South African Music Awards 31 Nominations Are Out

The 31st edition of the SAMAs are out and have been causing a buzz within the industry, paying homage to new acts in various categories. Showing that the awards are far from fading, with entries from South Africa’s biggest stars.

The South African Music Awards have always shaped the culture of music as the leading awards show in the land. Showcasing superstars and rewarding them with the golden trophy and cash prizes. Even with notable absentees throughout the years, the SAMAs have always shown and have been well attended and watched. This showcase, is arguably the largest in Africa, stemming from the organisation of South Africa’s talent and industry.

Which artists from the nominees announced do you think will take home the coveted prize? The nominees for this years edition by category alphabetical order are:

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Zama Jobe – UMI
• Thandiswa Mazwai – Sankofa
• Zoe Modiga – Nomthandazo
• Ndu Shezi – Isibusiso Sami
• Mthuthu – Indumiso YabeNguni

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Just 6 – uKhisimuzi: An African Christmas
• Melanie Scholtz – Seven
• Tony Drake – Room for Everyone
• Nue Sam – Nonyezi
• The Morning After – Look At You Now

Best Amapiano Album

• Vigro Deep & Freddy K – Your Piano is Not My Piano
• Kelvin Momo – Sewe
• Kelvin Momo – Ntsako
• Mellow & Sleazy – Midnight in Sunnyside 3
• Zee Nxumalo – Inja Ye Game

Best Afro Pop Album

• Nomfundo Moh – Twenty Four
• Malik – Malik
• Sjava – Isibuko (Deluxe)
• Sjava – Inkanyezi (Live)
• Dalom Kids – Collaboration With Friends

Best Alternative Album

• Yoav & Jabulile Majola – Unyazi
• Zadok – Perspective: Black
• Francis Soal – Hindsight 2020
• Th&o. – Emilotheni
• Spoegwolf – Berge

Best African Indigenuous Album

• Kago Molefe – Re Kgoletsa Magodimong
• JTG Gospel Choir – Morena Re Ya Leboga
• Thapelo Mosia – Busa Jeso
• Zanele J. Naledi – Ikutana
• Brown Mosiapoa – Nkapese Ka Maatla

Best Classical/Instrumental Album

• John Lundun – In The Morning
• Christopher Vale, Eugene Joubert & Franco Prinsloo – By Alle Skone Dinge
• Derek Gripper – Ballake Sissoko & Derek Gripper
• Franco Prinsloo & Vox Chamber Choir – A Season in Paradise
• Pascal Righini – Awake for 22 Hours

Best Collaboration

• Kelvin Momo & Thatohatsi Kelvin — Waze Wamuhle
• Black Motion & Thabo Roy Mabogwane — Takala
• Kususa & Joshua Sihle Sokweba — Ematshwaleni
• Matt Davies & Matthew Kyle Davies — Stay With Me
• Mas Musiq, Lawd Weez & DJ Maphorisa ft TO Starquality — Mas Musiq

Best Contemporary Album

• Jabu Hlongwane — Crosspower Experience 4
• Takie Ndou — The Glory
• SbuNoah — Heavenly Psalms Level 2
• Nontokozo Mkhize — Lindwe
• Mangaliso — Living Word

Best Dance Album

• Black Motion — The Cradle Of Art
• Dlala Thukzin — FINALLY FAMOUS TOO
• MÖRDA — Cr4zy!!..
• Shimza — Dreaming
• Caiiro — Caiiro

Best Engineered Album

• Black Motion — The Cradle of Art
• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa
• Sjava — Isibuko (Deluxe)
• Keenan Meyer — Reawakening
• Jeremy Loops — Feathers & Stone

Best Gqom Album

• Mr Thela — Tronics Land 3
• DJ Lag — The Rebellion
• Goldmax — Play At Your Own Risk
• DJ Sandiso — NANDE 3.0
• Lelowhatsgood — Next Level

Best Hip Hop Album

• Blxckie — See U Soon Deluxe
• Tony Dayimane — Red October: Induction
• Loatinover Pounds — Pray 4 Pitori
• Sizwe Alakine — Audio 2D; Dear Darkie
• 25K — Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times of Don Kilogram

Best Jazz Album

• Nduduzo Makhathini — uNomkhubulwane
• Nick Ford — Terra Solus
• Nomfundo Xaluva — Ndilapha
• Peter Auret — Hope Dies Last
• Ncesh Nonxishi — Apho Kungenje

Best Maskandi Album

• Umafikizolo — Ngathi Nguye
• Phuzekhemisi — iPolitiki
• Khuzani — Angidlali Nezingane
• Ntencane — Alingeni
• Imithente — Amathambo Kagogo

Best Produced Album

• Zamajobe Sithole — UMI
• Black Motion — The Cradle of Art
• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa
• Qü — Reprise on 2nd Avenue
• Linda Sikhakhane — iLadi

Best Produced Music Video

• Soa Mattrix — Umbuzo
• Mthandeni SK ft. MaWhoo — Gucci (Official Music Video)
• TitoM & Yuppe — Tshwala Bam (Remix)
• Blxckie — South
• Shekhinah ft. Moliy — Risk

Best R&B/Soul Album

• Mikhalé Jones — Too Many Promises
• Elaine — Stone Cold Heart
• Filah Lah Lah — On Air
• Clxrity — It’s Clear To See
• The Big Hash — Heartbreak Hotel (Deluxe)

Best Rock Album

• Bloumoord — VIR MEKAAR
• MaxX & Love — These Blues Might Get You Too
• Prime Circle — The World We Know
• The Man Motels — Old Wounds
• The Morning After — Look At You Now

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Betusile Mcinga — Uyingqaba Yam (Jehovah Nissi)
• Tebogo David Maponya — The Journey (Part 1)
• Malusi Mbokazi — The Full Circle Revival
• Rofhiwa Manyaga — Rofhiwa Dzina
• Ayanda Ntanzi — According to Grace, A One Man Show

Remix of The Year

• TitoM — Tshwala Bam
• Woodblock DJs — Skuta Baba
• Jnr SA — Mngani
• Tycoon — Iza Mawala
• Mpho.Wav — Hlala

Best of Africa Award

• Ayra Starr — The Year I Turned 21
• Bensoul — The Party & After Party
• Wizkid — Morayo
• Tems — Born In The Wild
• Fireboy DML — Adedamola

Best Reggae Album

• Dread Lloyd — Mekwei
• Anela Jahmena — The Rise
• Dimahr — Flaws in Frame
• LUWE DA LION — After All
• Botanist Mr Lamington — Area Code

Best Traditional Music Album

• Keitumetse Mangate — O Molele
• MmaAusi Lekoma — Mmakgodu
• Makhadzi — Miracle Child (Deluxe)
• Sabu Jiyana — Kwanomthandazo
• Pleasure Tsa Manyalo — Bakokota (EP)