Subscribe & Follow

Advertise your job vacancies

Sama Award nominees announced!

9 Jun 2022

The nominees for this year's South African Music Awards (Sama) have been released.

Image supplied: The #Sama28 nominees have been announced

With a total of seven nominations, Zakes Bantwini is leading the nominees list - earning an additional six nominations after earning a nod in the Record of the Year category.

DJ Maphorisa follows this with six nominations - with a Best Remix of the Year earning him his sixth nomination after earning nods towards Music Video of the Year and four Record of the Year nominations.

The cover artwork of Eat, Drink & Remarry

#MusicExchange: Amersham's rendezvous with midlife crises

Martin Myers 7 Jun 2022

Not far behind are Mobi Dixon and Msaki with four nominations each, with Msaki being up for Female Artist of the Year, Best Adult Contemporary Album and Best Produced Album of the Year. She will also be vying for the Best Collaboration gong for her effort with Da Capo titled No Rainbow.

Brian Temba, Sun-El Musician and Chymamusique earned three nods a piece and will battle it out for Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year awards. Khanyisile Mthetwa matches the trio with three nods for White Star Newcomer of the Year and Best Classical/Instrumental Album and Female Artist of the Year.

#AfricaMonth: Meet Kofee Bean, Fresh Finds Africa artist

Emily Stander 26 May 2022

Risa CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said, “A job well done to all #Sama28 nominees. Each artist has laboured to ensure that they produce exceptional bodies of work which have soothed and united us during particularly challenging times. The standard of this year’s submissions was impressive and presented a tough task for our panel of diligent judges. We wish all nominees good luck and look forward to celebrating them at our gala event.”

The awards will be presented at a live broadcasted event on 31 July.

The full list of nominees

Album of the Year

African Electronic Dance Music – Sun-El Musician
Ghetto King – Zakes Bantwini
It’s All You – Brian Temba
Musique – Chymamusique
When House Was House – Mobi Dixon

Duo or Group of the Year

Ama Roto Vol.2 – Reece Madlisa and Zuma
Elephant In The Room – Watershed
Franco Prinsloo: Kruis Van Liefde – Franco Prinsloo and Vox Chamber Choir
Pangaea – Wouter Kellerman and David Arkenstone
Wangikhulisa uMama – Shwi Nomtekhala

Female Artist of the Year

Platinumb Heart Open – Msaki
African Bird – Khanyisile Mthetwa
Nkulunkulu – Kamo Mphela
Trailblazer – Reign Afrika
Trouble In Paradise – Shekhinah

Male Artist of the Year

African Electronic Dance Music – Sun-El Musician
Ghetto King – Zakes Bantwini
It’s All You – Brian Temba
Musique – Chymamusique
When House Was House – Mobi Dixon

White Star Newcomer of the Year

Thapelo Lekoane- Tapestry
Khanyisile Mthetwa- African Bird
25K – Pheli Makaveli
Ncebakazi Msomi – The 34th Psalm
Botanist Mr Lamington – The Shift

Best Rock Album

Headlights Dream – Steve Louw
Partypocalypse – Springbok Nude Girls
Revolution – Tim Parr
Ennui – Deity’s Muse
Sacred Sound – Albert Frost

Best Pop Album

Souvenirs – Jeremy Loops
Motion – Tresor
Trouble In Paradise – Shekhinah
A Journal – Bonj
Don’t Let Go – Jacky Carpede

Beste Pop Album

Hier Waar Ek Nou Is – Juan Boucher
Prisma – Janie Bay
Rugsak – Elandrê
Niks Vergelyk – Posduif
Roekeloos – Rita Li

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Tapestry – Thapelo Lekoane
Where The Light Gets In – Pat McCay
Elephant In The Room – Watershed
Brother – Jacob Swann
Platinumb Heart Open – Msaki

Best Kontemporêre Musiek Album

Al Die Ysters – Jan Jan Jan
Sangoma Sandilands and Jou Pa Se Posse Maanskyn -Neil Sandilands
Twintigeenentwintig – Jennifer Zamudio
Volume – Die Heuwels Fantasties
Woorde – Jodi Jantjies

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

Thetha Mama – The One Who Sings
Camagu – Ntando
2020 – Joe Nina
The Red Stoep – Nomfusi
Cwaka – Mandisi Dyantyis

Best Alternative Music Album

City Of God and The Jungle Below – Daniel Baron
Night Speak – Lo- Ghost
Glow – Alice Phoebe Lou
Romance Was Born – Anna Wolf
Child’s Play – Alice Phoebe Lou

