19th Icebolethu Crown Gospel Music Awards Reveal A Strong Line-Up Of Gospel Nominees

The 19th Icebolethu Crown Gospel Music Awards have unveiled a wide-ranging list of nominees that brings together established gospel names, emerging artists, choirs, groups and radio presenters from South Africa and other parts of the African continent. The nominations reflect the breadth of the gospel music industry, with categories covering songs, albums, collaborations, songwriting, music videos, live recordings and different musical styles. Among the recognised artists are some of the genre’s familiar names, alongside performers who are gaining attention through newer releases and projects. The awards will also highlight talent from countries including Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana, extending the celebration beyond South Africa. The 19th edition is scheduled to take place on 15 November 2026 at the Durban ICC.

Ntokozo Mbambo is among the high-profile names appearing on this year’s nomination list, earning recognition alongside 3C Live in the Best Worship Song category. Their nominated song, All Hail, places the celebrated singer alongside the gospel group in one of the awards’ key worship categories. Dumi Mkokstad is also nominated in Best Worship Song for Ngu Jesu (Bayede), while receiving an additional nomination for Best Songwriter for the same song. The multiple nominations give Mkokstad recognition for both his performance and songwriting contribution. These nominations highlight how the awards acknowledge different elements of the creative process rather than focusing only on an artist’s work as a performer.

Several other nominees also appear across more than one category, showing the broad reach of their work during the eligibility period. 3C Live features prominently across the nominations, with entries in Best Praise Song for I Sought The Lord, Best Worship Song for All Hail featuring Ntokozo Mbambo, Best Artist of the Year, Best Songwriter through Worthy Is the Lamb written by Ntokozo Ngobeni and Best Contemporary for Khunama (All Hail) featuring Dr Tumi. The group’s presence across songwriting, performance, collaboration and artist categories gives it a substantial footprint on this year’s nomination list. Breakthrough Worship ZA also receives nominations in several categories, including Gospel Album, Best Worship Song, Best Artist of the Year, Best Gospel Producer Album and Best Gospel Live Event or Recording. Its multiple appearances reflect the range of work being recognised across the awards.

Elle Tisane is another artist with nominations in several categories. She appears in the Female Gospel Artist category and is also nominated for Best Praise Song for Siyabonga, Best Worship Song for Matsohong, Best Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration for Ndi na o Maanda featuring Takie and Rofhiwa. Her nominations cover individual performance, songwriting and collaborative work, giving her a presence across several of the ceremony’s major categories. Kgethang Konese also receives multiple nominations, appearing in Male Gospel Artist, Best Praise Song for Rea Ho Leboga, Best Song of the Year for the same song and Best Artist of the Year. The range of these nominations demonstrates how a single artist’s work can receive recognition across different aspects of the awards.

Max Mqhakayi also features in more than one category, with nominations connected to his album The Effluence. He is nominated for Gospel Album, Best Newcomer, Best Songwriter and Best Gospel Producer Album, giving the artist recognition across both performance and production-related categories. His nominations are particularly notable because they combine emerging-artist recognition with acknowledgement of his songwriting and album work. The awards therefore place attention not only on established names but also on artists developing their careers and creative identities. His presence across the list contributes to the wider representation of newer talent at this year’s ceremony.

The nomination list also includes several artists whose work appears in more than one song-related category. Sibusiso Nzima is nominated for Male Gospel Artist and Best Collaboration alongside UN-LTD for Nobody Greater featuring Vashawn Mitchell. Ntokozo Ngongoma appears in Male Gospel Artist and Best Song of the Year for Jesu Uyilanga. Ndumiso Zungu is nominated for Best Itende Song with Songena Ngemithandazo and also appears in Best Song of the Year for the same song. Newie receives a nomination in Female Gospel Artist and another in Best Song of the Year for Songs of Hope, showing the different ways individual releases can receive recognition.

Thembinkosi Booi is also represented in multiple categories, appearing in Best Classic of All Time for Amatshe and Best Songwriter for Themba Inkosi. Mphotholozi receives nominations for Best Gospel Music Video for Nyakata (In the Sanctuary) and Best Gospel Live Event or Recording for the same project. UN-LTD and Sibusiso Nzima appear together in the Best Collaboration category, while Sibusiso also receives an individual nomination in Male Gospel Artist. These nominations show that the awards recognise both individual contributions and work created through partnerships. They also demonstrate the variety of formats represented, from recorded songs and videos to live gospel experiences.

The Best Male Gospel Artist category features Sibusiso Nzima, Canaan Nyathi, Ntokozo Ngongoma and Kgethang Konese. The Female Gospel Artist category includes Phiri, Elle Tisane and Newie. These categories provide space for artists to be recognised for their broader work rather than a single song or project. The nominations also reflect a mix of artists at different points in their careers. Alongside these individual categories, the awards include several categories that examine particular musical styles and forms of gospel expression.

