Creators Grace Mondlana and Lasizwe Dambuza celebrate their awards at the first-ever Humanz Top 20 Awards in South Africa.
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Content creation has grown into one of the most promising industries, and through it, people have been able to build careers and businesses doing what they love.
Many started by simply taking their phones, shooting videos, and posting them online; now they are working with brands doing influencer marketing, creating high-end content, collaborating with videographers and photographers.
At the first-ever Humanz Top 20 Awards in South Africa, creators speaking to IOL acknowledged how the industry was changing, with it being taken more seriously.
Humanz is a 360-degree AI-powered influencer marketing platform designed to help creators and brands grow together. The platform officially launched in South Africa in September 2019, following pilot projects earlier that year.
The platform connects brands with content creators and is data-driven. The awards recognise outstanding contributions to the creator and influencer marketing industry while spotlighting a new generation of talent shaping the future of digital influence.
Nadia Jaftha, who has previously won awards for her work in content creation, expressed that it's a good feeling to be recognised, but admits that it's also never a feeling that you really get used to.
Jaftha reflected that the industry is becoming a bit more regulated and shared her excitement for what the future holds for creators.
“Start to see it as more of a business venture as opposed to just like a hobby or like a sideline thing. The emergence of the new age of creator is something to be very excited about.”
Siya "Bunny" Bani expressed how excited and happy she was over the honour. “It actually feels like what I've been doing all these years has finally landed.”
Bandele Ndaba
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Known for her engaging fashion and lifestyle content, Bani offered her perspective on the differences in the industry now compared to when she first began.
“I think there's a bigger chance for virality now than there was back then, but I do think that there's still space for real value and kind of giving something to your audience and basically having an impact.”
Last year, Bani launched a content studio, Great Concept Studios, that has since been a part of many other creator stories. “Just kind of seeing other creators come into the space and what they do with the space and the content that they turn out from my studio is quite something.”
Creator Tadéus Mbatha has carved out a unique place in digital culture through his spot-on lip-sync performances of popular South African TV shows. He highlighted the increasing emphasis on authenticity in content creation, noting that people are becoming more comfortable being themselves.
For the first time in her 10 years of content creation, this is the first time Thandi Gama is being recognised and given an award. “It's really exciting that after like 10 years of doing this, people are actually seeing the work that I've been putting out.”
Ndivhuwo Muhanelwa
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Gama began her journey as an early adopter of YouTube culture, sharing beauty, lifestyle, and makeup content. In 2025, she opened The Paris Edit, a content studio.
“When I started, it was more just about sharing information, you know, on products and everything.
“Now it's like people are sharing their lives. People are taking us through their journeys in terms of their industries and work. We're learning so much beyond just beauty. When I started, it was all about beauty. Now I'm learning about industries that I never thought I'd learn about before.”
Ndivhuwo Muhanelwa, popularly known as Nochillgod, began by sharing memes online and then transitioned into putting himself in front of the camera. He highlighted that the industry is changing with AI coming into play and evolving into a professional business.
“When we started, most of the time when people start, they don't really understand the content creation, but now there are resources that are helping us to understand what content creation is.
“The business side of content creation, professionalism, because most of us will start with a phone. We don't even know the business side of it.”
Siya Bani
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Mbali Nhlapho started her journey by sharing simple tips as a housekeeper; her tagline stuck and opened doors for her.
“I started as a housekeeper, but now I am finding myself in the influencer industry and the content creation. The journey has been so overwhelming and enjoyable. I'm loving every moment. I love everything about it.”
Banele Ndaba, popularly known as Moghelingz, was honoured to be among the top 20 creators who are worth following. “I think it's such a beautiful thing and most importantly, it kind of gives me some kind of validation that the work that I put into the art of concen creation really is worth watching and it's also valuable.”
Having started content creation about five years ago, Ndaba sees that people in the industry are more vulnerable than when he started content creation.
