MASO Music Awards 2025 in Malawi: All the winners

Namadingo and Lady Aika were among the night’s most prominent winners, taking home the top male and female artist awards, respectively. Eli Njuchi’s album Cifu won Best Album, while Joe Ikon and Oana were recognised as Best New Artist in the male and female categories.

In music-specific categories, Tuli’s track was awarded Best Song, while Phyzix’s ‘Super Star’ won Best Collaboration. The Best Producer award went to Cuff B, with Driemo’s ‘Magini’ taking Best Music Video and Keong Kadango receiving Best Music Video Director.

Gospel artists were also recognised, with Kelvin Sings and Theresa Phondo winning Best Male and Female Gospel Acts. The Best Gospel Song accolade went to Takulandirani by the Masintha Women’s Choir. Other genre winners included Toast (Best Hip-Hop Act), Praise Umali (Best Afro Soul Act), Sife Mw (Best Local Sound Act), Malinga (Best Dancehall Act), and Teddy Makadi (Best RnB & Pop Act). Joe Ikon additionally won Best Stage/Live Performance, while YoMaps received Best Southern African Performance. DJ Maaz was awarded Best Club DJ.

The awards also recognised group performances and collaborations, with Trappy Beats and Cizzle winning Best Duo/Group.

Below is the full list of winners: 

Music Categories

Best Artist (Male)

• Namadingo
• Onesimus
• Eli Njuchi
• Teddy Makadi
• Joe Ikon
• Kell Kay
• Driemo
• Praise Umali

Best Artist (Female)

• Lady Aika
• Sangie
• Theresa Phondo
• Temwa
• Jetu
• Sife Mw

Best Upcoming Artist (Male)

• Joe Ikon
• Top Tik
• Lyvwa
• Chain Oh Abebu
• Eugine Reign
• Loiso
• Ajuh Guffi
• Viddix

Best Upcoming Artist (Female)

• Tink Oana
• Naerae
• Christar Kyla
• Oath
• Annette Nandine
• Morale The Rapper
• Rossetta
• Stacey

Best Song

• ‘Tuli’ — Namadingo
• ‘Aumvere Fungo’ — Waison Makalamu & Various Artists
• ‘Pangolin’ — Jetu
• ‘Magini’ — Driemo
• ‘Tabwera’ — Onesimus
• ‘Chedwa’ — Ajuh Guffi
• ‘Composure’ — Eli Njuchi
• ‘By Faith’ — Lady Aika

Best Collabo

• ‘Superstar’ — Chizmo, K Banton, Ace Jizzy, Bee Jay & Veda Njuchi
• ‘Ndikubereka’ — Trappy Beats & Cizzle
• ‘Khalidwe’ — Lulu & Driemo
• ‘Nkhawa Ndilibe’ — Joe Ikon, Aidfest & Kineo
• ‘Nditayenda Nanu’ — Theresa Phondo ft. Namadingo
• ‘Sinzapanganso’ — Kell Kay ft. Macelba & Achina Gattah Aise
• ‘Composure’ — Charisma ft. Zeze Kingston
• ‘Jah Bless’ — BeeJay & Ace Jeezy ft. Daredevils

Best Album

• ‘Cifu’ — Eli Njuchi
• ‘Maluba’ — Merchah
• ‘With Love Makadi’ — Teddy Makadi
• ‘20 Somethings’ — Praise Umali
• ‘Files’ — Toast
• ‘The King Against the World’ — Med C
• ‘Udikirebe’ — Amidu Ellan
• ‘Lameki’ — Provoice
• ‘Faith + Hope + Love’ — Theresa Phondo

Best Music Video

• ‘Magini’ — Driemo
• ‘Lawi’ — Eugine Reigns
• ‘Pray for Me’ — Theresa Phondo ft. Praise Umali
• ‘Ndatopa’ — Kell Kay
• ‘Sikoyamba’ — Afana Ceez
• ‘Cigarette’ — Onesimus
• ‘How Are You?’ — Mic Mash
• ‘Tuli’ — Namadingo

Best Producer

• Cuff B
• Richard Billy
• J Mass
• Chawa Beats
• Tricky Beats
• BFB
• Savage
• DJ Megi

Best Music Video Director

• Keong Kadango
• Seany Films
• Twice P
• Staffa Awash
• Ron Cz
• VJ Ken
• Director Tonney
• Director Kante

Best Gospel Act (Male)

• Kelvin Sings
• Paul Kachala
• Beracah
• Alex Nkalo
• Simplice Bless
• Madalitso Banda

Best Gospel Act (Female)

• Theresa Phondo
• Miracle Chinga
• Shyreen
• Chisomo Chimoto
• Masintha Women’s Choir
• Likiliki Ladies

Best Gospel Song

• ‘Takulandirani’ — Masintha Women’s Choir
• ‘Wake Wake’ — Great Angels Choir
• ‘M’modzi’ — Miracle Chinga
• ‘Kuyenda Nanu’ — Theresa Phondo ft. Namadingo
• ‘Chilengedwe’ — Likiliki Ladies
• ‘Jehovah’ — Kelvin Sings
• ‘Kungoyamika’ — Chisomo Chimoto