The Gospel Album category features Tshwane Gospel Choir for Harmony of Prayers Part 1, Max Mqhakayi for The Effluence, Breakthrough Worship ZA for Breakthrough Worship ZA Volume 1 & 2 and Nozipho Phiri for Essence of Faith (Wangethula). The Best Traditional Gospel category includes Bucy Radebe for Re Tla Thaba, Isha for Back to Basics and Sneziey for Sinomlilo, as well as NominI Nyawose for Ngizomethemba medley-hosana. These nominations show the continued presence of traditional gospel alongside contemporary approaches to the genre. The awards also make room for different musical structures, ensuring that the nomination list is not limited to one particular sound or style.

The Best Praise Song category includes 3C Live for I Sought The Lord, Kgethang Konese for Rea Ho Leboga, Crystal T for Mountain Moving Faith and Elle Tisane for Siyabonga. The Best Worship Song category features 3C Live featuring Ntokozo Mbambo for All Hail, Elle Tisane for Matsohong, Dumi Mkokstad for Ngu Jesu (Bayede) and Breakthrough Worship ZA featuring Khaya Mthethwa for Live Again. These categories place songs with different approaches to praise and worship alongside one another. They also highlight the role of individual singers, groups and collaborations in shaping the current gospel music landscape.

The Best Song of the Year nominations bring together Umlazi Gospel Choir The Original for Lalel’indaba, Ndumiso Zungu for Songena Ngemithandazo, Ntokozo Ngongoma for Jesu Uyilanga, Kgethang Konese for Rea Ho Leboga, Newie for Songs of Hope and Rev Ngcobo for Mkhulu Uyesabeka/Zange Angathembeki. The Best Artist of the Year category includes Breakthrough Worship ZA, Elle Tisane, Cannan Nyathi and Kgethang Konese. These categories provide some of the broader recognition at the awards because they bring together work that has made an impact across different parts of an artist’s career. The nominations also demonstrate how certain songs and artists appear repeatedly throughout the wider list.

Collaborative music receives significant attention through the Best Collaboration category. UN-LTD and Sibusiso Nzima are nominated for Nobody Greater featuring Vashawn Mitchell, while Banele Mahlangu receives recognition for O Ya Halalela featuring Dr Tumi. Sipho Makhabane is nominated alongside Black Mambazo for Ukukhanya, while Elle Tisane receives a nomination with Takie and Rofhiwa for Ndi na o Maanda. The presence of collaborations involving artists from different creative backgrounds adds another dimension to the awards. It also reflects how gospel music continues to create opportunities for artists to combine their voices and audiences.

The awards also recognise musical formats beyond conventional solo and group recordings. The Best Acapella Solo or Group category features Di Bruin Gospel Project, Isaac and the Mighty Messengers, Amadodana We Buhlebesizwe and JTG Gospel Choir. The Best Clap and Tap category includes Isaac and the Mighty Messengers, Rustcorg Foundation, The New Believers of God Gospel Singers and The Great Junior Mystical Gospel Singers. Meanwhile, the Best Gospel Music Video category features Mphotholozi for Nyakata (In the Sanctuary), Umlazi Gospel Choir The Original for Lalel’indaba, MJ Mvala for Usenguye featuring Jerry Madubela and Paul K for Motse. These categories demonstrate the awards’ attention to different forms of gospel performance and presentation.

The Best Gospel Live Event or Recording category includes Umlazi Gospel Choir The Original for Lalela’indaba, Mphotholozi for Nyakata, Breakthrough Worship ZA for Breakthrough Worship ZA Volume 1 & 2 and The Great Junior Mystical Gospel for Jeso Konyaka. The Best Contemporary category features Adrae Jacobs for Rise, Max Mqhakayi for The Effluence, UN-LTD and Sibusiso Nzima for Nobody Greater featuring Vashawn Mitchell and 3C Live featuring Dr Tumi for Khunama (All Hail). There is also recognition for Best Amazon, with Atezs, UniZulu, Ukulunga KwamaKrestu and The Legends Isikhonyane Church among the nominees. Together, these categories broaden the awards beyond individual vocal performances and acknowledge projects, recordings and creative approaches.

The international nominations add an important continental dimension to the ceremony. The Best of Africa Male category features Sphiwo Ndoni from Eswatini, Tatenda Mahachi from Zimbabwe, Everton Mlalazi from Zimbabwe and Edson Matavele from Botswana. The Best of Africa Female category includes Nothando Hlophe from Eswatini, Nothando Dlamini from Eswatini, Sesame from Botswana, Shekinah Motsa from Eswatini and Eleana Makombe from Zimbabwe. The Best Gospel Group category also includes EBMQ, Impact Co, Omama BeTende and Gauteng Gospel Choir. These nominations show that the awards are creating space for gospel artists and groups whose work extends beyond South Africa.

The 19th Icebolethu Crown Gospel Music Awards will take place on 15 November 2026 at the Durban ICC, bringing the nominated artists and groups together for the awards ceremony. The full nomination list reflects an industry with established performers, emerging voices, choirs, groups, songwriters, producers and radio personalities contributing in different ways. Artists such as Dumi Mkokstad, 3C Live, Elle Tisane, Kgethang Konese and Max Mqhakayi are among those recognised in multiple categories, while the wider list captures a broad cross-section of gospel music. The nominations also extend across South Africa and other parts of Africa, giving the ceremony a wider musical representation. With so many different categories represented, the 2026 awards are set to celebrate the range of talent, creativity and musical work currently shaping the gospel scene.