Legendary Musician Babsy Mlangeni Honoured With Ministerial Award at NACA 2025
- South African legendary musician Babsy Mlangeni was recently honoured at the National Arts & Culture Awards (NACA) 2025
- Mlangeni received the Ministerial Artist with Disability Award on Friday, 22 August 2025, at the Super Bowl in Sun City
- Speaking exclusively to Briefly News, Bab'Babsy Mlangeni shared that he was honoured and grateful to have been recognised by NACA
- Briefly News also got in touch with a legendary South African hip hop group that was honoured at the awards
Source: Instagram
It is always great to give legends their flowers, while they are still alive, and the South African musician Babsy Mlangeni was recently honoured at some prestigious awards.
Netizens came out in numbers, dressed to the nines to celebrate extraordinary storytellers, performers, and visionaries who continue to shape South Africa’s cultural identity at the National Arts & Culture Awards (NACA) 2025 in Sun City.
The awards were hosted by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, on Friday, 22 August 2025, and Bab'Babsy Mlangeni, who turned 82 in February 24 2025, was one of the honoured artists that night as he received the Ministerial Artist with Disability Award.
Speaking exclusively to Briefly News regarding the trophy he received that evening, Mlangeni expressed his gratitude and also shared how thankful he was to have been honoured with the Ministerial award while he was still alive.
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He said:
"I feel really honoured because I have been in this industry for 58 years, though it wasn't easy for me as a disabled person. I remember how a producer would say you can't see, so how will you make music without sight, but look at me now, I conquered and made it well."
Source: UGC
Prophets of Da City honoured by NACA 2025
Prophets of Da City (POC), the legendary Cape Town hip hop collective, was honoured at the National Arts & Culture Awards for its fearless contribution to South Africa's democratic struggle during the apartheid era.
POC emerged in the late 1980s through the 1990s as pioneers of multilingual, politically-charged hip hop - rapping in English, Kaaps Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and Patois. They delivered potent messages around identity, resistance and civic empowerment.
Speaking on the award with Briefly News journalist Moroba Maepa, the group had this to say:
"We are truly grateful that Prophets of Da City are finally receiving acknowledgement for the role we played in fighting for democracy. Hip hop became our weapon of truth and empowerment. As we celebrate this moment, it's also time for the National Department of Arts and Culture to open meaningful conversations with us."
As the conversation around freedom of speech intensifies, heightened by the Open Chats Podcast saga, we see more and more young people challenging the status quo and, sadly, having to pay the price.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has officially launched an investigation into 23-year-old rising hip hop star David Manda aka BabyDaiz over his song Allez Tabina, which allegedly contains racial slurs.
This has reignited debates about freedom of speech in Mzansi's hip hop scene. As BabyDaiz continues to face backlash online and on platforms like 5FM and YFM, conversations around censorship, artistic freedom and accountability are heating up.
Rapper and founder of Slikour OnLife, Siyabonga "Slikour" Metane, said BabyDaiz's situation spoke to the country's failure to nurture its history:
"It's unfortunate that the younger generation is paying the price for the country's inability to invest in its heritage, nationalism and history, unlike countries like Germany."
Leleti Khumalo and Thembi Mtshali received prestigious awards
Bab'Babsy Mlangeni wasn't the only public figure who was honoured with a prestigious award in Mzansi. In August 2024, two veteran actresses, Thembi Mtshali and Leleti Khumalo, were recipients of the Golden Elephant Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.
In a statement that was previously shared with Briefly News, the two stars mentioned that it was their achievements that affirmed and motivated them to continue telling meaningful stories in the showbiz industry.
What are the NACAs?
The National Arts & Culture Awards, hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, recognise excellence across South Africa’s creative industries, from performance and visual arts to literature, design, film, and cultural heritage.
More than awards, NACA is dedicated to honouring legacy, uplifting today’s trailblazers, and inspiring the next generation of South African artists.
SABC PR Specialist, Caroline Phalakatshela, also shared with Briefly News that the awards would be broadcast on their channel.
"SABC1, together with SABC Sports and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, presents an event-filled weekend with the live broadcast of The National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA) on Saturday, 23 August 2025, at 20:00, followed by the South African Sports Awards on Sunday, 24 August 2025, at 20:00."
Thembi Nyandeni receives the Lifetime Shero Award
In a previous report from Briefly News, one of South Africa's more celebrated actresses, Thembi Nyandeni, received the Lifetime Shero Achievement Award at the Gagasi 8th Shero Awards. Nyandeni is mainly known for her aggressive character as Mkabayi Zungu on the now-cancelled Isibaya.
These awards aim to recognise women excelling in diverse fields, and Thembi Nyandeni's recognition is just an affirmation of her wonderful contributions to the arts. Social media users praised Nyandeni, and many expressed their excitement, saying she deserves this honour and so much more.
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Source: Briefly News
