For their 25th year, the SAMAs ‘returned home’ to their cradle at the Alberton Civic Theatre, east of Johannesburg where they were first held in 1994. The night, heavy with sentiment and nostalgia, was hosted by the iconic Dosto Noge of Duku Duku fame and child star Hulisani Ravele and featuring some spectacular performances from SAMA Award winning musicians. The industry also came out in droves to place bets on who would be nominated and what a nail-biter it turned out to be.
Universal Music South Africa’s artists and label partners received an overwhelming 38 nominations across a broad array of categories at last night’s ceremony. Congratulations to our label partners Soulistic Music for Black Coffee’s 5 nominations and to Ngwane Records for leading the Maskandi category with 4 nominations. A full list of UMG Africa nominations can be found below.
Artists leading the way: Black Coffee (5), Nasty C (3), Kelly Khumalo (2), Encore (2)
Nhlanhla Sibisi, RiSA CEO congratulated the nominees: “This has been a great year of music. We are proud of this nomination list which we believe is a fair reflection of the artists who made a good impact in the industry and had music lovers entertained. The stage is set for a showdown as we start the countdown to Sun City for the final awards show. We salute all the nominees and send out best wishes to all.”
The theme for this year was revealed as #recognise. We recognise that this 25th year anniversary moment is bigger than any single artist, genre, award or song.
We recognise that we are here because of all that has gone before:
The artists
The genres
The story of our Democracy
The soundtracks of our lives
We recognise the power of the moment where stand right now.
And we recognise the possibility of where we are going.
Male Artist of the Year
Black Coffee – Music is King
Female Artist of the Year
Kelly Khumalo – Unleashed
Duo/Group of the Year
Encore – Segarona
Ofeleba – Hi & Low
Album of the Year
Black Coffee – Music is King
Best Pop Album
Majozi – Majozi
Tresor – Nostalgia
Beste Pop Album
Jan Bloukaas – Lewe
Best Maskandi Album
Ofeleba – Hi & Low
Sgwebo Sentambo – Yekani Umona
Mbuzeni – Ungishiyelani
Ichwane Lebhaca – Imali Yesoso
Rest of Africa Artist
Diamond Platnumz – A Boy From Tandale
Kommanda Obbs – Kommanda Obbs
Mr Eazi – Lagos to London
Nixon – Who We Are
Best Afro Pop Album
Kelly Khumalo – Unleashed
Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album
Douvoordag – Die Avontuur
Best Hip Hop Album
Jabba X – #FGTBB
Nasty C – Strings and Bling
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
Khaya Mthethwa – All About Jesus
Best Dance Album
DJ Fistaz – Mixwell Summer
Black Coffee – Music is King
Best African Adult Contemporary Album
Encore – Segarona
Ntokozo Mbambo & Nqubeko Mbatha – The Anniversary Project
Best R&B/Soul Album
Mlu – A Day For The Universe
Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano
Spikiri – King Don Father
Best Traditional Album
Candy – Hupenyu Unenge Viri
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Roan Ash – Whiskey to my Soul
Best Engineer
Nasty C – Strings and Bling
Remix of the Year
Prince Kaybee – Club Controller
Zakes Bantwini – Bang Bang Bang
Zakwe – Sebentin ft. Refiloe Maele Phoolo, Jabulani Tsambo; Lesego Moiloa; Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi; Ncazelo Mtolo
Collaboration of the year
Black Coffee – Drive ft. David Guetta and Delilah Montagu
Black Coffee – Wish you were here ft. Asanda Lusaseni-Mvana
Music Video of the Year
Bongeziwe Mabandla ft. Spoek Mathambo – Bawo Wam
Mafikizolo ft. Jah Prayzah – Mazuva Akanaka
Best Produced Album
Nasty C – String and Bling