Five acts are in the race with four nods apiece, with a cross-section of genres sharing the spotlight
Dreamy Afro-soul newcomer Nathi, house music supremo Black Coffee, rising rappers Riky Rick and Emtee, and sultry songbird Zonke Dikana share the nominations spoils at the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards, grabbing an impressive four nods each.
The contenders for this year’s awards were announced amid great excitement and anticipation in Soweto on Thursday, 21 April 2016. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), the official passenger rail transport sponsor, ferried the VIP guests and media on the Metrorail Business Express to the Soweto Theatre, a landmark venue, located in Jabulani in the heart of Soweto, for the nominations “reveal”. Guests were escorted into the venue and then entertained by young performers from the Morris Isaacson High School, which is the very school that played a major role in the Soweto Uprising in 1976, forty years ago.
Chairperson of the South African Music Awards, Refiloe Ramogase welcomed everyone with a poignant speech about the stance that the Annual South African Music Awards have taken this year with the statement that “The Future is Here”. “Soweto not only serves as a reminder of the selfless bravery of our youth 40 years ago, but also reminds us that actions motivated by yesterday, taken today, set the course for the tomorrow. If one is bold enough, one can change not only the course of history, but the course of the future. This is the dawn of a bold new horizon within the Industry; the mass adoption of technology, the rise of the independent label, the endless stream of new distribution channels, seemingly limitless opportunities for cross-genre collaboration, Virtual Reality concerts on your phone, Digital Maskandi, Urban Gospel; all indicators of the transformation of our musical landscape.” Commented Refiloe.
Young blood features strongly in this year’s nominations, with three of the five Album of the Year nominees being breakthrough artists: Emtee, Nathi and Tresor, who’ll be competing against seasoned campaigners Francois van Coke and Black Coffee. The same three young guns will also vie against Riky Rick and Fifi Cooper in the Best Newcomer category.
Van Coke and fellow Afrikaans rocker Karen Zoid made a strong showing, with three nominations apiece. Other artists and bands that have been singled out for creative excellence this year, bagging three nominations each, include jazzman Marcus Wyatt and the ZAR Jazz Orchestra, dance music favourites Mi Casa, house DJ Mobi Dixon, Afro-soul songstress Zahara and acoustic pop-folk sensation Tresor.
The race for Best Male Artist is guaranteed to be a closely fought one, with globetrotting superstar Black Coffee and influential rock rebel Van Coke hoping that experience will see them triumph over the newbies Nathi, Riky Rick and Emtee. In the Best Female Artist category, the three Zs – Zoid, Zonke and Zahara – will slug it out for top honours with Fifi Cooper and Judith Sephuma.
On hosting the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards, The Mayor of the City of Durban, CLLR James Nxumalo said “For us as the City of Durban, we are very excited to host the SAMAs. The City of Durban has worked hard to build its brand, and our partnership with the SAMAs will further strengthen the position of Durban as the number one tourism destination in the country and one of the best in the world. As the City of Durban we are ready to welcome the music and entertainment industry to Durban, the warmest place to be”
The shortlist of nominees for the Amstel Record of the Year will be announced on Live Amp this Friday, 22 April on SABC 1, with the public being invited to vote for their favourite song of 2015. The 22nd edition of the South African Music Awards will take place at the Durban International Convention Centre on Saturday, 4 June 2016, and will be broadcast live on SABC1.
Ticket sales for the 22nd Annual South Africa Music Awards taking place on Saturday, 4 June will be open to the public on Friday, 22 April at 12 noon. Tickets are R350 and available from Computicket.
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Nominees for the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards:
- Album of the Year
- Duo or Group of the Year
- Female Artist of the Year
- Male Artist of the Year
- Newcomer of the Year
- Best Rock Album
- Best Pop Album
- Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans)
- Best Adult Contemporary Album
- Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album
- Best African Adult Album
- Best Alternative Album
- Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album
- Best Rap Album
- Best Kwaito Album
- Best Dance Album
- Best Traditional Faith Music Album
- Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
- Best Maskandi Album
- Best Jazz Album
- Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
