{"id":2176,"date":"2026-06-24T05:39:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T02:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/zee-nxumalo-bounces-back-after-metro-fm-snub-as-bima-2026-favorite\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T05:39:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T02:39:58","slug":"zee-nxumalo-bounces-back-after-metro-fm-snub-as-bima-2026-favorite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/zee-nxumalo-bounces-back-after-metro-fm-snub-as-bima-2026-favorite\/","title":{"rendered":"Zee Nxumalo Bounces Back After Metro FM Snub as BIMA 2026 Favorite"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Zee Nxumalo is stepping into the spotlight again after a surprisingly rough night at the Metro FM Music Awards, where she left empty-handed despite being nominated in all seven categories. Now, as she heads toward the fifth edition of the Basadi in Music Awards (BIMA), the \u201cFunk 55\u201d hitmaker is being tipped as one of the most compelling names to watch.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Zee Nxumalo previously faced disappointment at the Metro FM Music Awards after losing all seven awards she was nominated for.<\/li>\n<li>For the 2026 Basadi in Music Awards, she leads the nominations in music categories with six nods.<\/li>\n<li>Her shortlist includes Artist of the Year, Amapiano Artist of the Year, Best Styled Artist of the Year, and Collaboration of the Year.<\/li>\n<li>BIMA is expanding internationally for the first time in its fifth year, with selected categories now open to African nominees beyond South Africa.<\/li>\n<li>TV presenter Kuhle Adams has earned a TV Show Presenter of the Year nomination for Expresso, tied to her tenth anniversary on television.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Zee Nxumalo\u2019s big nomination push<\/h2>\n<p>The singer has secured six nominations across the music categories\u2014more than any other artist in this year\u2019s lineup. She is in the running for major honours including Artist of the Year, Amapiano Artist of the Year, Best Styled Artist of the Year and Collaboration of the Year, among other categories, placing her in direct competition with leading figures in South African and wider pan-African music.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking about her Artist of the Year nomination, Nxumalo shared that the recognition gave her a chance to pause and reassess a year she described as a blessing\u2014one packed with milestones she says she didn\u2019t always slow down to acknowledge in the moment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, ngijabula kakhulu. I was genuinely happy when I found out,\u201d she said. She added that being nominated alongside so many accomplished women already felt meaningful, regardless of what happens on the night. She continued: \u201cI took a moment to reflect on how far I\u2019ve come and everything that\u2019s happened along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>BIMA goes bigger as international nominees enter<\/h2>\n<p>This year\u2019s nominations also signal a shift for BIMA itself. With the awards now in their fifth year, the event is branching out beyond South Africa for the first time\u2014opening certain categories to nominees from across the continent.<\/p>\n<p>The change is reflected in categories such as Artist of the Year, where Nigerian star Ayra Starr and Grammy-winning South African artist Tyla appear alongside Nxumalo, Mmatema and Nkosazana Daughter. The expansion can also be seen in the DJ and Dance Music sections, with Eswatini\u2019s Uncle Waffles among those competing.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, television presenter Kuhle Adams has been named among the nominees for TV Show Presenter of the Year for her work on Expresso. Adams noted that this year\u2019s nomination feels different because it coincides with her tenth anniversary on television. She said the decade-long milestone has been grounding, and that the people who helped shape her journey over the years will be celebrated in the moment\u2014no matter the results when voting closes.<\/p>\n<p>Adams will face stiff competition from Nomalanga Shozi, former DRUM magazine cover star Candice Modiselle Sello, and Penny Lebyane.