MaWhoo has bagged an impressive seven nominations in the Metro FM Music Awards.
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MUSICIANS hailing from KwaZulu-Natal bagged 31 nominations at the Metro FM Music Awards reveal evening held in Johannesburg on Thursday, February 26.
Two new categories were added to this year’s line-up of awards - Maskandi recognising the traditional Zulu folk music genre and Lekompo, recognising Limpopo’s popular modern dance genre.
Of the five Maskandi nominations, four were from KwaZulu-Natal.
Among the nominees from the province was Inanda’s 19-year-old Naledi Aphiwe, who received three nominations: Best R&B with fellow artist Mawelele and track Come Duze; Best African Pop with Mawelele and track Buya Ekhaya as well as with Blcxkie, Lily Faith and their song Waiting for You.
Aphiwe said she was grateful for the nominations. She promised to produce more music so people believe in her.
Thanking everyone - God, her fans, Metro FM, and her mum in heaven - she said the nominations and wins in three short years showed that she was being recognised as a rising star and that she was an excelling artist.
In 2025 Naledi and Mawelele scooped the Best African Pop Song Award at the Metro FM Awards in Mombela for their hit Romeo and Juliet
MaWhoo, who real names is Thandeka Nontobeko Ngema, another nominee from KwaZulu-Natal, notched up seven nominees.
MaWhoo who was hired to perform at the Metro FM Music Awards nominee announcement had no idea that she received seven nominations.
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Hailing from Eshowe, MaWhoo, said she had no idea she received so many nominations.
"I was at the event because I was hired to perform. I was backstage getting ready, and I didn’t even hear my name being called. It was only later during interviews, people said “MaWhoo you’ve been nominated over five times.” I’m so grateful to Metro FM. I’m just so grateful this means a lot to me.”
MaWhoo has not yet won a music award despite turning her several hits. Now with seven nominations - Best Female Artist and two nominations in each of Best Dance, Best Song of the Year and Best Collaboration - she believes she has a good chance of winning.
But confidence is not enough to get her an award when the awards ceremony returns to Durban on April 25. She intends to work hard at promoting her music and getting fans to vote for her. “ Even if I don’t win, I have been nominated and that is important. It means I am being recognised in South Africa and the world,” she said.
A total of 21 categories and more than 100 artists are hoping to win this year, reflecting the vibrancy and evolution of the local music scene across genres ranging from amapiano and hip hop to gospel, jazz and traditional sounds.
The line up of KZN artists for this year’s top awards are:
Khuzani - Best Maskandi with track Umanikinikana