Business of the Year
Saka Hair Studio
The standard for Black hair in Melbourne. Precision, presence, and a room curated to honour how clients want to be seen. Service that earns its reputation.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
The 2025 AMARI Gala
Black Renaissance.
Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. 26 April 2025. Thirteen awards. The standard, set on the night.
The night
The second AMARI Gala took the room at the Plaza Ballroom and made a record of the year in Black excellence. A room of founders, surgeons, performers, athletes and the people who carry the work. The theme, Black Renaissance, framed the evening. The winners gave it weight.
Business & Innovation
The builders.
Entrepreneur of the Year
Annah Tagwireyi
Founder of UD Hair, a Melbourne salon built on technical mastery of Afro-textured hair. Trusted name in the chair, earned over years.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Industry Innovator
Dr Nyasha Gwata
Melbourne gynaecologist, obstetrician and advanced laparoscopic surgeon. Over a decade in women's health. Minimally invasive surgery for endometriosis, fibroids and complex hysterectomies. Epworth Freemasons. Cabrini Malvern.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Arts & Media
The makers.
Visual Artist of the Year
Nkosi Ndlovu
Zimbabwe-born, Melbourne-based visual artist working in digital collage. Recent exhibitions at The Other Art Fair Melbourne and M.A.D.S. Gallery. Also known by the studio name Gldeng6rl.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Content Creator of the Year
Tatenda Nyaruwe
Comedic content creator. Over 600,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. Four years of skits and vlogs that travel.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Musical Artist of the Year
Jerome Farah
Australian singer, songwriter and producer. Co-wrote and co-produced ‘Waiting’ with Kian. Debut single ‘I Can’t Breathe’ in 2020. Debut EP ‘Chlorine’ in September 2024. Collaborations with Baker Boy and Tash Sultana.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Performing Artist of the Year
Tsehay Hawkins
Australian dancer and performer. The Yellow Wiggle since 2021 and the group’s youngest cast member. Stage discipline carried to a global children’s audience.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Sport & Impact
The record holders.
Athlete of the Year
Victor ‘Hot Chilli’ Nagbe
Liberian-born Australian boxer, 9 and 1 as a professional. WBC Asia Continental Middleweight title in April 2024, won by first-round knockout. WBC Asian Super Welterweight title in October 2024, won by first-round TKO in Bangkok.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Moment of the Year
Gout Gout
Australian sprint phenomenon. 2024: national junior records, World U20 Championships silver in the 200m, and 20.04 seconds for second-fastest U18 in history. 2025: 20.02 seconds for the Oceanian senior 200m record.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Social Impact Award
Her Run
Melbourne running collective for women. A programme and a community built around movement, mental health and the room you want to come back to.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Standalone
The night’s highest honours.
Spotlight Award
Mohamed Semra
Co-founder of Endeavour Youth Australia, with over 100 hours of student workshops delivered. Elected independent councillor for Burndap Ward, Maribyrnong City Council, in 2024. 2023 VIC Young Australian of the Year nominee.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
Trailblazer of the Year
Ruva Ngwenya
Australian performer. Led the 2024 national tour of ‘Tina: The Musical’ as Tina Turner, earning standing reviews and a place among the country’s leading voices in musical theatre.
Winner, AMARI Gala 2025
The Stage
The performers.
Three sets that earned the room.
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SOLI
Australian R&B. Supported Tems on the Australian leg of the Born In The Wild tour through November 2024, across Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
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Jerome Farah
Musical Artist of the Year on the night, and live on the stage. Vocals, lyrics and a band that read the room.
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Jungle City Dance Crew
Melbourne dance collective. Dancehall, Afrobeats, Amapiano. High-stakes choreography built for the AMARI room.
2026 is next
The standard, kept.
The next AMARI Gala builds on this. Meet the 2026 nominees.