SAMA 24 nominees revealed

Afro-pop band Mafikizolo received three nominations, including Best Afro Pop Album, Best Engineered Album, and Best Produced Album for 20. They are tied with Mi Casa, also boasting three nominations in Best Dance Album, Best Produced Album, and Best Engineered Album for Familia. Simphiwe Dana vies for top honours in the Best Live Audiovisual, Best Jazz Album, and Best African Artist categories for her Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience.

The wait is over. Here are your #SAMA24 #ROTY TOP 20 FINALISTS!

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Distruction Boyz got a nod for Best Collaboration for their anthemic Omunye featuring Benny Maverick and Dlala Mshunqisi and Best Engineered album for Gqom Is The Future. Kwesta walked away with two nominations for Best Collaboration and Music Video of the Year both for Spirit featuring Wale.

Riky Rick is up for Best Hip-Hop Album for Stay Shining and Best Remix of the Year for Buy It Out featuring Youngtsa CPT, KLY, DaLes, Frank Casino, J Molley, and Stilo Magolide. Rouge made the cut for Best Hip Hop Album for The New Era Sessions and Music Video of the Year for Arumtumtum much like Shane Eagle in the same categories for Yellow and Let It Flow respectively. Mobi Dixon earned two nods in Best of Remix of the Year for Lake By The Ocean and I Got You.

Prince Kaybee is in with a chance in the Best Produced Album and Best Dance Album for I Am Music. Shekhinah is in the running for Best Produced Album and Best Pop Album for Rose Gold. Gospel powerhouse Benjamin Dube sits with two nods in Best Contemporary Faith Music Album and Best Live Audiovisual for Victorious In His Presence with Benjamin Dube. Zoe Modiga is up for Best Jazz Album and Best African Artist Album for her Yellow The Novel. Nduduzo Makhathini snatched Best Jazz Album and Best Engineered Album nods for Ikhambi.

Comedian Mashabela Galane made history as the first comedian to be nominated for a Sama in the Best Kwaito Album for his Bona That Rural Dream. He faces tough competition from Busiswa (Highly Flavoured), Chomee (Do Mo Squats), Team Mosha (So fa Silahlane), and Trendsetters (Ska Ba Hemisa).

The late Robbie Malinga’s last self-titled album earned him a spot in the Best Afro Pop Album to face Mafikizolo (20), Zahara (Mgodi), Ntando (Mayibue), and Blaq Diamond (Inqola). Lady Zamar with her album King Zamar takes on the boys DJ Ganyani (Ganyani’s House Grooves 10), DJ Merlon (Pure Black Album), Prince Kaybee (I Am Music), and Mi Casa (Familia) in the Best Dance Album category.

This category is undeniably the very heart of South African music with the artists that don’t fall short of greatness, the nominees for Best Afro Pop Album are: #SAMA24 #NOMINEES

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Wouter Kellerman (Symphonic Soweto) takes on Janie Bay (Miscellany), Josie Field (Indie Soul), Charlie Finch (Life’s Journey) and Swing City (Now Listen Properly) for the Best Adult Contemporary Album gong. Beste Pop Album sees the best of Afrikaans musicians Kurt Darren (Laat Die Dansvloer Brand), Karlien van Jaarsveld (Sing Vir Liefde), Brendan Peyper (Hy Loop Oop), Ray Dylan (Uitbasuin) and Lianie May (Iemand Om Lief Te Hê) lock horns.

Old favourites Joe Nina (Time II Time), Siphokazi (Siphokazi) and Tribute Birdie Mboweni (Tribute Birdie Mboweni The Deluxe Edition Album) return to the Samas to slug it out in the Best African Adult Contemporary Album with newcomers Siseko Pame (Ilanga) and Serame Sediti (Based On A True Story). The Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album sees Idols SA alumni Thami (Never Lost) going head to head with Afrotraction (Relationships), Thabsie (Songs About You), Cici (Busisiwe), and The Nameless Band (The Greatest Hits). I

It’s a smorgasbord of sounds in the Best Alternative Album which has Bongeziwe Mabandla (Mangaliso), Jack Parow (Afrika 4 Beginners), Francois van Coke (Hierdie Is Die Lewe), Josh Kempen (The Morning Show) and Louis Lvndn (You Princess Is In AnotherCastle) as nominees.

The Best Alternative Music Album nominees are: #SAMA24 #NOMINEES

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Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi congratulated the nominees: "This has been a particularly formidable year. And the competition was exceedingly tight. We applaud those who have made the cut and wish them the best going to Sun City. The Sama remains the most prestigious accolade our musicians aspire to possess and we are committed to a fair and credible process of selecting worthy winners."

Nominees in the top five categories - Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Album of the Year - will be announced early next month across breakfast shows on the country's radio stations.

To view the nominee list go to www.samusicawards.co.za