HUMANZ ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL TOP 20 WINNERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Humanz, the 360-degree AI-powered influencer marketing platform designed to help creators and brands grow together, has officially announced the winners of the first-ever Humanz Top 20 Awards in South Africa. This landmark initiative celebrates the country’s most impactful, ethical, and forward-thinking creators—recognising those who are shaping the future of digital influence.

As an all-in-one operating system powering the creator economy lifecycle, Humanz enables fast, transparent, and impactful collaboration between brands and creators. Powered by proprietary AI, real-time performance data, and globally scalable infrastructure, the platform supports over 500,000 creators worldwide and partners with leading global brands including Google, L’Oréal, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Amazon, and Sephora.

With over $25 million raised to date and continued global expansion through strategic acquisitions, Humanz is redefining how creators and brands search, engage, collaborate, and drive measurable business impact.

Be Worth Following

At the heart of Humanz is its mantra: “Be Worth Following.” This philosophy reflects the company’s commitment to working with creators who are reliable, professional, ethical, and honest—those who understand that influence is built on trust, not vanity metrics.

The Humanz Top 20 Awards recognise creators who embody integrity, innovation, and measurable performance within the creator ecosystem. Over the past year, these individuals have demonstrated exceptional impact and long-term value, positioning themselves as future leaders in the industry.

Selection for the inaugural awards combined advanced platform algorithms with human review, ensuring recognition was grounded in performance, credibility, professionalism, and ethical conduct—not simply follower counts or virality.

Introducing the 2026 Humanz Top 20 Winners

The 2026 Top 20 winners are:

• 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)

These creators represent diverse niches across lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, fitness, business, and culture—each contributing to a more professional, transparent, and value-driven creator economy.

Spotlight on the Next Humanz

Beyond celebrating established excellence, Humanz also introduced the Top 10 Up & Coming Creators sub-category. These rising stars have demonstrated accelerated growth, high engagement, and a clear commitment to authenticity and integrity.

The 2026 Up & Coming Creators are:

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).

Each has either launched or significantly scaled their platform within the past year, demonstrating exceptional storytelling, professionalism, and measurable impact.

Moving the Industry Forward

Speaking at the event, Thando Gambushe, Humanz South Africa’s new Head of Marketing, emphasised that the awards go beyond views and virality:

“You are not here because of views. You are here because you are moving the industry forward. Value is what you bring. You’re not only creating content—you’re changing lives.”

She highlighted that out of over 280,000 creators on the Humanz platform in South Africa alone, only 30 were selected after rigorous data analysis and evaluation of professionalism, integrity, and reliability.

Pierre Cassuto, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Humanz, echoed this sentiment:

“You are not here because you have followers. You were handpicked because you are pushing this industry forward. You are paving the way for the next generation and improving how this industry works in South Africa.”

He further encouraged creators to maintain professional standards, insist on ethical collaboration, and continue educating emerging talent as thought leaders within the space.

A Blueprint for the Future

The Humanz Top 20 Awards will become an annual platform dedicated to celebrating professionalism, trust, innovation, and entrepreneurship within South Africa’s growing creator economy.

By reinforcing a standard of excellence grounded in measurable performance and ethical conduct, Humanz continues to amplify its mission: expanding opportunities for creators and brands by amplifying human trust and creativity through technology and data—in a world where content is infinite, but trust is scarce.

The 2026 winners are not just award recipients—they are pioneers of a new era in South Africa’s digital influence landscape.