25 September 2026

"I have finally received my newest SAMA!" - Simphiwe Dana & Thandiswa Mazwai jointly honoured with the inaugural Gallo Renaissance Award

Photo Credit: Instagram/simphiwedana

Johannesburg - Two iconic award-winning artists were jointly honoured on a magical night of honouring women who have walked strides in achieving milestones in an industry that is predominantly male saturated.

Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai were honoured with the prestigious Gallo Renaissance Award at the 5th annual Basadi in Music Awards at the Joburg Theatre, recently.

The Basadi in Music Awards (BIMA) are an annual South African event launched in 2022 to honour, celebrate, and elevate women across the music and entertainment industry.

Dana took to Instagram in a lengthy letter to show off her "newest" accolade and emphasise the plight that women are facing in South Africa "and many parts of the world" amidst the rise of gender-based violence (GBV).

Also Read: “Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai embody everything! seasoned artists receive a Gallo accolade

"I have finally received my newest South African Music Award," she said.

"During a dark period for women in my country, South Africa - and many parts of the world. Many of us are victims....I respect artists that speak out. We need them....I’ve been speaking about GBV for more than 2 decades. What the causes are … and what we can do to dissuade it. I’ve been met with so much vitriol that I’m amazed I’m still alive as someone who takes everything to heart," said the seasoned artist.

Her co-receipient of the same award, multi-award winning artist Thandiswa Mazwai was also celebrated from her pioneering years with Bongo Muffin to her acclaimed solo career that began at Gallo Music Africa.

Photo Credit:Instagram/thandiswamazwai

"The Gallo Renaissance Award proudly honours Thandiswa Mazwai, whose groundbreaking career has redefined contemporary African music. From her pioneering years with Bongo Muffin to her acclaimed solo career that began at Gallo, she has remained unapologetically authentic while celebrating African identity through her artistry.

"As Gallo Music marks its 100-year legacy, we celebrate a woman whose voice, vision and fearless creativity continue to inspire generations across Africa and the world," said Africa's oldest and longest-running independent record label.

 The Basadi In Music Awards were founded by entertainment entrepreneur Sony Modise as a way of shining a spotlight on female singers, rappers, DJs, producers, composers, and behind-the-scenes creatives.

No comments:

Post a Comment