Zahara, Mi Casa, and Zakwe head SAMA18 nominees
Zahara is the front runner with seven nominations for her album "Loliwe", which includes three in the Top Five categories and one for MTN Record of the Year.
The soul-house trio, Mi Casa, is close on her heels with five nominations in total, four for their debut album "Mi Casa Music", the fifth nomination is for the MTN Record of the Year for their track, These Streets.
Also with five nominations is another newcomer, KwaZulu-Natal emcee Zakwe, who is in the running for five statuettes for Best Street Urban Album, Remix Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Male Artist Of The Year and Newcomer Of The Year .
Panel of SAMA alumni
The nominees were announced by a panel of MTN South African Music Awards alumni, including Loyiso Bala, HHP, Kabelo Mabalane, Solly Mahlangu, Kurt Darren, Ziyon Hamilton (Liquideep), Matshediso Mholo (Malaika), Greg Carlin (Zebra & Giraffe), Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse and Lira.
Joining the line-up of artists in announcing nominees were Randall Abrahams (CEO: MTN SAMA) and Serame Taukobong (MTN SA: chief marketing officer).
"The MTN South African Music Awards represents the highest accolade for achievement in the art of recorded music," Abrahams said.
"The awards capture the defining spirit of music in South Africa and celebrate our finest musical talent. "
In announcing the 29 categories, the panel revealed another multi-nominee in the form of highly accomplished songwriter and versatile Afro-soul performer, Zonke, whose 2011 record, Ina Ethe is up for three awards. This includes a nomination for Album Of The Year, where she's up against Zahara, Zakwe, Mi Casa and SA music industry stalwarts Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who have earned the nomination for their album "Songs from the Farms".
The latter album also sees Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the running for Best Traditional Album as well as Duo or Group Of The Year, in which they're vying for the SAMA alongside Mi Casa, Big Nuz, Goodluck and Taxi Violence.
Goodluck is going into the race with multiple nominations - in addition to Duo or Group Of The Year, the Cape Town-based group has earned a nomination in the publicly voted MTN Record Of The Year category for their song Taking It Easy, as well as a nod in the Best Dance Album category for their eponymous debut.
Rock also rears its head in the Best Newcomer Of The Year category, with Shadowclub's debut "Guns and Money" up against Mi Casa, Zahara and Zakwe, as well as the Lwanda Gogwana, whose mix of jazz and indigenous African influence on the album "Songbook Chapter 1" has also earned nominations in the Best Newcomer, Male Artist Of The Year and Best Jazz categories.
Live streaming
The nominee launch was streamed live for the first time on www.mtnsamatv.mobi - ensuring that South African music fans didn't miss out on a moment.
The mobisite will also stream the Yellow Carpet and performances at the invite-only nominees' celebration taking place in Joburg tonight, as well as several events at the 18th Annual MTN South African Music Awards at Sun City Resort on 29 and 30 April.
New awards
Alongside winners in the 29 categories revealed today, several categories will be announced at the two-day awards event in April, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Achievement Award and the Best-Selling Awards.
Voting is now open for the MTN Record Of The Year - the only publicly voted category at the SAMAs. The public can vote by sending an SMS with the letter assigned to their favourite artist to +27 (0)83 123 SAMA (7262) at standard SMS rates.
SAMA 18 nominee list
Best Traditional Music Album
Bhekumuzi Luthuli - Isipho (Gift)
Joe Shirimani Na Vana Va Ndoda - Banana
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Songs From The Farms
Soul Brothers - Amaphutha
Zozo - Tshigotsha Nama
Best Classical and Instrumental Album
Ben Schoeman - Liszt
CH2 - Ping
Charl Du Plessis Trio - Shanghai Brunch
Derek Gripper - The Sound Of Water
Zoë Beyers - Mendelssohn
Best Jazz Album
Adam Glasser - Mzansi
Jimmy Dludlu - Tonota
Lwanda Gogwana - Songbook Chapter 1
Marcus Wyatt - ZAR
Vusi Khumalo - Reasons For Seasons
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Chris Chameleon - As Jy Weer Skryf
Coenie De Villiers - Hart Van Glas
Elvis Blue - Elvis Blue (2CD Special Edition)
Josie Field - 1984
Judith Sephuma - I Am A Living Testimony
Best African Adult Album
Moreira Chonguica And Various - Khanimambo: Tributes To Legends Of Mozambique
Nomhle - Ikwezi (Morning Star)
Somizi - 9 Lives - My Genesis
Unathi - With Love
Zonke - Ina Ethe
Best Contemporary Faith Album
Joe Niemand - Ek Sal Nie Bang Wees Nie
Martin PK - Man On A Mission
Swazi Dlamini - Gospel Meets Jazz - Live In Durban
The Plain Truth - We Are The Shining Ones
We Will Worship - The Movemeant Begins
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Kgotso - New Dawn
Nqubeko Mbatha - Forever I'll Worship
Sfiso Ncwane - Kulungile Baba
Solly Mahlangu - Mwamba Mwamba
Soweto Spiritual Singers - Open Heavens
Best Kiddies Album
Carike Keuzenkamp - Carike & Ghoempie Kuier Saam Met Ghoeghoe In Kinderland 8
Helena Smith - Luidkiz 2 U Naam Is Ons Kreet!
