Standard Bank Young Artist Awards Celebrates 40 Years of Legacy
Standard Bank, in proud partnership with the National Arts Festival, has announced the 2025 recipients of the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards (SBYA)—a milestone moment marking 40 years of celebrating South Africa’s most exceptional artistic visionaries.
This year’s winners reflect a fearless new generation who are not only responding to the world around them but boldly reshaping it.
“We are proud to support this new generation of visionaries as they continue to shape the future of our cultural landscape and ensure that our creative heritage thrives for decades to come,” said Bonga Sebesho, Standard Bank’s Group Head of Sponsorship.
Since its inception, the SBYA has honoured over 180 game-changing talents across a variety of disciplines—from William Kentridge and Mbongeni Ngema to Nduduzo Makhathini—creating a constellation of South Africa’s brightest cultural figures.
Meet the 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winners
Each of this year’s honourees is pushing the boundaries of their discipline, forging global paths rooted in South African identity, heritage, and innovation.
Asanda Ruda (Dance)
From Soweto to international stages, Ruda’s work fuses myth, movement, and memory. Her acclaimed solo, Kemet (Black Lands), earned her the 2025 Choreographers Research Residency Award in Paris and a place among the world’s most compelling dance innovators.
Siyasanga “Siya” Charles (Jazz)
A Juilliard-trained trombonist and global collaborator, Charles blends South African jazz tradition with fresh flair through her Siya Charles Sextet. Her sound is both a tribute and a bold reimagining of the genre.
Muneyi (Music)
Born in Limpopo, Muneyi draws inspiration from his grandmother and the oral traditions of Tshivenda storytelling. His music resonates with personal truth, collective memory, and a sound that transcends borders.
Modise Sekgothe (Poetry)
A master of performance poetry, Sekgothe transforms spoken word into a sonic experience. His work has echoed from Washington DC to Brussels, continually bending genre conventions and rethinking poetic form.
Calvin Ratladi (Theatre)
Award-winning and interdisciplinary, Ratladi’s immersive theatre is both experimental and accessible. With Ovation Awards and international showcases under his belt, his vision for South African theatre is expansive and transformative.
Nyakallo Maleke (Visual Arts)
With exhibitions across Europe and a Master’s from Switzerland’s edhea, Maleke’s intricate drawings explore migration, memory, and the body. Her work reframes drawing as both artform and archive.
An Award That Opens Doors
Winning an SBYA is more than recognition—it’s a launchpad. Each recipient receives a financial prize, mentorship, and a feature slot at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, one of Africa’s most prestigious arts stages.
“The Standard Bank Young Artist Awards continue to ignite the future of South African arts by celebrating visionary talent and inspiring new creative possibilities,” said Monica Newton, CEO of the National Arts Festival.
A Legacy of Creative Investment
For over 40 years, Standard Bank has remained a cornerstone of South Africa’s cultural landscape. Its ongoing investment in the arts—through platforms like the SBYA, the National Arts Festival, and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz—underscores its belief in the transformative power of creativity.
As the 2025 SBYA recipients prepare to share their work with the world, their journeys stand as powerful reminders of the role artists play in imagining new futures—and of the institutions that help make those futures possible.