Recognising achievements across diverse fields, South Africa's 2026 National Orders celebrate the contributions of artists, community leaders, and global figures in building a united nation.

The National Orders Investiture Ceremony took place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Tuesday, 19 May. The President conferred the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo on 38 recipients.

The Order of Ikhamanga was established in 2003. Previously, awardees in the arts, culture, the media and sports were included in the already established Order of the Baobab. For those who are not botanists specialising in indigenous South African flora, ikhamanga is isiXhosa (similarly in other Nguni languages) for the magnificent Strelitzia reginae flower.

Over the years, the Ikhamanga honours list has included a healthy roster of leading individuals in the arts, culture, the media and sports, and this year's list is particularly noteworthy.

In the arts, and honoured with the prestigious Order of Ikhamanga in Gold, was the best-selling and Grammy award-winning flautist Wouter Kellerman, who has combined classical traditions with contemporary music styles. Kellerman's impact has been global as well as local, and he delights music lovers of all ages.

Jonathan Butler, a global star whose recordings and performances inhabit the intersections between...