<\/p>\n<h2>Full list of 2026 Basadi in Music Awards nominees<\/h2>\n<p>TV Show Presenter of the Year<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Candice Modiselle Sello (One Gospel Easter Music Special)<\/li>\n<li>Kuhle Adams (Expresso)<\/li>\n<li>Nomalanga Shozi (Playlist @ Moloko)<\/li>\n<li>Penny Lebyane (Enklek Let\u2019s Connect)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Amapiano Artist of the Year<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Zee Nxumalo<\/li>\n<li>DBN Gogo<\/li>\n<li>Kamo Mphela<\/li>\n<li>MaWhoo<\/li>\n<li>Nkosazana Daughter<\/li>\n<li>Nobuhle<\/li>\n<li>Thatohatsi<\/li>\n<li>Artist of the Year<\/li>\n<li>Zee Nxumalo<\/li>\n<li>Tyla<\/li>\n<li>Ayra Starr (Nigeria)<\/li>\n<li>Kharishma<\/li>\n<li>MaWhoo<\/li>\n<li>Mmatema<\/li>\n<li>Nkosazana Daughter<\/li>\n<li>Shandesh<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Afro Pop Artist of the Year<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aya Msani \u2013 Sondela<\/li>\n<li>Kelly Khumalo \u2013 Nyamezela<\/li>\n<li>Maleh \u2013 Khotso Le Lesedi (Lesotho)<\/li>\n<li>Nonny Muji \u2013 Lo Bhuti<\/li>\n<li>Pretty Masompisi \u2013 eKhaya<\/li>\n<li>Phumla Music \u2013 Brand New<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Best Female Feature of the Year<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>De Rose \u2013 Lutho<\/li>\n<li>Kabza De Small featuring Nontokozo Mkhize &amp; Mthunzi \u2013 Siyabonga<\/li>\n<li>Kabza De Small, MDU aka TRP featuring Zawadi Yamungu \u2013 Lawuleka<\/li>\n<li>Kelvin Momo featuring Zee_nhle, Mashudu &amp; Mano \u2013 Spani Sam<\/li>\n<li>MaWhoo, GL_Ceejay, Jazzworx &amp; Thukuthela featuring Tracy &amp; Thatohatsi \u2013 Tholukuthi (Bengicela)<\/li>\n<li>Sam Deep, Nia Pearl &amp; Boohle featuring Mano \u2013 Shela<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Best Styled Artist of the Year<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>DJ Lamiez<\/li>\n<li>DJ Zinhle<\/li>\n<li>Nia Pearl<\/li>\n<li>Thabsie SA<\/li>\n<li>Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)<\/li>\n<li>Zawadi Yamungu<\/li>\n<li>Zee Nxumalo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Collaboration of the Year<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cici &amp; Naledi Aphiwe \u2013 Amen<\/li>\n<li>DJ Zinhle &amp; Thabsie SA \u2013 Kusazokhanya<\/li>\n<li>Erin Elliot &amp; Sophia Frank \u2013 Birthday Cake<\/li>\n<li>Lwah Ndlukulu &amp; Starr Healer \u2013 Allowance<\/li>\n<li>MaWhoo &amp; Zee Nxumalo \u2013 Sesamukela<\/li>\n<li>Mamakie Motlogelwa &amp; Mmaausi \u2013 Chuku<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Dance Music Artist of the Year<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Babes Wodumo<\/li>\n<li>DJ Zinhle &amp; Liema Pantsi<\/li>\n<li>Kharishma<\/li>\n<li>Shandesh<\/li>\n<li>Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>DBN Gogo<\/li>\n<li>DJ Lesa<\/li>\n<li>Kasi Duchaz<\/li>\n<li>Kele Megano<\/li>\n<li>LKG<\/li>\n<li>Uncle Waffles (Eswatini)<\/li>\n<li>Gospel Artist of the Year<\/li>\n<li>Ada Ehi \u2013 Maberumo (Nigeria)<\/li>\n<li>Futhi Mhlongo \u2013 Phat Igama LikaJesu<\/li>\n<li>HLE \u2013 Blessed<\/li>\n<li>Mmatema \u2013 Oa Ntwanela<\/li>\n<li>Musa Yende \u2013 Kubo Bonke<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can also check the Vangiard categories, which include Artist Manager of the Year, Entertainment Journalist of the Year, Entertainment Radio Presenter of the Year, Entertainment Radio Producer of the Year, Producer of the Year, Makeup Artist of the Year, Podcast Presenter of the Year, and Stylist of the Year.<\/p>\n<p>More updates include coverage such as \u201cFrom Azana to Zoalize Jansen Van Rensburg: Meet Miss SA top 24 finalists for 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zee Nxumalo is stepping into the spotlight again after a surprisingly rough night at the Metro FM Music Awards, where she left empty-handed despite being nominated in all seven categories. Now, as she heads toward the fifth edition of the Basadi in Music Awards (BIMA), the \u201cFunk 55\u201d hitmaker is being tipped as one of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Zee Nxumalo Returns: Metro FM Snub to BIMA 2026 Win","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Zee Nxumalo shakes off a Metro FM snub and ramps up for BIMA 2026, tipped as a standout favorite after a tough awards sweep.","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-celebrities"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Zee Nxumalo Returns: Metro FM 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