Best R&B/Soul Album

Real Talk – P.Postman
The Arrival – Melleng
Sour Milk – Joda Kgosi
It’s All You – Brian Temba
It Is What It is – Mikhale Jones

Best Hip Hop Album

Father Of Zen – Kid X
Pheli Makaveli – 25K
Today’s Tragedy, Tomorrow’s Memory: Mixtape – A-Reece
Logan – Emtee
B4NOW – Blxckie

Best Kwaito Album

Don’t Lose Focus – Sukiri Papa
Let Dogs Lie Low – Simple Eugene
Kwaito Pallet – Shisaboy
Ama Roto Vol.2 – Reece Madlisa and Zuma
Trip To Jozi – King Razo

Best Dance Album

Muzika – Miza
Ghetto King – Zakes Bantwini
Musique – Chymamusique
When House Was House – Mobi Dixon
African Electronic Dance Music – Sun-El Musician

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

Vela Nkosi – Jumbo
In the Beginning – Paul K
Heaven’s Scroll – Puleng March
The Great Revival – Takie Ndou
Shrubs of Chronicle (Live) – Zaza

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

My Heart To Him – Thabelo
Denga – Kingdmusic
Sacrificial Worship (Live) – Pulane Maphari
Find Me Singing – Lauren Cullen
The 34th Psalm – Ncebakazi Msomi

Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album

Ba Bosiu – Isaac and The Mighty Messengers
Re Kopa Go Wena Ramasedi – JTG Gospel Choir
Similapha Nkosi – NUZ Voices Of Joy
Ore Etele Mohloeki – The Harmony Singers Artist Development
Swi Lava Yeso – Zion Iskhalanga Academy

Rest Of Africa Award

Son Of A Tribe – Edgar Muzah (Zimbabwe)
Karabo – Malome Vector (Lesotho)
Boyfriend – Ckay (Nigeria)
If Orange Was A Place – Tems (Nigeria)
Love & Isolation – Tay Iwar (Nigeria)

Best Traditional Album

Dlozified – Mkhanyakude
Dziya Fhirtana – Vha Venda Cultural Group
Tshihwilili Tshanga – Dr Mercy Masakona Madzivhandila
Mathotse – Tau Sebata
Hantam Kerfees – Klipwerf

Best Maskandi Album

Ziyashisa – Makhamnandi
Wangikhulisa uMama – Shwi Nomtekhala
Idaymani – Thokozani Langa
Phakathi Komhlane nembeleko – Udumakahle
Ivila Laselawini – Mzukulu

Best Jazz Album

At This Point In Time Voices in Volumes – Herbie Tsoaeli
Music From My People – Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane
History In A Frame – Jimmy Dludlu
Revision – Steve Dyer
Quiet Please – McCoy Mrubata

Best Classical/Instrumental Album

Pangaea – Wouter Kellerman and David Arkenstone
African Bird – Khanyisile Mthetwa
It Takes Three – Charl Du Plessis Trio
Afrikaans – Scheppel
Franco Prinsloo: Kruis Van Liefde – Franco Prinsloo and Vox Chamber Choir

Best Afro Pop Album

iStiff – Mnqobi Yazo
New Faces To Old Problems – Bonga Kwana
Sukulila – Cici
Amalobolo – Aubrey Qwana
Amagama – Nomfundo Moh

Best Collaboration

Imali – Karyendasoul and Zakes Bantwini feat. Nana Atta
Osama – Zakes Bantwini and Kasango
Wamuhle – Njelic and Boohle feat. De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef
Zwivhuya – Makhadzi feat. Joe Delinger
No Rainbow – Msaki feat. Da Capo

Best Produced Music Video

Inhlupheko by Big Zulu – Edward (Gobi Beast) and Ofentse Mwase
Playback by K.O. – Ted Magerman
Mamezala by Mafikizolo feat. Simmy – Dale Fortune
When House Was House by Mobi Dixon feat. Mariechan and JNR SA – Mabi Ntuli and Shona
Finessin’ by AKA – Mninizo Sitho and Nhlanhla

Best Produced Album Of The Year

Karabo by Malome Vector – Bokang and Ndumiso
Platinumb Heart Open by Msaki – Neo Muyanga and Asanda
Destination Unknown by Vaughn Prangley – Howard Bradley
Thetha Mama by The One Who Sings – Sean, Keanan Leroy and Arthur
A World At Suicide by Kahn Morbee – Jacques du Plessis High

