The South African Music Awards announced the SAMA30 nominees on Thursday at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.
Tyla was the most nominated artist, with five, followed by Kabza De Small and Mbuso Khoza, who all received three.
Along with the list of nominations, host radio and television presenter Luthando “Loot Love” Shosha revealed that the awards will be held on November 2 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.
Kryptonite Dance Academy kicked off the festivities with an energetic dance choreography that took audiences on a journey through South Africa’s best charting sounds, from kwaito to the evolution of amapiano.
Tyla was nominated for multiple awards, including SAMPRA Album of the Year, Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year, SANTAM Newcomer of the Year, Best Pop Album, and Best Collaboration for Water with Travis Scott.
Following Tyla’s five nominations, Kabza De Small and Mbuso Khoza both received three nominations.
Kabza, the small Amapiano virtuoso, is up for Album of the Year, Motsweding FM’s Best Amapiano Album, and Radio 2000’s Duo/Group of the Year with Mthunzi for “Isimo”.
Khoza won Best Produced Album, Best Traditional Music Album, and Best Engineered Album for “Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2” (original music from the “Shaka iLembe” TV series).
It’s a clash of the titans in the Lesedi FM Male Artist of the Year category, Amapiano headliners Kelvin Momo for “Kurhula”, Daliwonga for “Dali Dali” and De Mthuda for “Baba Yaga”; go up against rapper Priddy Ugly for “Dust” and new-age Maskandi artist Ugatsheni for “Uyihlo noNyoko”.
In the Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year category, Tyla for “Tyla” faces stiff competition from Brenda Mtambo for “Sane”, Lwah Ndlunkulu for “Imizwa”, Lordkez for “Testament” and Xolly Mncwango for “Unusual”.
The SAMPRA Album of the Year category represents various genres with Amapiano stars Kabza De Small and Mthunzi for “Isimo” and Daliwonga for “Dali Dali” up against, pop princess Tyla for “Tyla”, faith music powerhouse Xolly Mncwango for “Unusual” and iconic isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo for “Soothe My Soul: Songs from our South African Church”.
Full list of nominees:
Best Adult Contemporary Album
The Misty Cliffs – The Misty Cliffs
Stimela – Drakensberg Boys Choir
Shipwrecked – Jack Atlantic
Isipho – Smama
Ikwekwezi FM Best African Adult Contemporary Album
Isicathamiya For A New Millennium – Thee Legacy
Amaxesha – Bongeziwe Mabandla
Sane – Brenda Mtambo
Umoya – Embracing the Human Spirit – Vusi Mahlasela
Best Afro Pop Album
Umkhonto – Zuko SA
Imizwa – Lwah Ndlunkulu
Zulu Romance – Blaq Diamond
Ugcobo – Nomfundo Moh
Best Alternative Album
Layers – Carla Franco
Enter the Grootness (Deluxe) – Van Pletzen
I’m With The Singer – I’m With The Singer
Don’t Forget To Howl – West Coast Wolves
Motsweding FM Best Amapiano Album
Boroko Keng – Mellow & Sleazy
Baba Yaga – De Mthuda
Dali Dali – Daliwonga
Isimo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi
Kurhula – Kelvin Momo
Best Classical/Instrumental Album
Sci-fi, Beats & Life – UBeyond
End of the beginning – Fanie Dick
Lofi Chill – Tony Drake
Relentless – Karen Devroop
Best Collaboration
Burning Bush – Mörda and Thakzin
iPlan – Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba
Water – Tyla and Travis Scott
Imithandazo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush
Best Dance Album
Asante II – Mörda and Thakzin
Permanent Music 3 – Dlala Thukzin
The Star Is Reborn – Zakes Bantwini
Clickbait – DBN Gogo
Reputation – Sculptured Music
Best Engineered Album
Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the Shaka iLembe TV Series) – Mbuso Khoza
Wake Up, It’s Morning – Matthew Mole
Umoya – Embracing the Human Spirit – Vusi Mahlasela
Sane – Brenda Mtambo
Reimagined – The Soil
Best Gqom Album
Dark or Durban – Funky Qla
