The elements came to life at Basadi in Music Awards 2025

At this year’s Basadi in Music Awards, fashion took its rightful place as an extension of power, pride, and poetic expression. Over two nights of celebration, beginning with the intimate Vanguard Awards and concluding with the star-studded main ceremony, the red carpet was transformed into a living canvas of creativity. It wasn’t just about dressing up; it was about dressing with intention.

Themed “Symphony of Harmony: The Four Elements of Nature,” this year’s fashion direction called for a return to source, a celebration of earth, air, fire, and water, and the symbolism they carry in womanhood, artistry, and identity. And the attendees delivered with breathtaking imagination.

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Cici at the Basadi In Music awards 2025 | Image: Instagram/@Cici

Earth-inspired gowns grounded the evening in organic elegance, with deep greens, browns, and metallic bronzes seen in floor-length creations that featured raw textures, embroidered leaf motifs, and moss-like embellishments. These looks spoke to stability, legacy, and the quiet power of staying rooted.

Lerato Kganyago | Image:Instagram/@Lerato Kganyago

The element of air brought an ethereal, almost whimsical energy to the carpet. Soft pastels, sky tones, and translucent fabrics floated effortlessly across the floor. Billowing sleeves, feathers, and sheer overlays added to the illusion of movement, invoking the freedom and fluidity of voice, breath, and vision.

On the other end of the spectrum, fire roared with drama. Sequins, sculpted silhouettes, and high-impact hues, from fierce reds to molten golds, dominated the more daring interpretations. Thigh-high slits, sharp tailoring, and flame-like designs made bold statements about confidence, passion, and fearlessness.

Dance and Choreographer Sne Mbatha | Image: Instagram/@snembatha

Water-themed looks shimmered in waves of metallic hues, glossy silvers, and deep aquas. Designers played with reflective fabrics, pearls, and liquid-like textures that moved like ripples under stage lights, symbolising emotional depth, adaptability, and feminine flow.

Nomcebo Zikode | Image:Instagram/@basadimusicawards

Accessories were not just complementary, they were intentional. From crystal headpieces to elemental jewellery and avant-garde hair, everything served a purpose. Even beauty looks tied into the natural world, with glowing skin, wet-look hair, and makeup palettes mirroring sunset skies or earthy terrains.

Nomuzi Mabena | Image:Instagram/@moozlie

What set the Basadi red carpet apart this year wasn’t just its aesthetic, it was its soul. It became a space where fashion was more than fabric; it was narrative. Each look told a story. Some whispered of healing, others shouted revolution. Some honoured tradition, others embraced futurism. But all of them, collectively, redefined what it means to dress as a woman of impact.