Best Duo/Group

• Trappy Beats & Cizzle
• Aidfest & Kineo
• Mzuzu Mafia
• Tadala & Tsagonja
• Black Missionaries
• Zacks Chihana & Prophet Habakuku

Best Club DJ

• DJ Maaz
• Mighty Virus
• DJ Happy
• DJ Boo
• DJ Bubblegum
• Sindi Sound

Best Hip Hop Act

• Toast
• Crispy Malawi
• Charisma
• Mic Mash
• BeeJay & Ace Jizzy
• Emm Zibry
• IKK
• Phyzix

Best Afro Soul Act

• Praise Umali
• Dr. Joram
• Lawi
• Nathaniel Chaluchalu
• Maggie Kadrum

Best Local Sound Act

• Sife Mw
• Amidu Elan
• Gibo Pearson
• Madalitso Band
• Aumvere Fungo by Waison Makalamu
• Fred Mw

Best Dancehall Act

• Malinga
• Sean Morgan
• Chizmo Njuchi
• Med C
• Bieg Man
• Pro Voice
• Kellie Devine
• Veda Njuchi

Best RnB & Pop Act

• Teddy Makadi
• Bucci
• Onesimus
• Kell Kay
• Eli Njuchi
• Driemo
• Qaso
• Merchah

Best Stage/Live Performance

• Joe Ikon
• Bucci
• Charisma
• Temwa
• Maggie Kadrum
• Namadingo
• Mic Mash
• Fada Moti

Best Southern African Performance

• Yo Maps
• Scot Maphuma
• Makhadzi
• Amanda Black
• Nkosazana Daughter
• Emmo
• Pompi

Film Categories

Best Actor

• Amos Nsekandiana (Jaliwa)
• Innocent Manyera (Nikalagwa)
• Tumpa Nigel Ntaya (Phwedo)
• Eugine Madede (M’burundi)
• Edwin Chonde
• Pleasant Theodore Banda

Best Actress

• Sangie
• Tapika Singini
• Desire Namachotsa
• Sophie Mponda
• Sibusiswe Chasweka
• Joyce Chavula

Best Feature Film

• Welcome to Maula Prison
• The Gunless Soldier
• Justice
• The Hard Way

Best Film Series

• Usauver
• Issues
• Pa Mango Lodge
• The Trap Series
• Mdyangu
• Agent Lwando

Fashion Categories

Best Fashion Designer

• Qanary & Rich Baby
• Ruth Chirwa
• Xandria
• Uppie Designs
• Ranks45
• Dolphin
• Miss Pearl

Best Model (Male)

• Cremora
• Daniel Chikaipa
• Hackson
• A1 Autum
• Landry
• Edwards Davis

Best Model (Female)

• Nefiti Ntaba
• Monalisa Kafuwa
• Small Wife
• Edith Mafubza
• Thandie Chisi
• Trintas
• Xania

Visual Arts & Poetry

Best Visual Artist (Male)

• Madalitso Ziwaoh
• Chimwemwe Luwanda
• Jethro Longwe
• Nyangu Chidola
• Lovemore Chimpanga
• Elis Singano

Best Visual Artist (Female)

• Tee Mlinga
• Nataliah Provah
• Mable Tikhala Wasi
• Amabel Banda
• Vanessa Maganga
• Alinafe Chapungu

Best Graphic Designer

• Half Past
• Moze Arts
• Martin Chakwawa
• Smart Kayira
• William Chiwanda

Best Event Photographer

• Amuna Chisale
• Moses Sephasie
• Ron Cz (Red ink media)
• Martin Kadewere
• Script
• Joe Chirambo

Best Dancing Group

• 7 Arts
• Adobe Dance Crew
• Invisible Dance Crew
• Real Victory Dance Crew
• Beginners Dance Crew
• The Gap Connection

Best Poet (Vernacular)

• Joel Charley
• Mlakatuli Kenson
• Rajab Anussa
• Anoyi The Poet
• Jane Senenje
• Yona Mlakatuli Gondwe

Best Poet (English)

• Monalisa Alfonso
• Refilwe Ntopa
• Vanessa Kameza
• Dark Shadow
• Tchu Chisiza
• Ponell Bangula

Content Creation & Media

Best Content Creator (Male)

• Mahempe
• Chippie
• Abba M’bangali
• Tricky Nkhata
• Spanner Malawi
• Ma-IdyAbles

Best Content Creator (Female)

• Taurai Mache Yvone
• Mariam Angel
• Tupochere
• Yuki Mataya
• Hanareen Doness
• Yo Bouy Spi

Best Rising Content Creator

• Ken Alufisha
• Janah Boy
• Chriss Jay
• Jupepe
• Prince Rice
• Tommy Shadow

Best Media Personality (Digital & Traditional)

• Joab Chakhaza
• Catherine Maulidi
• Brian Banda
• Leah Malekano
• Victor Daffrece
• Nya Uyu

Institutional Category

Best Pro Arts University/College

• UNIMA (Chanco)
• NRC
• LUANAR (Bunda)
• MUST
• MUBAS
• Domasi College

Honorary Categories

MASO Lifetime Achievement Award

• Jai Banda – Founder of Entertainers Promotion

MASO Humanitarian Award

• Dr. Shepherd Bushiri – Founder of ECG The Jesus Nation

MASO Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year

• Richard Chirwa – Founder & CEO of Fadeth Furnishers