On June 7th, the 28th annual SA Music Awards nominees were announced during a nomination party held in Randburg, Johannesburg. The event was also shared via livestream on the SAMAs YouTube account and was attended by A-list celebrities, some of whom were announced as nominees as well.
The SAMAs were last hosted in person two years ago, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the in-person style ceremony take a hiatus. They were hosted via livestream instead, in 2020 (#SAMA26) and 2021(#SAMA27), respectively. For this year however, there is a strong indication that the award ceremony will be held in person, and may very well be held in Johannesburg, on Sunday, 31 July 2022. The live broadcast will be on SABC1.
“SABC1 prides itself on being the platform that unearths and recognizes talent. With each year of the partnership, The South African Music Awards and SABC1, as a collective, shines a light on the music industry and the artists in their respective genres. A huge congratulations to all the nominees that have made it through this year, sithi umculo uhamba pambili.”- Thulisile Nhlapo – Acting Channel Head.
Leading this year’s nominees is house music artist and producer Zakes Bantwini, with a total of seven nominations. He has earned a nomination in the Record of the Year (ROTY) category for his hit song “Osama” with Kasango, as well as an additional nomination in six other categories, including Album of the Year.
His album, Ghetto King, has been nominated for Album of the Year, Best Dance Album and Best Engineered Album, while he is nominated for Male Artist of the Year. “Osama”, along with his other song “Imali”, which he collaborated with Karyendasoul and features Nana Atta, have both been nominated in the Best Collaboration category.
The rest of the nominees follow below:
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 Beating – 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 Beating – Msaki
Beste 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 Beating 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
SAMPRA ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Bello no Gallo
- Haksul MUZIQ
- Fanie Dick
- AfroToniQ
- Zion Agreement
- A-Reece
- Musa Keys
- Msaki
- Jennifer Zamudio
- Millie Ngwalangwala
- Rodger KB
- Brandon Dhludhlu
- HunTer Leite
- NLite
- Emtee
- PressCee
- Cece Vee
- Young Stunna
- Lady X
- Makhadzi
