The Soweto Theatre in Jabulani, Soweto played host to the music industry as the SAMA nominations were announced. Albums and singles released between 1 February 2022 and 14 April 2023 were considered for SAMA29.
The late AKA leads the pack with a tally of no less than seven nods for his album Mass Country in the categories of Male Artist of the Year; Album of the Year; Best Engineered Album; Best Hip-Hop Album; Best Collaboration (for the single Lemons (Lemonade) featuring Nasty C); Best Collaboration (for the single Company featuring Kiddominant); and Best Produced Music Video (for Lemons (Lemonade) featuring Nasty C.
Hot on his heels is fellow rapper K.O who garnered no less than six nominations thanks to his album SR3 and the single Sete featuring Young Stunna and Blxckie. He is nodded in the categories of Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Album, Best Collaboration, Best Produced Music Video and Remix of the Year for Sete featuring Young Stunna, Oxlade and Diamond Platnumz.
Sjava’s Isibuko album earned him a spot in the fiercely contested Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Produced Album and Best Engineered Album.
The maestros of Amapiano, Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa, earned at least four and three nominations respectively, they further walked away with two nods for their collaboration as Scorpion Kings.
Sincerely Anne bagged an impressive three nods for Newcomer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Best Engineered Album for To Whom it May Concern.
Ntokozo Mbambo’s Lavish Worship is the only album by a woman competing in the Album of the Year category, she is also up for Female Artist of the Year award and Best Contemporary Faith Album.
The Maskandi Album category is a battle royale between Menzi with Ngeke Ungiphathe, Khuzani for Umqhele Nethawula, Thokozani Langa’s Is’khiye Se-Coldroom, Abafana Bakamgqumeni for Iphakade Lami and Inkos’yamagcokama with Home Alone.
In the Best Jazz Album category, In the Spirit of Ntu by Linda Sikhakhane’s Isambulu, Nduduzo Makhathini goes up against Thandi Ntuli’s Blk Elija & The Children of Meroë, Mthunzi Mvubu’s The 1st Gospel and Shane Cooper and Mabuta’s Finish the Sun.
The nominees cut across a variety of genres and reflect the vibrant nature of South African music as well as the competitive spirit that fuels creativity and flair that feeds the pulse of the industry.
RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi congratulated the nominees: “We are proud to present the class of SAMA29 who over a 14-month period put out some of the best tunes, collaborations and music videos in the country. We commend their artistry, resilience and tenacity that have led to them rising to the top and positioning themselves to be in line for the highest music accolade South Africa can bestow on an artist. We wish them well as we embark on the road to SAMA29 in KwaZulu-Natal.”
The SA Music Awards will be staged at the Durban ICC on the weekend of 17 and 18 November 2023 and broadcast live on SABC1.
Full list of nominees
Best Engineered Album
- To Whom It May Concern – Sincerely Anne, Engineered by Tjaart van der Walt & Daniel Baron
- Mass Country – AKA, Engineered by Robin Kohl & Itu
- Kanniedood – Francois van Coke, Engineered by Taylor Soundworks
- Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë – Thandi Ntuli, Engineered by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi & Clinton
- Isibuko – Sjava Engineered by Ruff