Gqom To Another Level Vol.1 – Bello No Gallo
TronicsLand Series 2 – Mr Thela
The Young Prince Of Gqom – General C’mamane
Best Hip Hop Album
Note To Self – FLVME
I Love It Here – Nasty C
Heartbreak Hotel – The Big Hash
Dust – Priddy Ugly
Best Jazz Album
Enhlizweni: Song Stories From My Heartland – Steve Dyer
Siparia To Soweto – Hugh Masekela and Siparia Deltones
The Past Is Unpredictable, Only The Future Is Certain – Vuma Levin
In The Wake – Kujenga
Best Kwaito Album
Ghetto Skomplaz – Abobhova
Celebrating 25 Years In The Game – Sbu Malawyer
Most Wanted – Sykes
Inzalo YeKwaito 2nd Half – Zinaro
Best Maskandi Album
National Anthem – Inkos’yamagcokama
Uber Driver – Sminofu
Uyihlo noNyoko – Ugatsheni
Isivulwe Yonke – Ntencane
Best Pop Album
You Need Therapy – Mila Smith
Magic – Will Linley
Wake Up, It’s Morning – Matthew Mole
Tyla – Tyla
Best Produced Album
I Love It Here – Nasty C
No Other Love – David Watkyns
Wake Up, It’s Morning – Matthew Mole
Ifa Lomkhono – Mbuso Khoza
Best Produced Music Video
Dali by Kamo Mphela – Kudzi
Amakhehla by Sjava – Tido
018 by Cassper Nyovest – Jabu
Call Me by Filah Lah Lah – Reabetswe Fila Ranamane
Umhlobo Wenene FM Best R&B/Soul Album
A Tale of a Fallen Queen – Ayanda Jiya
Love Letters – KashCPT
Testament – Lordkez
The Other Side (Deluxe EP) – Mia
Best Reggae Album
Musinion – Undefynd
Love & Unity – Ras Vuyo
Love Expressions – Two Point Ow
Give Praises – Skeleton Blazer
Best Rock Album
Dans Deur Die Donker – Francois van Coke
Deurbraak – Millennium
Born & Raised – Kenny Hughes
All-Killer-Filler – Evert Snyman
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Sibonga Umusa (Live) – Sneziey
Indumiso yaseStezi – Thinah Zungu
uJehova – University of Pretoria
Mororiseng – Omega Khunou
Best Traditional Music Album
Bhacasoul Experience EP – Joliza
Mbofholowo – Makhadzi
Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the Shaka iLembe TV Series) – Shaka Ilembe
Hamba Naye – Soul Brothers
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album
Rondry, Fliek En Die Buitelewe – Valiant Swart
Allegaarkie vir ‘n Askeet – Neil Sandilands
Estetika – Elandré
Alles – Jacob Swann
Beste Pop Album
Almal Gly – Die Piesangskille
Heelal – Ryno Velvet
Omdat Jy Mag – Brendan Peyper
My Mense – Ilán van Staden
Remix of the Year
Sisahleleleni (Ntokzin remix) – Bongeziwe Mabandla & Ntokzin
Weekend Special (Jnr SA remix) – Jnr SA
Dubula – Harrycane feat Eemoh, Master KG and DJ Latinny
Goodbye remixed by Soa Mattrix – Azana and Soa Mattrix
Rest of Africa Award
Asake: Work of Art – Asake
Don’t Get Used To This – Wurld
Son Of A Tribe (Royalty Edition) – Edgar Muzah
Alusa Why Are You Topless? – Bien
Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album
Alikho Elinye Ithemba – JTG Gospel Choir
Ke Nako ya Modimo – Lejwe la Motheo
Vuya Matimba – Discuss Nkuna
Soothe My Soul: Songs from our South African Church – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
The Gift Vol.1 – Brenden Praise
Izililo – We Will Worship
We Bow Down – 3C Live
Come To Jesus (Live In Bryanston, 2022) – The Fellowship With Pastor Namba
Lesedi FM Male Artist of the Year
Priddy Ugly – Dust
Kelvin Momo – Kurhula
Daliwonga – Dali Dali
De Mthuda – Baba Yaga
Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year
Tyla – Tyla
Brenda Mtambo – Sane
Lordkez – Testament
Xolly Mncwango – Unusual
Mellow & Sleazy – Boroko Keng
FokofPolisieKar – Dans Deur Die Donker
Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt – Almal Gly
Kabza De Small and Mthunzi – Isimo
SANTAM Newcomer of the Year
Sykes – Most Wanted
Lwah Ndlunkulu – Imizwa
Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt – Almal Gly
Joliza – Bhacasoul Experience EP
SAMPRA Album of the Year
Isimo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi
Tyla – Tyla
Soothe My Soul: Songs from our South African Church – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Unusual – Xolly Mncwango