Best Engineered Album Of The Year

Candid by Moonga K – Greg Abrahams, Mike Zietsman and Vicente Espi
Ghetto King by Zakes Bantwini – Zakes Bantwini
Pheli Makaveli by 25K – Sibabalwe Andile Fiphaza
City Of God and The Jungle Below by Daniel Baron – Daniel Baron and Darryn Muller
It Takes Three by Charl Du Plessis Trio – Peter Auret

Remix Of The Year

Manyelo Dafro, Bassekou Kouyate and Da Capo- Ladon by Manyelo Dafro ft Basekou Kouyate
Lira and DJ Maphorisa – Feel Good by Lira
Sun- El Musician, Azana and Da Capo – Uhuru by Sun- El Musician and Azana
Da Capo – Mama by Josiah De Disciple and Boohle
DJ Cleo – Gcina Impilo Yam by Bucy Radebe

Best Reggae Album

He Crowned I Emperor – Skeleton Blazer
Trailblazer – Reign Afrika
Hard To Believe – Ras Canly
The Shift – Botanist Mr Lamington
Ngatanngwe – Red I Scorch

Best Amapiano Album

Nkulunkulu – Kamo Mphela
Auti eSharp – Mas Musiq
Kwa Kwa – Mellow and Sleazy
Notumato – Young Stunna
President Ya Strata – Focalistic

Best Gqom Album

Khula – Bello No Gallo
Summer Banger – Dlala Thukzin
Best Of The Best – T-Man
The Journey – Slenda Da Dancing DJ
Umshunqo Reloaded – Dladla Mshunqisi

Record of the Year

Osama – Zakes Bantwini and Kasango
Questions – Shekhinah
Mamela – Mi Casa
Banyana – DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU feat. Daliwonga, Sir Trill and Kabza De Small
Abalele – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku
Adiwele – Young Stunna feat. Kabza De Small
Bopha – Mellow & Sleazy and Felo Le Tee feat. DJ Maphorisa, Madumane and Young Stunna
Vula Mlomo – Musa Keys feat. Sir Trill and Nobantu Vilakazi
Asibe Happy – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku
John Wick – De Mthuda feat. Da Muziqal Chef and Sir Trill
I’m With You – Matthew Mole
Umsebenzi Wethu – Busta 929 and Mpura feat. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du and Reece Madlisa
Black And White – Nasty C and Ari Lennox
Izolo – DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU feat. Mpura, Daliwonga and Visca
Phakade Lami – Nomfundo Moh feat. Sha Sha and Ami Faku
Jola – De Mthuda feat. Sino Msolo
Shine Your Light – Master KG and David Guetta feat. Akon
Postcards – Jeremy Loops
Ngathwala Ngaye – Kelly Khumalo feat. Mondli Ngcobo
Right Now – Elaine

Music Video of the Year

LiYoshona (Main Mix) – Kwiish SA feat. Njelic, MalumNator and De Mthuda
Izolo – DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU feat. Mpura, Daliwonga and Visca
Summer Yo Muthi – Blaq Diamond
Phakade Lami – Nomfundo Moh feat. Sha Sha and Ami Faku
Nkulunkulu – Kamo Mphela
Jola – De Mthuda feat Sino Msolo and Da Muziqal Chef
Indlovu – DJ Zinhle feat. Lloyiso
Yini Sdakwa – ThackzinDJ, Tee Jay and Sir Trill feat. Dlala Thukzin, Nkosazana_ Daughter, Rascoe Kaos, Moscow and Mpura
S’bali – Intaba Yase Dubai
Mamela – Mi Casa
John Wick – De Mthuda feat. Sir Trill and Da Muziqal Chef
Woza – Mr JazziQ, Kabza De Small and Lady Du feat. Boohle
Superman – DJ Stokie feat. Kabza De Small, Masterpiece YVK and Madumane
Getting Late – Tyla feat. Kooldrink
Umuzi eSandton – Big Zulu Feat. Lwah Ndlunkulu
Buyile – Khuli Chana feat. Tyler ICU, Stino Le Thwenny and Lady Du
Ghanama – Makhadzi feat. Prince Benza
Inhlupheko – Big Zulu feat. Mduduzi
Chucks – YOUNOTUS and Mi Casa
Mmapula – Busta 929 feat. Mzu M