Another year, another virtual award ceremony. This time it's the South African Music Awards, which were broadcast on Saturday, 31 July.
Hip-hop duo Blaq Diamond, made up of Ndumiso “Ndu Brown” Mdletshe and Sphelele “Danya” Dunywa, made history as the first outfit to ever be crowned Artist of the Year at the SAMAs.
The Ambitious Entertainment duo got the biggest number of votes in a category voted for by the public in a star-studded show broadcast on SABC1 tonight.
Matthew Mole’s Keep It Together took the Record of the Year award while Miss Pru’s Price To Pay featuring Blaq Diamond and Malome Vector won the Music Video of the Year award.
Kabza De Small also reigned supreme. He walked away with four gongs, the biggest number by a single artist this year followed by DJ Maphorisa with three.
Kabza De Small’s collaboration with DJ Maphorisa as Scorpion Kings earned them Album of the Year, Duo or Group of the Year, and Best Amapiano Album for Once Upon A Time In Lockdown. His solo work, I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet and Dust, earned him the Male Artist of the Year award.
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The internationally acclaimed Master KG took home the SAMRO Composer Highest Airplay award that he shares with Nomcebo Zikode. He also won the International Achiever Award for his hit Jerusalema featuring Nomcebo.
Gospel star Bucy Radebe bagged two trophies, the White Star Newcomer of the Year and Best Traditional Faith Album for Spiritual Encounter. Sho Madjozi proved her versatility when she scooped the Best Traditional Album and Sofnfree Female Artist of the Year.
The Best Hip-Hop Album award went to Nasty C while Zinaro took home the Best Gqom Album.
The SAMA27 virtual show was recorded in a Johannesburg studio this year.
Here's the full list of winners.
Artist of the Year Blaq Diamond
Record of the Year Keep it Together - Matthew Mole Music Video of the Year Price to Pay - Miss Pru featuring Blaq Diamond and Malome Vector
Album of the Year Once Upon A Time In Lockdown – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
Duo or Group of the Year Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) – Once Upon A Time In Lockdown
Sofnfree Female Artist of the Year Sho Madjozi – What A Life
Male Artist of the Year Kabza De Small – I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust
White Star Newcomer of the Year Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter
Best Rock Album Orange Sunshine – Yum Yuck
Best Pop Album Tribes & Angels – Locnville
Beste Pop Album Twentig 20 – Brendan Peyper
Best Adult Contemporary Album Rise – Ndlovu Youth Choir
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album Herverbeel – Die Heuwels Fantasties
Best African Adult Contemporary Album Amakhaya – Max Hoba
Best Alternative Album Iimini – Bongeziwe Mabandla
Best R&B/Soul Album Uhambo – Soul Kulture
Best Hip-Hop Album Zulu Man With Some Power – Nasty C
Best Kwaito Album Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa and Zuma
Best Dance Album The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion
Best Traditional Faith Album Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
Best Contemporary Faith Album Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle
Best African Indigenous Faith Album Izwi Lakho – Mandlethu Gospel Singers
Rest of Africa Songs in the Key of Love – Berita
Best Traditional Album What a Life – Sho Madjozi
Best Maskandi Album kaMakhelwane – Abafana Baka Mgqumeni
Best Jazz Album Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworld – Nduduzo Makhathini
Best Classical/Instrumental Album We’ve Known All Times – Wouter Kellerman
Best Afropop Album Ngumama – Vusi Nova
Best Live Audio Visual Recording Journey to the World and Beyond – Sun-El Musician
Best Collaboration Mali Eningi – Big Zulu feat Riky Rick and Intaba yase Dubai
Best Produced Music Video Hosh by Prince Kaybee feat Sir Trill – Ofentse
Best Produced Album of the Year Umsebenzi by Sjava – Delaydem, Ruff, Webmoms, Zadok and Vuyo Manyike
Best Engineered Album of the Year Inganekwane by Zoe Modiga – Papi Diretsi and Songo Oyama
Remix of the Year Yehla Moya – Da Capo
Best Reggae Album Persistence – Bongo Riot
Best Amapiano Album Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
Best Gqom Album Inzalo Yekwaito - Zinaro
Lifetime Achievement Award Lebo M, Dr Lindelani Mkhize, PJ Powers
International Achievement Award Master KG
Best Selling Artist Mlindo the Vocalist - Emakhaya
Most Streamed Song You’re the One – Elaine
SAMRO Composer Highest Airplay Kgaugelo Moagi (Master KG) and Nomcebo Zikode – Jerusalema
