Nominees for the 29th edition of the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) were announced on Tuesday, at the Jabulani Theatre in Soweto. The awards are set to take place on the weekend of 17 and 18 November at the Durban ICC and will be broadcast live on SABC 1.
Economic Development and Environmental Affairs MEC Siboniso Duma said: “We are looking forward to hosting thousands of music lovers and tourists who will visit our province ahead of the Samas and during the event itself.”
Just as it happened at the South African Hip Hop Awards 2023, AKA and K.O bagged the most nominations. Kiernan “AKA” Forbes is leading the pack with six nods, while K.O was nominated at 5 categories.
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 0 KOA || Part 1
AKA – Mass Country
Sjava – Isibuko
K.O – SR3
Lloyiso – Seasons
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 || 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 and produced by Robin Kohl and Itu)
Kanniedood – Francois van Coke (engineered and produced by Taylor Soundworks)
Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë – Thandi Ntuli (engineered and produced by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi and Clinton)
Isibuko – Sjava (engineered and produced by Ruff)
Best Adult Contemporary Album:
Celebrating African Song – Dumza Maswana
Smile – Choko
I am Gold – S’nazo
Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi
Ubuhle Ubuhle – Lethiwe Sithole
Best Alternative Album:
Glitch Vol 2: The Future Is Now – uBeyond
Synthetic Hearts – Msaki and 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 || 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 and Franco Prinsloo
One Night On Earth – Derek Gripper
Maike – Juliet String Quartet
Sanctuary – Carol Thomas
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 Madumance – 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 || Part 1 – Kabza De Small (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muzigal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa and Felo Le Tee)