Business Report

A night of glory: Napo Masheane and Jacintha De Nobrega dominate 2025 National Arts & Culture Awards

Alyssia Birjalal|Published

Creator, director and poet Napo Masheane took home a trophy at the 2025 National Arts & Culture Awards.

Image: Instagram

A number of South African creatives were honoured on Saturday, August 13, at the National Arts & Culture Awards (Also among the night's winners were musician Mpumelelo Dlamini, poet Napo Masheane and dancer and choreographer Moeketsi Koena. ).

Previously known as the Cultural and Creative Industry Awards, the annual event aims to spotlight the extraordinary achievements of South Africans whose contributions shape the cultural landscape of the nation.

Held at the Sun City Super Bowl in North West, the evening brought together icons, innovators and emerging voices across the creative industries, from theatre and dance to literature, film, design and heritage. 

his year's winners included Lebogang Seale's "One Hundred Years of Dispossession", which took home the award for Most Outstanding Book, and popular filmmaker Jacintha De Nobrega, who bagged the award for Most Outstanding Documentary for "London Recruits".  

Also among the night's winners were musician Mpumelelo Dhlamini, poet Napo Masheane and dancer and choreographer Moeketsi Koena. 

"The arts remain one of the most powerful forces in our society; they carry our history, express our present, and inspire our future. As a nation, the arts are not only a source of pride but also a driver of unity, healing and progress."

"They preserve traditions, open doors for innovation, and remind us of who we are while showing the world the depth of South Africa’s creativity," read an official statement by NACA.  

Below is the full list of winners:   

  • Outstanding Cultural Landscape Award 

Freedom Park Heritage Site & Museum

  • Outstanding Museum Award

William Humphreys Art Gallery

  • Outstanding Book, Fiction Award

"The Comrade’s Wife" - Barbara Boswell 

  • Outstanding Book, Non-Fiction Award

"One Hundred Years of Dispossession" - Lebogang Seale

  • Outstanding Children’s Fiction Book

"Sanda Makes Some Money" - Yamkela Tywakadi

  • Outstanding Publisher Award

Vhakololo Press - Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho

  • Outstanding Architecture/Interior Designer

Asher Zachary Marcus

  • Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer

Mzukisi Mbane

  • Outstanding Crafter Award

Majolandile Samuel Dyalvane

  • Outstanding Curator Award

Nontobeko Ntombela

  • Outstanding Visual Artist Award

Malebogo Naticia Molokoane

  • Outstanding Musician Award

Mpumelelo Dhlamini

  • Outstanding Actor in Theatre

Tshireletso Nkoane

  • Outstanding Theatre Production

"A Street Taxi Named Desire" - Obett Motaung

  • Outstanding Dance Production

"Ingoma" - Moeketsi Koena

  • Outstanding Poet Performance

Napo Masheane

  • Outstanding Documentary Film

"London Recruits" - Jacintha De Nobrega

  • Outstanding Documentary Series

"Free At Last" - Xoliswa Sithole

  • Outstanding Film Fiction Award

"Old Righteous Blues" - Catharina Weinek

  • Internationally Recognised Award

Jonathan Butler

  • Lifetime Achievement Award

Helen Sebidi 

  • Artist Living With Disability Award

Babsy Mlangeni