Limpopo-born musician Muneyi is among the six recipients of the 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards.
The Standard Bank Young Artist Award honours creators who challenge convention and expand the contours of creativity.
For the big night, Muneyi had his Makhulu (grandmother), who inspires his lyrics, in attendance.
Through music, Muneyi explores love, loss, and identity, transcending language while remaining deeply rooted in the cadences of Tshivenda storytelling.
Actor and playwright Calvin Ratladi, honoured for his interdisciplinary vision. He made his TV production debut on “Shaka iLembe”.
Big congratulations to Muneyi SBYA 2025 for Music! 🌟🎶
— Standard Bank Arts (@StandardBankArt) April 10, 2025
Blending Tshivenda folktales with modern soundscapes, Muneyi’s music is a soulful force — rooted in heritage, healing, and heart. A true storyteller and sonic craftsman. pic.twitter.com/uUiFm6sVAr
A SAFTA-winning artist, Ratladi garnered Ovation Awards at the National Arts Festival and showcased his work at festivals in Germany and Luxembourg, pushing South African theatre into new, immersive dimensions.
Johannesburg-based interdisciplinary artist and writer Nyakallo Maleke is renowned for her drawings that are journeys in and of themselves—maps of migration, vulnerability, and spatial memory.
With exhibitions across Europe and a Master’s from Switzerland’s edhea, her work expands the conversation around drawing as both medium and metaphor.
Modise Sekgothe isn’t just a poet—he’s a shapeshifter of sound, rhythm, and form. From Washington, DC, to Gothenburg and Brussels, his words have reverberated on global stages, bending the boundaries of spoken word into new realms of performance art.
Magna cum laude Juilliard-graduate trombonist, Siyasanga “Siya” Charles career is already a global story, shaped by collaborations with luminaries like Hugh Masekela and Grammy-winning artists.
Congratulations to Calvin Ratladi SBYA 2025 winner for Theatre! 🎭✨
— Standard Bank Arts (@StandardBankArt) April 10, 2025
A visionary actor, playwright, and director, Ratladi challenges norms and redefines representation — both on stage and screen. His work is bold, boundary-breaking, and deeply inspiring pic.twitter.com/2Fg1GvX0HK
Through her Siya Charles Sextet, she’s redefining South African jazz, layering the country’s rich musical traditions with a fresh, fearless sensibility.
From the community halls of Soweto to performing internationally, Asanda Ruda’s choreography is steeped in history, movement, and myth.
A member of the Pina Bausch Foundation, she has captivated audiences with Kemet (Black Lands), her acclaimed solo work that earned her the 2025 Choreographers Research Residency Award in Paris.
“We are proud to support this new generation of visionaries as they continue to shape the future of our cultural landscape and ensure that our creative heritage thrives for decades to come,” said Bonga Sebesho, Standard Bank's Group Head of Sponsorship.
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