Best African Adult Contemporary Album
- Celebrating African Song – Dumza Maswana
- Smile – Choko
- I am Gold – S’nazo
- Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi
- Ubuhle – Lethiwe Sithole
Best Alternative Album
- Glitch Vol. 2: The Future Is Now – uBeyond
- Synthetic Hearts – Msaki x Tubatsi
- Blue Lawns – The Great Yawn
- Leaving All The Time – Bye Beneco
- On The Romance of Being – Desire Marea
Best Amapiano Album
- Amukelani – Kelvin Momo
- Ba Straata – DJ Maphorisa and Visca
- 2.0 Nkwari – Myztro
- KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small
- Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena – DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small
Best Classical/Instrumental Album
- Live In Europe 22 – CH2
- Fire Beast – Vox Chamber Choir & Franco Prinsloo
- One Night On Earth (Live in Concert) – Derek Gripper
- Maike – Juliet String Quartet
- Sanctuary – Carol Thorns
Best Collaboration
- K.O feat Young Stunna & Blxckie – Sete
- AKA feat Nasty C – Lemons (Lemonade)
- DJ Maphorisa and Visca feat 2woshort, Stompiiey, ShaunMusiq, Ftears and Madumane – Ba Straata
- Morda & Oscar Mbo feat Murumba Pitch – Mohigan Sun
- AKA & Kiddominant – Company
Best Pop Album
- Things We Don’t Talk About – Jimmy Nevis
- Heard You Got Love – Jeremy Loops
- Game Over – Tyler Page
- Seasons – Lloyiso
- Petrichor – Amy Lilley
Best Produced Album
- Things we Don’t Talk About – Jimmy Nevis, Produced by Darren Petersen
- KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small, Produced by Da Muziqal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa, Felo Le Tee
- Amukelani – Kelvin Momo, Produced by Kelvin Momo
- Lindokuhle – Mlindo the Vocalist, Produced by Mthunzi, Howard, Herc, Tshepo Morome, DJ Maphorisa, Masiano
- Isibuko – Sjava Produced by Webmoms, Delayde, Ruff, Jah Cool
Best Produced Music Video
- AKA ft Nasty C – Lemons (Lemonade), Produced by Tebogo Mabaso, Directed By Nate Thomas
- K.O ft Young Stunna & Blxckie – Sete, Directed by Ted Magerman, Produced by K.O, Tsholofelo Moremedi & Ted Magerman
- Desire Marea – Be Free, Directed by Imraan Christian, Produced by Will Nicholson
- Tyla – Been Thinking, Directed by Meiji Alabi, Producer Jimi Adesanya
- Elaine – Shine, Directed by Jesse Ray Diamond, Produced by Shayna Gianelli
Best R&B/Soul Album
- 4LUV (Deluxe) – Blxckie
- But Could The Moments in Between – Manana
- Germander II – FLVME
- Bad Weather – Nanette
- Passion Fruit – Kabomo
Best Reggae Album
- Ghetto Youth’s Cry – Botanist Mr Lamington
- Unleashed – Blakka Yut
- Maximum Stylez Presents: Red Carpet Live, Vol 1 – Various Artists (Edna Montse, Pepsin, Skeleton Blazer, Reign Afrika, Zama Sunshine & Moon Queen)
- Flight Mode Riddim – Blackness Blue Productions
- Healing – Lavoro Duro
Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album
- Sing, Hoop, Weerklink – Prop
- Skree Net Sag – ALTEREGO
- Ep In F – Herman Kleinhans
- Jagvat – Jan Rhaap
- Toe Roep Ek Jou Naam – Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet
- Katryn – Stefan Jansen
Remix of the Year
- Mörda & Yallunder – Ndinovalo, remixed by Mörda (Bongani Mohosana)
- K.O ft Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz – Sete, remixed by K.O
- Citizen Deep and Mzux Maen ft Yasmin Levy – Hayii Citizen Deep Remix, remixed by Citizen Deep
- Lebo Mathosa – Au Dede (ft Karyendasoul), remixed by Karyendasoul
- Myztro ft Focalistic, Daliwonga, ShaunMusiQ, Ftears – Tobetsa Remake, remixed by Myztro, ShaunMusiQ and FTears.
