The Standard Bank Young Artist Awards

The Young Artist Awards, sponsored by Standard Bank, are presented by the National Arts Festival Artistic Committee to emerging, relatively young South African artists who have demonstrated exceptional ability in their chosen fields but who have not yet achieved national exposure and acclaim.

Festival Committee members, fellow artists and interested members of the public, nominate artists. The NAF Committee, a group of experts in the various arts disciplines, decides on the final recipients.

Designed to encourage the recipients in the pursuit of their careers, a key aspect of the awards is that they guarantee the artists a place on the Main Programme of the forthcoming National Arts Festival. Apart from a cash prize, each of the winners receive substantial financial backing for their Festival participation whether this involves the mounting of an exhibition or the staging of a production.

Generally, five awards are made annually in any one of the disciplines of drama, music, jazz, visual art, dance, film and performance art. A complete list of previous winners is as follows:

Young Artist Award Winners 2025 to 1981

2025

Muneyi – Music
Calvin Ratladi – Drama
Asanda Ruda – Dance
Siyasanga Charles – Jazz
Nyakallo Maleke – Visual Art
Modise Segothe – Poetry

2024

Due to COVID, the SBYA works were for several years presented the year after they were awarded – so the 2021 Award winners presented on the 2022 Festival etc. In 2025, the naming of the awards was reset to match the year of presentation, so this year’s awards were presented, but are listed under SBYA 2025.

2023

Zoë Modiga – Music
Kgomotso ‘MoMo’ Matsunyane – Drama
Lorin Sookool – Dance
Darren English – Jazz
Stephané Conradie – Visual Art
Angel Ho – Performance Art

2022

Msaki – Music
Billy Langa & Mahlatsi Mokgonyana – Drama
Sylvester Thamsanqa Majela – Dance
Linda Sikhakane – Jazz
Lady Skollie – Visual Art
Koleka Putuma – Poetry

2021

Cara Stacey
Thando Doni
Kristi-Leigh Gresse
Vuma Levin
Buhlebezwe Siwani
Gavin Krastin – Performance Art

2020

Nthato Mokgata – Music
Jefferson Tshabalala – Drama
Lulu Prudence Mlangeni – Dance
Sisonke Xonti – Jazz
Blessing Ngobeni – Visual Art

2019

Megan-Geoffrey Prins – Music
Amy Jephta – Drama
Kitty Phetla – Dance
Mandla Mlangeni – Jazz
Gabrielle Goliath – Visual Art

2018

Guy Buttery – Music
Jemma Kahn – Drama
Musa Hlatshwayo – Dance
Thandi Ntuli – Jazz
Igshaan Adams – Visual Art
Chuma Sopotela – Performance Art

2017

Abel Selaocoe – Music
Monageng ‘Vice’ Motshabi – Drama
Thandazile Radebe – Dance
Benjamin Jephta – Jazz
Beth Armstrong – Visual Art
Dineo Bopape – Performance Art

2016

Avigail Bushakevitz – Music
Jade Bowers – Drama
Themba Mbuli – Dance
Siya Makuzeni – Jazz
Mohau Modisakeng – Visual Art

2015

Musa Ngqunqwana – Music
Christiaan Olwagen – Drama
Luyanda Sibiya – Dance
Nduduzo Makhathini – Jazz
Kemang Wa Lehurele – Visual Art
Athi Patra Ruga – Performance Art

2014

Njabulo Madlala – Music
Greg Homann – Drama
Nicola Elliott – Dance
Kyle Shepherd – Jazz
Hasan & Husain Essop – Visual Art
Jahmil XT Qubeka – Film
Donna Kukama – Performance Art

2013

Runette Botha – Music
Prince Lamla – Drama
Fana Tshabalala – Dance
Shane Cooper – Jazz
Mary Sibande – Visual Art
Anthea Moys – Performance Art

2012

Kelebogile Boikanyo – Music
Princess Mhlongo – Drama
Bailey Snyman – Dance
Afrika Mkhize – Jazz
Mikhael Subotzky – Visual Art

2011

Ben Schoeman – Music
Neil Coppen – Drama
Mamela Nyamza – Dance
Bokani Dyer – Jazz
Nandipha Mntambo – Visual Art

2010

Samson Diamond – Music
Janni Younge – Drama
Mlu Zondi – Dance
Melanie Scholtz – Jazz
Michael MacGarry – Visual Art
Claire Angelique – Film

2009

Jacques Imbrailo – Music
Ntshieng Mokgoro – Drama
Thabo Rapoo – Dance
Kesivan Naidoo – Jazz
Nicholas Hlobo – Visual Art

2008

Zanne Stapelberg – Music
Jaco Bouwer – Drama
Dada Masilo – Dance
Mark Fransman – Jazz
Nontsikelelo Veleko – Visual Art

2007

Bronwen Forbay – Music
Acty Tang – Dance
Shannon Mowday – Jazz
Pieter Hugo – Visual Art
Akin Omotoso – Film

2006

Sylvaine Strike – Drama
Hlengiwe Lushaba – Dance
Concord Nkabinde – Jazz
Churchill Madikida – Visual Art

2005

Andile Yenana – Music
Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom – Drama
Peter John Sabbagha – Dance
Wim Botha – Visual Art
Ramolao Makhene – Standard Bank Special Award for the invaluable contribution to and significant achievement in Theatre – posthumous award

2004

Tutu Puoane – Music
Mncedisi Baldwin Shabangu – Drama
Portia Lebogang Mashigo – Dance
Kathryn Smith – Visual Art
Moses Taiwa Molelekwa – Standard Bank Special Award for the invaluable contribution to and significant achievement in Music – posthumous award

2003

Angela Gilbert – Music
Yael Farber – Drama
Moya Michael – Dance
Berni Searle – Visual Art
Dumisani Phakhati – Film

2002

Prince Kupi – Music
Sello Maake Ka-Ncube – Drama
Gregory Vuyani Maqoma – Dance
Brett Murray – Visual Art

2001

Fikile Mvinjelwa – Music
Brett Bailey – Drama
Tracey Human – Dance
Walter Oltmann – Visual Art

2000

Gloria Bosman – Music
Zenzi Mbuli – Drama
Alan Alborough – Visual Art

1999

No awards given

1998

Bongani Ndodana-Breen – Music
Aubrey Sekhabi – Drama
David Mudanalo Matamela and Debbie Rakusin – Dance
Nhlanhla Xaba – Visual Art

1997

Sibongile Mngoma – Opera
Geoffrey Hyland – Drama
Lien Botha – Visual Arts
Alfred Hinkel – Standard Bank Special Award for invaluable contribution to and significant achievement in Dance