By Sitha Maliwa:
As South Africa marks Women’s Month, one of the country’s most influential women will take centre stage for a moment that transcends celebration. Media mogul, entrepreneur and global brand architect Bonang Matheba will be honoured with the prestigious 2026 Trailblazer Award at the fifth annual Basadi in Music Awards, cementing her place among the most transformative figures in African entertainment.
The glittering ceremony will take place on Saturday, 8 August, at the Joburg Theatre, where the entertainment industry will unite to celebrate a woman whose career has consistently shattered ceilings and redefined success for African women.
Presented under this year’s theme, “REWIND”, and the campaign “Africa to the World,” the Trailblazer Award recognises individuals whose courage, innovation and leadership have fundamentally changed the industries they serve. Few embody that vision more powerfully than Bonang Matheba.
For more than two decades, Matheba has remained an unstoppable force in broadcasting, entertainment and business. From captivating millions as the charismatic face of LIVE (later Live Amp) to dominating South African radio on YFM and Metro FM, she has built a career defined by excellence, resilience and reinvention.
Her unmistakable presence has graced some of the continent’s biggest stages, including the South African Music Awards, Metro FM Music Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, Miss South Africa, Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Global Citizen: Mandela 100, and even the BET Awards International Red Carpet, positioning South African talent firmly on the global map.
Yet it is beyond television that Matheba has perhaps made her greatest impact.
As the founder of the award-winning House of BNG, executive producer of Being Bonang, bestselling author of From A to B, and a successful entrepreneur, she has built an African luxury brand that competes confidently on the world stage while inspiring countless women to dream beyond traditional boundaries.
Speaking after the announcement, an emotional Matheba described the honour as deeply meaningful.
“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,” she said.
She reflected on how the recognition reaffirmed her commitment to creating opportunities through the Bonang Matheba Foundation and House of BNG, saying both were established to build something greater than personal success.
Her ambitions, however, continue to reach even further.
“As an MCC brand, we’re already growing beyond South Africa, and I’d love to see House of BNG on the world stage, showing the world African luxury in the way I’ve always known it—world class, undeniable and ready to shine.”
Basadi in Music Awards Founder and Chief Executive Officer Hloni Modise Matau said Matheba’s influence extends far beyond her personal achievements.
“Some people succeed within an industry. Bonang Matheba transformed it,” Matau said.
“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.”
She added that the Trailblazer Award is reserved for individuals whose contributions permanently alter the course of an industry.
“Bonang has inspired women to own their voices, recognise their value and understand that success is something you intentionally create. There is no one more deserving of this honour.”
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment and creative sectors.
SABC2 Head of Video Entertainment Dichaba Phalatse praised Matheba for redefining excellence in broadcasting while becoming a cultural ambassador for South Africa on international platforms.
Meanwhile, Joburg City Theatres Chief Executive Officer Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema described Matheba as a symbol of ambition, resilience and limitless possibility whose career has become woven into South Africa’s cultural story.
Adding to the chorus of admiration, Maphike Inc. Managing Director Manaileng Maphike said true trailblazers leave every industry stronger than they found it.
“Through excellence, innovation and unwavering belief in her vision, Bonang has redefined success for African women in media, business and entertainment. Her leadership continues to open doors for others to follow.”
As the Basadi in Music Awards celebrates its fifth anniversary, organisers say the honour recognises not only the stages Matheba has commanded or the businesses she has built, but also the confidence she has inspired in generations of young African women determined to pursue their own ambitions.
The 2026 Basadi in Music Awards promises an unforgettable evening celebrating women who continue to shape African music through powerful performances, prestigious honours and groundbreaking collaborations.
For Bonang Matheba, however, the night will represent something even greater.
It will be the crowning of a remarkable journey – one that began before television cameras, flourished across radio waves and evolved into a global business empire. More importantly, it will celebrate a woman who has not merely followed a path to success but created one for countless others to walk. On Saturday night, Africa will not simply honour a star. It will celebrate a legacy. – @NewsSA_Online
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