Feather Awards 2026: Dominic Zaca, Credo V Daniels, Grace Mondlana nominated

The Feather Awards 2026 have been announced, with three notable nominees making headlines: Dominic Zaca, Credo V Daniels, and Grace Mondlana. The awards, in their 18th edition, were announced at Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, on Thursday, October 1st. This year's theme, "The Signature Edition," highlights the significance of the awards' anniversary and aims to encourage young South Africans to contribute to the country's future amid funding cuts and an upcoming local government election cycle.

Zaca, nominated for Hot Chick of the Year, has been involved in a controversy following allegations of physical abuse, financial manipulation, and deception against his ex-partner, Anathi Mvambi. The claims were made public through leaked messages between Zaca and influencer Jasmine Gqwede, as well as an alleged voice note suggesting a script that portrayed Zaca as funding Mvambi for a year.

Zaca has responded by admitting to giving the story to Gqwede but denying any fabrication of the abuse claims, stating that the leak was meant to control the narrative after being blackmailed. Mvambi has disputed these allegations on his social media platforms.

Daniels, nominated for Drama Queen of the Year, shares the award with Limpopo Boy and Mel Viljoen. His fast-rising career has been met with backlash after the launch of his debut album, Still Where We Were. Clips of his live performance of the hit "Sedilaka" showed discrepancies between his studio version and live vocals, with some viewers accusing him of using music editing software to alter his voice.

Daniels' management, Curato Music, attributed the controversy to technical difficulties and limited stage experience, but also confirmed his openness about using AI-assisted tools in his creative process. Following another viral appearance on eNCA and a sudden disappearance of his album from Apple Music, Daniels defended his methods, stating that his audience cares only about how his music sounds.