Thandiswa Mazwai Wins Four SAMA Awards

Venecia Valentine

Award-winning South African artist Thandiswa Mazwai has claimed four South African Music Awards for her critically acclaimed 2024 album, Sankofa.

The achievement marks a significant career milestone and reinforces her position as one of the most influential voices in African music.

A landmark SAMA moment

At this year’s South African Music Awards, Sankofa received top honours across multiple categories:

Best Female Artist of the Year
Best Produced Album of the Year
Best African Adult Contemporary Album
Best Engineer

The wins recognise the album’s artistic depth, production quality, and cultural resonance. Grounded in heritage, memory, and forward-looking African expression, Sankofa has stood out as one of the year’s most significant releases.

“Thank you to the SAMAs for this incredible honour. This has truly been the year of Sankofa,” says Mazwai.

From album success to cultural gathering

Following her SAMA success, Mazwai is turning her focus to the Sankofa Heritage Festival, scheduled for 28 February 2026 at Carnival City in Johannesburg. The festival draws inspiration from the themes of the award-winning album and centres on music, culture, and creative legacy.

“Sankofa Heritage Fest is important for us to come together as a community to foster a culture of love, healing, and joy,” she says.

A career spanning generations

Mazwai will headline the festival, bringing her genre-defying artistry to the stage after a career spanning more than three decades. From her early work with Bongo Maffin to her acclaimed solo catalogue, she continues to shape South Africa’s musical landscape. Sankofa alone earned five SAMA nominations, further underscoring its impact.

Collaborators and artists will join her from across generations and African musical genres. The full lineup will be announced in the coming months.

Reflecting on her journey, Mazwai shares: “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 remain among the top-nominated artists at the SAMAs for Sankofa. I have truly been blessed.”

A festival rooted in heritage

The Sankofa Heritage Festival is dedicated to preserving and celebrating indigenous African music. Performances will honour ancestral rhythms while connecting the past, present, and future of African sound. The event is intended as the first edition of an annual, artist-curated cultural gathering focused on heritage through music.

“There is a need for more artist-curated festivals that centre music, freedom, and community,” Mazwai adds. “I am creating this festival not only to give space to upcoming artists, but also to celebrate our cultures and collective humanity.”

This year’s festival is supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture through the Mzansi Golden Economy Initiative.

Event details

Event: Sankofa Heritage Festival
Date: 28 February 2026
Venue: Big Top Arena, Carnival City, Johannesburg
Tickets: Available via Computicket