Eight of nine SAMA 18 hosts announced

These eight celebrity hosts will be joined by one more "mystery host", who will be revealed on the night of the main awards ceremony, Monday, 30 April 2012.

"We have decided to reach for the stars - literally and figuratively - at MTN SAMA 18," said CEO Randall Abrahams.

"Whereas in the past the awards only featured one or two hosts, this year we are significantly upping the star-power quota of the hosts, presenters and performers to dazzle the audience at the Superbowl as well as the millions of viewers glued to their TV sets at home."

The hosts

As the presenter of magazine show All Access, actress in programmes such as Soul City, and DJ on radio stations such as YFM and Metro FM and, more recently, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, Pabi Moloi is a style icon who has endeared herself to a multi-generational and multicultural audience. She is a previous presenter of the MTN SAMAs, in 2005.

Eastern Cape lass Zonke hails from a musical family - her father was a drummer and her late stepmother, Anneline Malebo, sang in Joy (of Paradise Road fame). True to her roots, the singer-songwriter's styles range from Afro-soul and house to folk and R&B.

Kabelo Mabalane (aka Bouga Luv) burst on to the music scene as a member of superstar kwaito trio TKZee, and has since carved out a successful solo career. He has scooped several industry awards, including MTN SAMAs. Among the recent feathers in this singer-songwriter's cap is the SHOUT anti-crime campaign that he co-founded with Danny K.

Sizwe Dhlomo, YFM presenter and former co-host of SABC1's Live, is also no stranger to the MTN SAMAs, having served as a digital presenter at the awards two years ago. Sizwe shot to fame after winning the first MTV Base VJ hunt in 2005. He has continued to woo viewers and listeners with his verbal agility and winning manner when interviewing stars such as Akon and John Legend.

SAMA- and Kora-winning musician and businesswoman Swazi Dlamini, who is married to fellow musician Tshepo Mngoma, has demonstrated her versatility in experimenting with new sounds and different languages over the years. As a singer she continues to dazzle across genres, from jazz and gospel to blues and R&B.

American-born television and radio presenter Jen Su gained prominence as a financial news anchor for Sky News via its South African affiliate, Summit TV. She also presents The Hollywood Report on 5FM with Gareth Cliff as well as entertainment news for SABC3 breakfast show Expresso.

Pop/rock singer Heinz Winckler won the inaugural series of Idols in South Africa, and was placed fourth on World Idol in 2003. This SAMA nominee has notched up Gold and Platinum records, with Walt Disney using one of his songs for the movie Treasure Planet.

Unathi Msengana is a multi-award-winning singer, actress and radio personality who, in 2011, further endeared herself to millions of TV viewers during her first season as a judge on M-Net's Idols. Unathi co-hosts a show on Metro FM with Glen Lewis, and she is married to fellow DJ Thomas Mdengana, aka Bad Boy T.

The main awards ceremony, on Monday, 30 April, will be televised live on SABC1 from 8.30pm and will be streamed live via the website (www.samusicawards.co.za , the mobisite (www.mtnsamatv.mobi) and the MTN SAMA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/samusicawards).