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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 .
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.
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.
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.
Best Traditional Music Album
Best Classical and Instrumental Album
Best Jazz Album
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Best African Adult Album
Best Contemporary Faith Album
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Best Kiddies Album
Best Rock Album
Best Alternative Album
Best Pop Album
Best Dance Album
Best Street Urban Album
Best Smooth Urban Album
Best Maskandi Album
Best Sokkie Dans Album
Best Kwaito Album
Best Collaboration
Best Live DVD
Best Video of the Year
Best Producer
Best Engineer
Remix 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 |