- Best Live Audiovisual Recording
- Best Collaboration
- Best Music Video of the Year
- Best Produced Album of the Year
- Best Engineered Album of the Year
- Best Remix of the Year
- International and Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Best Selling Album
- Best Selling DVD
- Best Selling Mobile Music Download
- Best Selling True-Tone
- Best Selling Ring-Back Tone
- Best Selling Full-Track Download
- Highest Airplay of the Year
Francois van Coke -Francois van Coke
Emtee – Avery
Nathi – Buyelekhaya
Tresor- VII
Black Coffee – Pieces of Me
Desmond & the Tutus – Enjoy Yourself
Witness the Funk – Finding Nomusa
Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra – One Night in the Sun
Junior Taurus & Lady Zamar – Cotton Candy
Big Nuz – For the Fans
Judith Sephuma – One Word
Zahara – Country Girl
Fifi Cooper – 20Fifi
Karen Zoid – Drown Out the Noise
Zonke – Work of Heart
Nathi – Buyelekhaya
Black Coffee – Pieces of Me
Riky Rick – Family Values
Emtee – Avery
Francois van Coke – Francois van Coke
Riky Rick – Family Values
Emtee – Avery
Tresor – VII
Fifi Cooper – 20Fifi
Nathi – Buyelekhaya
Desmond & the Tutus – Enjoy Yourself
Francois van Coke – Francois van Coke
Shortstraw – Youthless
Karen Zoid – Drown Out the Noise
Saarkie – Reisiger
Tresor – VII
Lakota Silva – Pop: The Mix Tape
Loki Rothman – The Way Back
Can Skylark – Overdrive
Vincent Bones – Shaded Soul
Karlien van Jaarsveld – My Hartjie
Brendan Peyper – Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie
Vaughan Gardiner – Sit Vanaand op Herhaal
Pierre Rossouw – In my Bloed
Suzanne – Vuurbestand
Judith Sephuma – One Word
Watershed – Watch the Rain
Karen Zoid & Various – Republiek van Zoid Afrika Vol. 2
Kahn – Salt
Josie Field & Laurie Levine – Tigerlily
Elvis Blue – Êrens in die Middel van Nêrens
Andriëtte – Pêrel vir ’n Kroon
Neil Somers – Hierdie Hande
Bok van Blerk – Sing Afrikaner Sing
Stiaan Reynierse – Sonde
Dizu Plaatjies & Friends – Ubuntu – The Common String
Kabomo – Sekusile
Thiwe – Soul Therapy
L’wei Netshivhale – Mudzimu washu
Jessica Mbangeni Busisiwe – Tribute to the African Heroines
Petite Noir – La Vie Est Belle/Life is Beautiful
Sannie Fox – Serpente Masjien
The Plastics – In Threes
Moonchild Sanelly – Rabulapha!
Die Heuwels Fantasties – Ja. Nee. Lekker (Deluxe)
Nathi – Buyelekhaya
Zonke – Work of Heart
Olwethu – Imbewu
Zahara – Country Girl
The Muffinz – Do What You Love
Emtee – Avery
Kid X – 3 Quarter Pace
Da L.E.S – North God
Riky Rick – Family Values
Zakwe – Impande
Big Nuz – For the Fans
Dbn Nyts – Believe
Kabelo Mabalane – Immortal Vol. 3
Dj Bongz – Game Changer
Mzansi – North Coast Vibe
Black Coffee – Pieces of Me
Mi Casa – Home Sweet Home
Mobi Dixon – Tribal Soul Special Edition
DJ Merlon – Original Copy
Junior Taurus & Lady Zamar – Cotton Candy
TYGC Family – The Journey Begins
Worship House – Project 12 Praise Live
Worship House – True Worship 2015
Dumi Mkokstad – Ukhona Uthixo
Women in Praise – Various Artists
Ntokozo Mbambo – Spirit and Life
Mark Counihan – To the Brave Ones
Mahalia Buchanan – Redeemed to Worship
24 Skies – Endless Anthem
Benjamin Dube – Sanctified in His Presence
Imithente – Ichakijana
Thokozani Langa – Khuzeka Mshana
Shwi no Mtekhala – Bazali Bami
Buselaph – Gabi Gabi
Phuzekhemisi – Woze Durban
Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra – One Night in the Sun
Nduduzo Makhathini – Listening to the Ground
Benjamin Jephta Quintet – Homecoming
Amandla Freedom Ensemble – Bhekisiwe
Bokani Dyer – World Music
Wouter Kellerman – Love Language
Guy Buttery – Guy Buttery
Deep South – Heartland
Cape Consort – Christoph & Sebastian
KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra – Mintirho ya SJ Khosa
Jimmy Dludlu – Live at Emperors Palace
Krone – Krone 2
Ntokozo Mbambo – Spirit and Life
Neyi & Omega – Friends in Praise
Benjamin Dube – Sanctified in His Presence
Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi & Trademark – Shumaya
Shekinah x Kyle Deutsch – Back to the Beach
AKA ft. Redsan, Burna Boy & Stoneboy – All Eyes on Me
Major League DJz ft. Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, Riky Rick & Carpo – Sylza Tsotsi
Khuli Chana ft. Patoranking – No Lie
Jack Parow & Freshly Ground – Army of One
Riky Rick ft. Cassper Nyovest & Anatii – Fuseg
Al Bairre & PH Fat – Caviar Dreams
iFani – Ayadelela
Monark – Negatives Deluxe
Zahara – Country Girl
Mi Casa – Home Sweet Home
Sannie Fox – Serpente Masjien
Mark Counihan – To the Brave Ones
Zonke – Work of Heart
Black Coffee – Pieces of Me
Brendan Peyper – Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie
Zonke – Work of Heart
Mi Casa – Home Sweet Home
Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra – One Night in the Sun
DJ Sliqe – Do Like I Do Remix
AKA – Baddest Remix
Mobi Dixon – My Sugar
Mobi Dixon – Never Let Me Go Remix
The Fraternity – Bheka Mina Ngedwa Amplified
Category winners to be announced at the awards ceremony:
Special Awards
Best Selling Mobile Music Download
SAMPRA Award