Mbabane - Eswatini’s own Gospel sensation, Nothando Hlophe, has taken the continent by storm, winning the prestigious ‘Best of Africa’ Award at the 18th Crown Gospel Music Awards.
The ceremony, held at the Durban ICC yesterday saw Hlophe not only winning, but also ministering to the audience with her powerful voice.The Crown Gospel Music Awards are the premier platform for saluting and awarding excellence in African Gospel music. Held annually, primarily in Durban, South Africa, they are the only event of its kind on the continent dedicated exclusively to the Gospel music genre.
Her win is a testament to her hard work and dedication to her craft and cements her position as one of Africa’s top Gospel artists.
The most recent winner of the ‘Best of Africa’ Award at the Crown Gospel Awards was Tshepo Lesole in 2023. Other past winners include Michael Mahendere (2022), Janet Manyowa (2021), Heal Africa (2020), and High Praise Assemblies (2019).
It is also worth mentioning that this award comes after Hlophe recently celebrated 2 million views on one of her newest singles Methodist Medley on YouTube.
After reaching the massive views on YouTube, Hlophe expressed her excitement, encouraging fans to keep on streaming her music.
“Wow. Thank you to every single person who streamed, shared and worshipped with us, your love and support mean the world. Let’s keep spreading the message and the music,” she said.
The powerful song from her recent album, A New Dawn, continues its compelling ascent, the track, a vibrant and soul-stirring blend of classic hymns and contemporary Gospel elements, hit No. 73 on the South Africa Spotify Daily Top Songs chart on, accumulating 37 850 streams in a single day, according to chart data.
This performance marks a new daily peak for Hlophe on the platform, showcasing the immense and dedicated support from her audience across the region, particularly within South Africa.
Nothando is in a very defining chapter of her career. She has broken personal records, reached new audiences across Southern Africa and continues to set new standards for excellence in Gospel music.
Eswatini’s own Gospel sensation, Nothando Hlophe, has taken the continent by storm, winning the prestigious ‘Best of Africa’ Award at the 18th Crown Gospel Music Awards.