate
SMS Platform (South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho only)
- For music categories: SMS the category code and artist name to 33329 Example: Amapiano Brenda Msomi → 33329
- For non-music categories: SMS the category code, nominee name, and associated platform. Example: Journo Hloni Modise BIMA News → 33329
- Each SMS costs R1.50
- One SMS equals one nomination
- No limit on the number of nominations
- Free Sms’s do not apply
Online Platform (Rest of Africa and Globally)
- Visit: www.basadiinmusicawards.co.za
- Each nomination costs R1.50
- Minimum bundle of 10 nominations applies
Eligible works and nominees must fall within the qualifying period of 1 April 2025 to 31
March 2026. Terms and conditions apply.
Media Enquiries
For more information, please contact:
Email: abo@basadiinmusicawards.co.za
Social Media & Online
- Instagram: @basadiinmusicawards_sa
- Facebook: @basadiinmusicawards
- Website: www.basadiinmusicawards.co.za
See list of categories below and nomination codes.
Vanguard Circle Categories and Nomination Codes
| Category Name | Code |
| Artist Manager of the year | Manager |
| Choreographer of the year | Choreographer |
| Entertainment Journalist of the Year | Journo |
| Entertainment Radio Presenter of the Year | RadioPresenter |
| Entertainment Radio Producer of the Year | RadioProducer |
| Entertainment TV Producer of the Year | TVProducer |
| Hair Stylist of the Year | HairStyle |
| Make Up artist of the year | MakeUp |
| Music TV Presenter of the Year | TVPresenter |
| Podcast presenter of the Year | Podcast |
| Stylist of the Year | Stylist |
Music Categories and Nomination Codes
| Category Name | Code |
|---|---|
| Afro Pop Artist of the Year | AfroPop |
| Amapiano Artist of the Year | Amapiano |
| Artist of the Year | Artist |
| Best Female Feature of the year | Feature |
| Best Styled Artist of the year | Styled |
| Collaboration of the Year | Collab |
| Dance Artist of the Year | Dance |
| DJ of the Year | DJ |
| Gospel Artist of the Year | Gospel |
| Hip-Hop Artist of the Year | Hiphop |
| Jazz Artist of the Year | Jazz |
| Music Video of the Year | Video |
| Newcomer of the Year | Newcomer |
| Pop Artist of the Year | POP |
| Reggae Artist of the Year | Reggae |
| Song of the Year | SOY |
| Songwriter of the year | Songwriter |
| Traditional Artist of the year | Traditional |