Anticipations are high and all eyes are on the South African Music award ceremony.
It hasn’t been looking good for the annual celebration of local music this year.
The SAMAs had to move from SunCity to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. While everyone was coming to terms with that, the venue was moved once again to Pretoria at SunBet Arena.
For almost two weeks before this, everyone was uncertain of whether or not the award ceremony will still take place after the sudden withdrawal of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs of KwaZulu-Natal.
While many are relieved, some are awaiting to see if the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) will pull a good quality show.
Meanwhile, artists and the big names in the music industry are now doing the final touches on their outfits for the ceremony to be broadcast live on Saturday, 18 November at 8pm on SABC 1.
Here is a list of the notable musicians under leading categories to be celebrated on this night.
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 & The Children of Meroë
Male Artist of the Year
Kabza De Small – KOA II Part 1
AKA – Mass Country
Sjava – Isibuko
K.O – SR3
Lloyiso – Seasons
Read More | SAMAs show to go on after weeks of uncertainty
Duo/Group of the Year
DJ Maphorisa and Visca – Ba Straata
Venom and Shishiliza – Love Is Pain
Mafikizolo – Idwala
DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small – Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena
Msaki and Tubatsi – Synthetic Hearts
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
Album of the Year
Mass Country – AKA
SR3 – K.O
Isibuko – Sjava
KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small
Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo
Best Engineered Album
To Whom it May Concern – Sincerely Anne (engineered and produced by Tjaart van der Walt and Daniel Baron)
Mass Country – AKA (engineered & produced by Robin Kohl and Itu)
Kanniedood – Francois van Coke (engineered & produced by Taylor Soundworks)
Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë – Thandi Ntuli (engineered & produced by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi & Clinton)
Isibuko – Sjava, (engineered & produced by Ruff)
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 Collaboration
K.O, Young Stunna featuring Blxckie – Sete
AKA featuring Nasty C – Lemons (Lemonade)
DJ Maphorisa and Visca featuring 2woshortrsa, Stompiiey, ShaunMusiQ, Ftears and Madumane – Ba Straata
Morda featuring Oscar Mbo and Murumba Pitch – Mohigan Sun
AKA featuring 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
KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muziqal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa and Felo Le Tee)
Things We Don’t Talk About – Jimmy Nevis (producer: Darren Petersen)
Amukelani – Kelvin Momo (producer: Kelvin Momo)
Lindokuhle – Lindokuhle (producer: Mthunzi, Howard, Herc, Tshepo Morone, DJ Maphorisa, Masiano)
Isibuko – Sjava (producer: Delayde, Ruff, Jah Cool)
Best Produced Music Video
Lemons (Lemonade) – AKA featuring Nasty C (producer: Tebogo Mabaso; director: Nate Thomas)
Sete – K.O featuring Young Stunna & Blxckie (producer: K.O, Tsholofelo Moremedi, Ted Magerman; director: Ted Magerman)
Be Free – Desire Marea (producer: Will Nicholson; Director: Imraan Christian
Been Thinking – Tyla (producer: Jimi Adesanya; director: Meiji Alabi)
Shine – Elaine (producer: Shayna Gianelli; director: Jesse Ray Diamond)
Remix of the Year
Ndinovalo – Morda
Sete – K.O featuring Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz
Hayii Citizen Deep Remix – Citizen Deep X Mzux Maen ft Yasmin Levy
Au Dede – Karyendasoul
Tobesta Remake – Myztro featuring Focalistic, Daliwonga, Shaunmusiq and Ftears
Read More | Rising star Viwo Kulati excited about her SAMA nomination
Best Gqom Album
Meeting with the King – DJ Lag
Fikelephi – Sizwe Mdlalose
Love & Light – Cairo CPT
Nande 2.0 – DJ Sandiso
Ithuba – Newlandz Finest
Best Hip Hop Album
Religion – MashBeatz
Mass Country – AKA
SR3 – K.O
Life is Gangsta – Thato Saul
Diaspora – Maglera Doe Boy
Best Kwaito Album
Speak n Vrostaan – Kwesta and Kabza De Small
R Mashesha – Big Nuz
I Am Who I Am – Nkiyase
Jukebox – Shisaboy
Barabbas – Taylor K
Best Traditional Album
African Queen 2.0 – Makhadzi
Ke Bone Molelo O Timile – MmaAusi
A Reyeng Bahurutshe – Oarabele France Makgore
Obe Happy – Molebatsi Tsotetsi
Inkabi Nation – Big Zulu
Best Dance Album
Asante – Morda
Next Level – Russell Zuma
The Gospel According to Artwork Sounds – Grain
WL4OM – Bonga Ntozini
A New Dawn – Siyanda Makanya
Best Afro-pop Album
Isibuko – Sjava
From A God to A King – Kelly Khumalo
Idwala – Mafikizolo
Love is Pain – Venom
Ekhayakomama – Philadlozi Mfekayi
