Thandiswa Mazwai wins big at SAMAs

Acclaimed South African artist Thandiswa Mazwai's great showing at the South African Music Awards has been overshadowed by Zakes Bantwini's sharp criticism of the waning credibility of the award event.

On Monday, despite walking away with four awards, the dominant talking point on social media was about how the awards show have failed to win the hearts and minds of South Africans. This comes as the awards happened without any media fanfare besides the awards being South Africa's premium award show celebrating the best of what the country has to offer, musically.

It seems South Africans only woke up to the news that South Africa's leading Lady of Song, Thandiswa Mazwai had won four gongs by mistake. King Tha, as she is affectionately known had a remarkable night with her 2024 album, Sankofa being one of the biggest highlights at the Sunday night shining.

She walked away with a the Best Female Artist of the Year, Best Produced Album of the Year, Best African Adult Contemporary Album, and Best Engineer for her album, released in 2024.

This milestone not only represents a significant achievement in Mazwai’s illustrious career but also reinforces her status as one of the most influential voices in African music today.

These accolades celebrate the artistic finesse, sonic ingenuity, and profound cultural resonance that Sankofa embodies, capturing themes of heritage, memory, and a forward-looking African expression. Since its debut, the album has stirred deep connections with audiences and critics alike, asserting itself as one of the standout works of the year.

In her acceptance speech, Mazwai expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “Thank you to the SAMAs for this incredible honour. This has truly been the year of Sankofa.” Following this success, she is now turning her attention to the upcoming Sankofa Festival, which is poised to take place at Carnival City on 28 February 2026. Inspired by the same themes that underlie her award-winning album, the festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and creative legacy.

“The Sankofa Heritage Fest is important for us to come together as a community to foster a culture of love, healing, and joy,” said Mazwai, who will headline the festival, showcasing her trailblazing career that has spanned decades and generated a wealth of genre-defying artistry.

Celebrated for her contributions since the early days with Bongo Maffin and her successful solo ventures—including Sankofa, which garnered five SAMA nominations—Mazwai remains steadfast in her mission. “It’s almost unbelievable that I am now turning 50 and have spent more than half my life in the music world. My first radio hit was 30 years ago with a group called Jacknife, and I am honoured to still be one of the top nominated artists at the SAMAs for Sankofa. I have been truly blessed,” she remarked.

The Sankofa Heritage Festival aims to honour and preserve indigenous African music, with each performance designed to echo ancestral rhythms, bridging the past, present, and future of African sound. This inaugural festival seeks to lay the foundations for what is expected to be an annual celebration of African culture through music.

Reflecting on the need for more artist-curated festivals, Mazwai noted the importance of centring music, freedom, and community. "I am excited to add my own voice to that intention. I am creating this festival to not only give space to upcoming artists but to also celebrate our cultures and collective humanity,” she added.