After initial controversy during which Unathi was dropped as the host of the GQ Magazine Men of the Year Awards, 2021, the event still managed to hold.
Among those who won big at the event were Makhadzi, Focalistic, Shona Ferguson, and Laduma Ngxokolo.
Makhadzi, one of the most popular singers from Limpopo and South Africa as a whole, won the Entertainer of the Year award. Her citation indicated that she had managed to capture the attention of music lovers across generations.
Focalistic was honored at the same event with the Musicians of the Year award. The talented artiste has been on fore this year, a truth the organizers also acknowledged, while also nodding at his MTV EMA nomination.
He might be late (from complications resulting from coronavirus infection), but Shona Ferguson still got the nod of the GQ Magazine editors. He was awarded the Editors Special Tribute award. Until his death, Uncle Sho, as he’s fondly called, was one of the most visible figures in South African film. He had planned to open a film school in collaboration with his life. But then death intruded.
For his part, Laduma Ngxokolo was awarded the Designer of the Year Crown.
Below is the full list of winners of the GQ Magazine Men of the Year Awards 2021
- Entertainer of the Year – Makhadzi
- Musician of the year – Focalistic
- Humanitarian of the year – Kolisi Foundation
- Editor’s Special Tribute – the late Shona Ferguson (accepted by Connie Ferguson)
- The Game Changers of the Year – Kgothatso Montjane and Tatjana Schoenmaker
- Designer of the Year – Laduma Ngxokolo
- The Industry Icon of the Year – Nick Boulton
- The Industry Icon of the Year – Nick Boulton
- Sportsperson of the Year – Ntando Mahlangu
- The Standard Bank Business Leader of the Year – Theo Baloyi
- The Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège Lifetime Achievement Award – Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse
