Cape Town – At the Vanguard Awards — celebrated across two nights leading into the 2025 Basadi Music Awards three women stepped confidently into the spotlight, receiving recognition for their pivotal contributions to South Africa’s music industry.
The evening, held on 1 August 2025 at Joburg Theatre, honoured women working largely behind the scenes: producers, media personalities, journalists, stylists, and influencers whose efforts often go unseen. The Vanguard ceremony, hosted by Metro FM’s Lamiez Holworthy, set the tone for a broader celebration of female excellence.
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Leading the winners list:
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Laconco, named Podcast Presenter of the Year, whose live interviews and narrative work continue to amplify women’s voices in music discourse.
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LootLove (Luthando Shosha), crowned Entertainment Radio Presenter of the Year, celebrated for her dynamic presence and influence on-air.
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Relebogile Mabotja, who secured Entertainment TV Producer of the Year for her behind-the-scenes leadership on shows like 702 Unplugged sessions.
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Performers included soul-stirring sets by Moneoa and Zama Jobe, followed by a fiery hip-hop tribute from Dyna Steez, Moozlie, Rouge, and Nadia Nakai. The evening finished strong with Babalwa M delivering a moving closing performance.
Reflecting on the event, award founder Hloni Modise-Matau emphasised the importance of recognising behind-the-scenes talent, “Tonight we honoured the women whose work often goes unseen but is vital to the success of the artists and the industry.
“These awards are so important because the people working behind the scenes rarely get recognised… you make sure people hear us, see us and get to know who we are beyond just being artists.” said CiCi, speaking with The Citizen.
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Picture: Instagram/Nonkanyiso Conco
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Compiled by Lisabeal nqamqhele
