Meet the 2025 nominees for the National Arts and Culture Awards: celebrating South Africa's creative talent

Creatives in South Africa are set to be honoured as the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture officially released the nominees of this year's National Arts & Culture Awards (NACA).

Previously known as the Cultural and Creative Industry Awards, it aims to spotlight the extraordinary achievements of South Africans whose contributions shape the cultural landscape of the nation.

This year’s nominees span multiple disciplines, including film, literature, design, visual arts, heritage and performance. 

Durban film producer Jacintha de Nobrega's "London Recruits", which opened the 2024 Joburg Film Festival, will go up against Gregory Molale's "Language of My Soul" and Molatelo Bossman's "6 Kings & 6 Queens" in the Outstanding Documentary Film category.

Artists Wayne Bosch, Mphumelelo Dlamini and Kerolin Govender will compete for the Outstanding Musician award. 

KZN Museum, William Humphreys Art Gallery and The War Museum of the Boer Republics have been nominated for the Outstanding Museum award, while Kedar Heritage Lodge, Freedom Park Heritage Site Museum and The Playhouse Company will vie for the most Outstanding Cultural Landscape award.

"The National Arts and Culture Awards are about more than recognition. They are about remembering who we are, celebrating who we’ve become and encouraging what we can still be. Congratulations to all the nominees. Your work is the heartbeat of our creative legacy," shared Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.

The awards ceremony is set to take centre stage at Sun City on August 22, and for the first time, it will be broadcast live on SABC1. 

Full list of nominees.

Outstanding Documentary Film

"Language of My Soul" - Gregory Molale

"London Recruits" - Jacintha de Nobrega

"6 Kings & 6 Queens" - Molatelo Bossman

Outstanding Documentary Series

"Breaking Down Borders" - Paul Modjadji

"School Ties" - Richard Gregory

"Free at Last" - Xoliswa Sithole

Outstanding Film Fiction Award

"Inkabi" - Norman Maake

"Die Kwiksilwers" - Jordy Sank

"Old Righteous Blues" Catharina Weinek

Outstanding Musician Award

Wayne Bosch

Mphumelelo Dlamini

Kerolin Govender

Outstanding Actor in Theatre

Ayanda Sibisi

Brittany Hope Smith

Tshireletso Nkoane

Outstanding Theatre Production

"Nkoli the Vogue" - Llewellyn Mnguni

"A Street Taxi Named Desire" - Obett Motaung

"Sikelela" - Lungile Themba

Outstanding Dance Production

"!ke e: /xarra//ke Diverse people unite" - Sibonakaliso Ndaba

"Ingoma" - Moeketsi Koena

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" - Joburg Ballet

Outstanding Poet Performance

Buzetsheni Mkhohliseni

Napo Masheane

Mbali Malimela

Outstanding Cultural Landscape Award

Kedar Heritage Lodge

Freedom Park Heritage Site Museum

The Playhouse Company

Outstanding Museum Award

KZN Museum

William Humphreys Art Gallery

The War Museum of the Boer Republics

Outstanding Book, Fiction Award

"The Equality of Shadows" - Charl-Pierre Naudé

"Buried in the Chest" - Lindani Mbunyuza-Memani

"The Comrade’s Wife" - Barbara Boswell

Outstanding Book, Non-Fiction Award

"Irascible" - Kevin van Wyk

"100 Years of Dispossession" - Lebogang Seale

"Skaduwees en Geheime" - Reneal Davids

Outstanding Children’s Fiction Book

"Big Shoes to Fill" - Upile Siyatandwa Bongco

"Golden Girl" - by Lorato Trok

"Sanda Makes Some Money" - Yamkela Tywakadi

Outstanding Publisher Award

Andrea Nattrass, Pan MacMillan

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho, Vhakololo Press

Joanne Hichens, Tattoo Press

Outstanding Architecture or Interior Designer

Asher Zachary Marcus

Lindie Buirski

Atusaye Msiska

Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer

Mpumelelo Dhlamini

Mzukisi Mbane

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana

Outstanding Crafter Award

Bernadette Swartz

Rebecca Mushaisano Matibe

Majolandile Samuel Dyalvane

Outstanding Curator Award

Gavin Krastin

Nontobeko Ntombela

Tshegofatso Emily Seoka

Outstanding Visual Artist Award

Malebogo Naticia Molokoane

Hari Lualhati

Lerato Lodi