Rest Of Africa Award
- Sad Romance – Ckay
- Timeless – Davido
- Worry < – Tim Lyre
- Dynastie – Ferre Gola
- Sounds of Peace – Moreira Chonguiça
- I’m Alive – Sha Sha
Best Gqom Album
- Fikelephi – Sizwe Mdlalose
- Meeting With The King – DJ Lag
- Love & Light – Cairo CPT
- Nande 2.0 – DJ Sandiso
- Ithuba – Newlandz Finest
Best African Indigenous Faith Album
- Ba Ya Mo Nyatsa – Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo
- Mantswe a Supileng – Spiritual Gospel Choir
- Ikhoni Mfuyo – In Zion of Christ
- Emmanuel (Farewell to Phodiso Joel Kgaudi) – JTG Gospel Choir
- Ntate le Rato la hao – Ingqayizivele Gospel Choir
Newcomer of the Year
- Myztro – 2.0 Nkwari
- Blakka Yut – Unleashed
- Sincerely Anne – To Whom It May Concern
- Lloyiso – Seasons
- Venom and Shishiliza – Love is Pain
Duo/Group of the Year
- DJ Maphorisa & Visca – Ba Straata
- Venom & Shishiliza – Love is Pain
- Mafikizolo – Idwala
- DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small – Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena
- Msaki x Tubatsi – Synthetic Hearts
Female Artist of the Year
- Kelly Khumalo – From A God To A King
- Ntokozo Mbambo – Lavish Worship
- Sincerely Anne – To Whom It May Concern
- Hle – Take Heart
- Thandi Ntuli – Blk Elijah and The Children of Moroë
Best Dance Album
- Next Level – Russell Zuma
- Asante – Mörda
- We Live 4 Our Music (W4LOM) – Karyendasoul
- The Gospel According to Artwork Sounds – Artwork Sounds
- A New Dawn – DJ Kabila
Best Adult Contemporary Album
- Memories – Drakensberg Boys Choir
- Ndikhethiwe – Vusi Nova
- Love – Viwo Kulati
- Dark Secrets – Louise Carver
- Bait For Steps Forward – Nobuhle Ashanti
Best Afro-Pop Album
- Love is Pain – Venom & Shishiliza
- Idwala – Mafikizolo
- From A God To A King – Kelly Khumalo
- Isibuko – Sjava
- Ekhayakomama – Phila Dlozi
Best HipHop Album
- Diaspora – Maglera Doe Boy
- Life is Gangsta – Thato Saul
- SR3 – K.O
- Mass Country – AKA
- This Is Religion – MashBeatz
Best Jazz Album
- Finish The Sun – Shane Cooper & Mabuta
- The 1st Gospel – Mthunzi Mvubu
- Blk Elijah & The Children of Moroë – Thandi Ntuli
- The Spirit of Ntu – Nduduzo Makhathini
- Isambulo – Linda Sikhakhane
Male Artist of the Year
- Kabza De Small – KOA II Part 1
- AKA – Mass Country
- Sjava – Isibuko
- K.O – SR3
- Lloyiso – Seasons
Album of the Year
- AKA – Mass Country
- K.O – SR3
- Sjava – Isibuko
- Kabza De Small – KOA II Part 1
- Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo
Best Rock Album
- Testify – Basson Laubscher & The Violent Free Peace
- Fine Thanks, and You? – Shortstraw
- Fuzigish – Fuzigish
- Hellcats – End of Days
- Kanniedood – Francois van Coke
Best Maskandi Album
- Home Alone – Inkos’yamagcokama
- Ngeke Ungiphathe – Menzi
- Is’khiye Se-Coldroom – Thokozani Langa
- Iphakade lami – Abafana Baka Mqgumeni
- Umqhele neThawula – Khuzani
Best Kwaito Album
- I Am Who I Am – Nkiyase
- Speak N Vrostaan – Kwesta & Kabza De Small
- R Mashesha – Big Nuz
- Jukebox – Shisa Boy
- Barabbas – Taylor K
Best Traditional Faith Album
- Ndiyabulela – Hush
- The Overflow Gcwala Kimi – Dumi Mkokstad
- Hoja Ke Sena Wena – IPCC
- The Grace Encounter, Vol. 1 – Bucy Radebe
- Sedi Laka – Soweto Gospel Choir
Best Contemporary Faith Album
- Take Heart – Hle
- Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo
- Mhalamhala – Brenden Praise
- Restored (Live Recording) – The Jesus Collective
- Hope – Soweto Gospel Choir
Best Traditional Album
- Obe Happy – Ntata Mafahla
- Inkabi Nation – Inkabi Nation
- African Queen 2.0 – Makhadzi
- Ke Bone Molelo O Timile – MmaAusi
- A Reyeng Bahurutshe – Thebe Arts Group
Beste Pop Album
- Hittegolf – Eloff
- Insomnia – Brendan Peyper
- Loufi Flippen Loufi – Loufi
- Die Onbekende – Rooksein
- Jona – Bernice West