Minki Burger & Alta Joubert - Lollos 3 Boem Boem, Ons Gaan Groen!
Riku Lätti - Janneman In Die Diereryk
Wendy Oldfield - Singalong Kidz Volume 2
Best Rock Album
aKING - The Red Blooded Years
Shadowclub- Guns And Money
Taxi Violence - Unplugged: Long Way From Home
The Graeme Watkins Project - Corridors Of The Mind
Van Coke Kartel - Wie's Bang
Best Alternative Album
Ashtray Electric - Measured In Falls
Dear Reader - Idealistic Animals
Die Heuwels Fantasties - Wilder As Die Wildtuin
The Dirty Skirts - Lost In The Fall
Wrestlerish - Towns
Best Pop Album
Brandon October - Brandon October
Charlize Berg - Charlize Berg
Hulle - Hulle
Jozi - Moving The City
Lloyd Cele - One
Best Dance Album
G.Family Deep House Chronicles 6
Ganyani Entertainment Presents The Family 1st Gathering
Goodluck Goodluck
Mi Casa Mi Casa Music
Pascal & Pearce Passport
Best Street Urban Album
AKA - Altar Ego
HHP - Motswafrika
Jack Parow - Eksie Ou
L-Tido - All Or Nothing
Zakwe - Zakwe
Best Smooth Urban Album
Afro'traction - Soulfully Yours
Kabomo - All Things Grey
Lira - Return To Love (Deluxe Edition)
Mckenzie - Poetic Genesis
Zahara - Loliwe
Best Maskandi Album
Imithente - Mbibi
Mfiliseni Magubane - Amandla Ami
Phuzekhemisi - Amapasi
Sakhile Mfuphi - Ngikhanyisele
Thokozani Langa - I-Protection Order
Best Sokkie Dans Album
Donovan Vallance - Rock My Wêreld
Gerrie Pretorius - Gister En Vandag
Izak Davel - Vreesloos
MarulaBoom - Dijam
Snotkop - Ek Laaik Van Jol
Best Kwaito Album
Big Nuz - Pound For Pound
Brickz - Ruffcast
Character - The Marathon
Kabelo Mabalane - Immortal Vol.1
Spikiri - The King Don Father 2.5
Best Collaboration
Character FT. Professor - EX
Kabomo FT. Nothende - Colour of You
Lloyd Cele FT. Loyiso Bala - Thando
Spikiri FT. Teargas, Brickz, Skokho, Madluphutu & Brown Dash - Ngeke Balunge
Zahara FT. Georgy - Incwad'Encane
Best Live DVD
Concord - Live in Joburg
Simphiwe Dana - An Evening With Simphiwe Dana (Live In Concert)
Solly Mahlangu - Mwamba Mwamba
Various Artists - Skouspel 2011
Various Artists - Spirit Of Praise Vol.3
Best Video of the Year
Mike Scott - We Come Together by Goldfish
Tristan Holmes - Stars Above You by Locnville
Brian Mason - Music Affair by The Graeme Watkins Project
Ryan Peimer - It's Magic by The Parlotones
Tim Argall - My Dad by Toby
Best Producer
Kevin Leicher - 1984 by Josie Field
Dan Roberts - Six Winters by Laurie Levine
Robin Kohl & Lira-Lerato Kohl - Return To Love by Lira (Deluxe Edition)
Crighton Goodwill & Loyiso Bala - One by Lloyd Cele
Bethuel Mbonani - My Way by Nkulee Dube
Best Engineer
Paris Zannos - Tonota by Jimmy Dludlu
Robin Kohl - Return To Love by Lira (Deluxe Edition)
Paris Zannos - Khanimambo: Tributes To Legends Of Mozambique by Moreira Chonguica and Various
Mpho Mokwele - Dream To Reality by Mpho-Za
Johan van der Colff - Loliwe by Zahara
Remix of the Year
DJ Sbu - Lengoma FT. Zahara
Mr. Moloto - Call Me by Lira
Black Coffee - Time To Go by Marissa Guzman
Black Coffee - Zandiy'bone by MXO
Zakwe ft Zulu Boy & Danger - Bathi Ng'yachoma
MTN SAMA18 Record of the Year
Track | Artist |
Amapansula Ajabulile | Kabelo Mabalane |
Casanova | DJ Choice |
Clap Your Hands | Zakes Bantwini FT. Xolani Sithole |
Ex | Character |
DJ Cleo | |
Get Over It | Bucie |
I Wanna Love You | Lulo Café (W/ Nothende) |
Lengoma | DJ Sbu FT. Zahara |
Lento | Professor FT. Speedy |
Lighthouse | Elvis Blue |
Loliwe | Zahara |
Make It Easy | Lloyd Cele |
Phakade | Lira |
Settle For Less | Liquideep |
Taking It Easy | Goodluck |
These Streets | Mi Casa |
Thinking About You | Theo Kgosinkwe FT. Zonke |
Turning In My Sleep | Prime Circle |
World of Mine | Loyiso FT. Khuli Chana |
You And I | Charlize Berg & Heinz Winckler |