“I think when we started, we had a specific idea in our minds that we should try and sound a certain way or look a certain way to kind of fit the standard because social media came in at a time where we were all just looking at our phones.
“We took that opportunity to actually change the narrative and do what we thought was a way of expressing ourselves, and that continues to grow gradually.”
Tadeus Mbatha.
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Amahle-Imvelo Jaxa, or simply Jaxx, is a South African digital creator, social activist, political educator and media personality whose voice has become one of the most influential among young audiences in 2025.
Having taken content creation full-time, Jaxa understands that content creation is a full-time job and welcomes the changes and regulations that are happening.
“I do welcome the regulation, especially to protect brands from influencers and influencers from brands. We've seen when influencing can go wrong and hopefully the new regulations will kind of protect us and protect consumers.”
Lasizwe Dambuza is one of the most influential influencers in the country, with a decade in the industry and he has seen his fair share of changes. He reflected that the one thing he doesn't like about the industry is how it has become very toxic and dark.
“Like everything is just dark. let's bring light, let's bring happiness, and let's spread joy,”
Dambuza admits that the business side of content creation has been challenging. “It's a business that doesn't have a university qualification or anything like that.
“It's every day you're trialling and figuring out what can work, what doesn't work and sometimes there's months where you don't get paid and you have to just figure it out, and there's some months where okay, cool, we're making a living here.”
Among the changes creators are dealing with is understanding the South African Revenue Services, which is something Dambuza has been vocal about. “It's very interesting to realise that, in certain parts of South Africa, we are considered a business.
Grace Mondlana is one creator who has trending power in South Africa; whether one is following her or not, you might have come across her profile. Mondlana has been a creator for a little under four years now and she says recognition is honestly fulfilling to the creative ideas that she has.
Mondlana says the shifts in the industry mean that it's progressing, which is a positive thing. “I found the game, existing, but I believe I had an input in putting it a little bit to the top, especially in lifestyle content in South Africa. To be a contribution to that, it's fulfilling.”
The Humans Top 20 Awards recognise creators who embody integrity, innovation, and measurable performance within the creator ecosystem. Over the past year, these individuals have demonstrated outstanding impact and potential, positioning themselves as future leaders in the content creator industry.
The inaugural list of winners was selected through a combination of algorithms from the Humanz platform and human review.
Thato Rampedi (@thatorampedi)
Primo Baloyi (@primo9teen)
Amahle-Imvelo Jaxa (@jaxx_amahle)
Ervè Bukasa (@ervebukasa)
Dr Katlego Selikane (@drk_selikane)
Siya Bani (@siyabunny)
Grace Mondlana (@grace.mondlana)
Mbali Nhlapho (@mbalinhlaphoo)
Nadia Jaftha (@nadiajaftha)
Rasheeqah Karriem (@rasheeqah_karriem)
Robot Boii (@robot_boii)
Banele Ndaba (@moghelingz)
Popi Sibiya (@popi_sibiya)
Ndivhuwo Muhanelwa (@nochillgod)
Farren Cloete (@officially_farrencloete)
Lasizwe Dambuza (@lasizwe)
Onezwa Mbola (@onezwambola)
Thandi Gama (@thandigama)
Bongani Baloyi (@Bongani_RSA)
Tadeus Mbatha (@Tadeus_official)
Beyond celebrating established excellence, the awards spotlighted the next generation of digital influence through the Top 10 Up and Coming Creators sub-category.
Anika Dambuza (@thecitymakoti), Tefelo Mathabe (@tefelo.a.m), Hlomani Nketani (@hlomani.sa), Gloria Ngcobo (@fitglor), Zintle Mofokeng (@zintlezee), Lerato Nkabinde (@lovefromlerato), Sezgzyunicorn (@segzyunicorn), Sinemivuyo Mpulu (@sinethevoiceartist), Smangele Shabalala (@mncwatjies) and Anarzade Omar (@anarzade) have either launched their platforms or significantly scaled their presence within the past year, demonstrating exceptional growth, strong engagement, and remarkable potential.
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