ZAKHELE “Zakes Bantwini” Madida (42) has lambasted the quality of this year’s South African Music Awards (Samas).
The annual Samas, now in their 28th year, were held at Sun City Resort, North West, at the weekend. The singer and songwriter, who scooped two awards for his hit Osama, said he was not pleased with the quality of production and judging. On Tuesday, 30 August, he took to Instagram to say the awards had lost value.
“Regrettably, the Samas have broken our trust. They have devalued the honour and prestige they once stood for. There is no integrity in the way the show is being produced. The planning, awarding and extending the basic courtesy of respect to artists.”
Zakes said after 15 years of his career, he won two awards after 28 nominations.
He said he received the awards with a heavy heart, and that many musicians did not even attend the ceremony. And this, he said, was due to corruption and a lack of vision.
“Let’s all agree that the judges have failed us both as artists and music fans. It’s time we build our industry again,” he said.
ALSO READ : Fans praise A-Reece!
The Recording Industry of SA (RiSA), in charge of organising the Samas, responded in a statement.
CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi blamed Covid-19 as the main reason they couldn’t secure enough funding to produce a high-quality show.
“We are, however, grateful to all sponsors for their financial support. We are grateful to artists and companies that ensured a record-breaking 1 362 entries,” the statement read.
Sibisi said the Samas relied on a system in which record companies and artist-led labels reviewed, amended and confirmed the rules, categories and judges.
“This system is reviewed annually by our members and artists at a town hall meeting. But in the past two years, this process and engagements with artists were less than optimal due to Covid-19 restrictions, and some gaps were left open by lack of adequate engagements.”
He said he had already started direct engagement with companies and artists, and would be proposing a major overhaul of the structure and systems by the end of September.
