The Galleria in Sandton was illuminated with vibrant shades of purple and pink on Saturday, September 9th, as the DStv Content Creator Awards, in Association with Samsung Galaxy, took center stage. This remarkable evening marked the pinnacle of South African content creation, bringing together hundreds of guests, nearly 40,000 public votes, over 90 nominees, and ultimately, 19 deserving winners.
Leading up to the awards, the buzz on social media was palpable, and it truly came to life as nominees, guests, and fans graced the Purple Carpet. The awards’ TikTok Live provided online viewers with an exclusive glimpse of the glitz and glamour. Renowned personalities such as Lasizwe, K Naomi, Julia Anastasopoulos, Pona Halo, Nomuzi ‘Moozlie’ Mabena, Kim Jayde, Candice Modiselle, Matt Flax, Farieda Metsileng, Carol Ofori, Karabo Poppy, Kefilwe Mabote, and Lemii LoCo added star power to the event.
The awards were brilliantly hosted by the award-winning comedian and content creator, Donovan Goliath, who navigated the night with boundless energy and humor. The stage came alive with live music curated and performed by South African legends, Black Motion.
The evening commenced on a poetic note as one of South Africa’s most influential storytellers, Gcina Mhlophe, graced the stage. She blessed the awards and all attendees, nominees, and winners with a beautiful poem.
Manuela Dias de Deus, the awards’ founder, shared her vision for the event, emphasizing the aim of putting creators on the map and fostering opportunities for emerging and established talent. She expressed her desire for the awards to become the continent’s premier event of its kind, making it a part of everyone’s feeds.
The night was filled with memorable moments, including a playful interruption by Suzelle DIY, offering the audience laughter and tips on navigating loadshedding.
Ami Faku delivered a powerful solo performance, while Birth of Stars paid tribute to the LGBTQI community, showcasing the journeys of three young South African creatives: Kamo WW, Coachella Randy, and Kagiso Mogola.
Bontle Modiselle and Lasizwe teamed up for a show-stopping skit, paying homage to Beyoncé’s iconic world tour. The audience was enthralled.
A star-studded lineup of personalities presented awards across 19 categories. The winners received unique trophies designed by visual artist Shaun Oakley, known as Damn Vandal. Presenters included African Ginger, Kim Jayde, 947’s Matt Flax, Moozlie, Farieda Metsileng, Suzelle DIY, Tshepiso Sathekge, Renaldo Schwarp, and Kgomotso Mosiane from MultiChoice and Samsung.
The awards also announced the launch of the Thumb Stopper Podcast, offering fans exclusive behind-the-scenes access to their favorite content creators and influencers across South Africa. It will debut exclusively on Spotify Podcasts for the first month.
The awards celebrated 19 remarkable creators, with the first-ever OG Award presented to Mihlali Ndamase. Lasizwe, her close friend, had the honor of announcing this recognition for Mihlali’s outstanding achievements. In her absence, Lasizwe invited Mihlali’s mother, Mam Phumla Tshitende, to receive the award on her behalf.
In the end, the spotlight shone brightly on the winners, marking a night of celebration and acknowledgment of South African creativity.
Here is a full list of the winners:
Cause/Social Commentary Award
Doctor Siya
Funniest Content Creator Award
Ikho Kweba
Visual Arts Award
Karabo Poppy
Best Brand Collaboration Award
essenceMediacom for Gillette #IndodaCanShave
Fashion & Style Award
Kefilwe Mabote
Emerging Creator Award, presented by 947
God’s Butler
Podcast of the Year Award, presented by Spotify
Podcast and Chill with MacG
Podcast Special Mention, presented by Spotify
African Story Magic with Gcina Mhlophe
Automotive Award
Juliet Mc Guire
Knowledge Sharing Award
Becoming Dr Andy
Thumb-Stopping Award
Donovan Goliath
The OG Award
Mihlali Ndamase
Alter-Ego Award
Sipho2Skiits – August (That Mozambican Dude)
Foodie Award
Mush Kitchen
Sports Fan Award
Lemii LoCo
Travel & Lifestyle Award, presented by LIFT
Wander with Iana
Dance Award
Justin de Nobrega
Sol Content Creator Award
Mandisi
Song of the Year Award
AKA ft. Nasty C – ‘Lemons (Lemonade)’
DStv Content of the Year Award
Tums the Narrator
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