MaWhoo has emerged as one of the standout names at this year’s Metro FM Awards, securing seven nominations and positioning herself just one nod behind fellow chart-topper Zee Nxumalo, who leads with eight.
The nominations affirm what has already been evident in streaming numbers, radio airplay and cultural conversations: MaWhoo is currently operating at the peak of her powers.
Seven Nominations Across Multiple Genres
MaWhoo’s nominations span both premier and genre-specific categories, reflecting her versatility and broad appeal. She is nominated for:
- Best Female Artist
- Song of the Year
- Artist of the Year
- Best Dance Song of the Year
- Best Kwaito/Gqom
- Best Lekompo Song
- Best Maskandi Song
The range of these categories underscores her ability to move fluidly between contemporary dance sounds and traditional-rooted genres, while still maintaining mainstream dominance.
Chart-Topping Success and Streaming Milestones
The nominations are backed by tangible commercial success. Her collaborative single Bengicela dominated major digital platforms following its release, reaching the number one position on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Shazam and Audiomack in South Africa.
In a historic moment for local music, MaWhoo became the first South African female artist to replace herself at number one on Spotify’s Daily Chart when Bengicela overtook one of her own previous releases. The achievement marked a rare streaming milestone and highlighted her sustained audience demand.
The single also gained significant traction on TikTok, generating hundreds of thousands of user-created videos and accumulating millions of streams across platforms, further cementing its cultural impact.
Industry Recognition Beyond the Charts
Beyond commercial performance, MaWhoo’s influence has been recognised by global platforms. She was named Spotify’s EQUAL Africa Ambassador for July 2025, a programme designed to spotlight and amplify leading female voices across the continent.
Earlier in her career, her collaboration Gucci earned Ukhozi FM’s Song of the Year title, signalling mainstream resonance and radio dominance well before her current streaming era milestones.
Her musical journey, which gained early traction with Umshado featuring Heavy-K, has since included collaborations with prominent South African producers and artists, expanding her reach across Afro-house, amapiano and other evolving local sounds.
A Defining Moment
MaWhoo’s seven nominations at the Metro FM Awards represent more than recognition — they reflect a year defined by growth, cross-genre influence and measurable impact.
With nominations in both headline categories such as Artist of the Year and Best Female Artist, as well as culturally significant genres like Maskandi and Lekompo, she stands as one of the most versatile and commercially potent artists in the country right now.
