Full List Of 25th South African Music Awards Nominees

“This has been a great year of music. We are proud of this nomination list which we believe is a fair reflection of the artists who made a good impact in the industry and had music lovers entertained. The stage is set for a showdown as we start the countdown to Sun City for the final awards show. We salute all the nominees and send out best wishes to all.”- Nhlanhla Sibisi, RiSA CEO congratulating the nominees

Last night we attended the SAMAs 25th nominees announcement where the awards ‘returned home’ to their cradle at the Alberton Civic Theatre, east of Johannesburg where they were first held in 1994. The night heavy with sentiment and nostalgia was hosted by the iconic Dosto Noge of Duku Duku fame and child star Hulisani Ravele and featuring some spectacular performances from SAMA Award winning musicians. Performances included Mshoza, Mzambiya, Thina Zungu Moonchild and others. The industry also came out in droves to place bets on who would be nominated and what a nail-biter it turned out to be.

We we very excited to see deserving artists like Khelly Khumalo, Nakhane, Sjava, Khaya Mthethwa, Zakes Bantwini, Bongeziwe Mabandla and many others. Yes, there were those that we were still questioning how did they make the list especially looking at the nomination process/criteria, but that is story for another day.

Here is a full list of nominees: 

Male Artist of the Year

Anatii - IYEZA, Black Coffee - Music is King, Nakhane - You will not die, Sjava  - Umqhele and Thokozani Langa  - Iyabuza Induna

Female Artist of the Year

Busiswa - Summer Life, Kelly Khumalo - Unleashed, Lebo Sekgobela - Umusa, Sho Madjozi - Limpopo Champions League and Zonke  - L.O.V.E

Duo/Group of the Year

Tshwane Gospel Choir - The Next Revival, Spirit of Praise - Spirit of Praise Vol.7, Ofeleba - Hi & Low, Encore - Segarona, Black Motion - Moya Wa Taola

Album of the Year

Black Coffee - Music is King, Black Motion - Moya Wa Taola, Sjava - Umqhele, Vusi Nova - Manyan-nyan and Zonke - L.O.V.E

Newcomer of the Year 

Mlindo The Vocalist - Emakhaya, Paxton - This is me, Sho Madjozi - Limpopo Champions League, Simmy - Tugela Fairy and Sun-El Musician - Africa to the World

Best Jazz Album

Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane - Closer to Home, Thandi Ntuli - Exiled, Bokani Dyer Trio - Neo Native, Tune Recreation Committee - Afrika Grooves with the Tune Recreation Committee and Mandisi Dyantyis - Somandla

Best Pop Album

Jarrad Ricketts - Break the Rules, Paxton - This is me, Majozi - Majozi, Tresor - Nostalgia and Tholwana - 2.0.1.5

Beste Pop Album

4 Werke -  4 by 4, The Rockets  - Sonskyn, Brendan Peyper - Dis Nie Sonde Nie, Snotkop - SOUS and Jan Bloukaas - Lewe

Best Live Audio Visual Recording

Neyi Zimu - Another Level of Worship, Krone Various Artists - Krone 5, Jabu Hlongwane - Crosspower Experience 3, Cassper Nyovest - Fill up Orlando Stadium and Spirit of Praise Vol 7 -  Spirit of Praise 7

Best Maskandi Album

Thokozani Langa - Iyabuza Induna, Ofeleba - Hi & Low, Sgwebo Sentambo - Yekani Umona, Mbuzeni - Ungishiyelani and Ichwane Lebhaca - Imali Yesoso

Rest of Africa Artist

Diamond Platnumz - A Boy From Tandale, Kommanda Obbs - Kommanda Obbs, Mr Eazi - Lagos to London, Nixon - Who We Are and Oliver Mtukudzi - Hany'ga

Best Afro Pop Album

Kelly Khumalo - Unleashed, Mlindo The Vocalist - Emakhaya, Simmy - Tugela Fairy, Sjava - Umqhele and Vusi Nova - Manyan-Nyan

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album

Almero - Maandag, Coenie de Villiers - Pure Coenie, Douvoordag - Die Avontuur, Jan Blohm - Die Liefde Album and Refentse - Liefdegenerasie

Best Reggae Album

Black Dillinger - Mavara is King, The Meditators - Explosion, Ras Vuyo - Diversion, Botanist - Game Changer and Bongo Riot - Next Levels            

Best Hip Hop Album

AKA - Touch my Blood, Emtee - DIY2, Jabba X - #FGTBB, Kid X - Thank Da King and Nasty C - Strings and Bling

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

Tshwane Gospel Choir - The Next Revival, Khaya Mthethwa - All About Jesus, Neyi Zimu - Another Level of Worship, Ntokozo Mbambo - Moments in Time and We Will Worship - Seasons Volume 1

Best Dance Album

DJ Fistaz  - Mixwell Summer, Sun-El Musician - Africa To The World, Mobi Dixon - 10 Steps Forward, Black Coffee - Music is King and Black Motion - Moya Wa Taola

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

Lebo Sekgobela - Umusa, Paul K - Time of God Manifest, Sipho Ngwenya - Intimate Worship Season 3, Spirit of Praise 7 - Spirit of Praise Vol.7 and Kholeka - Your Word - Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

Anatii - IYEZA, Encore - Segarona, Nathi -  Iphupha Labantu, Ntokozo Mbambo & Nqubeko Mbatha - The Anniversary Project and Tabia - The Journey

Best R&B/Soul Album

Kabomo - All Things Red, Mlu - A Day For The Universe, Lady X - Love.Life.Complicated, Zonke - L.O.V.E and Nicksoul - Therapy

Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano

Busiswa - Summer Life, Distruction Boyz - It Was All A Dream, DJ Maphorisa - Gqom Wave Vol.2, Sho Madjozi - Limpopo Champions League and Spikiri -  King Don Father

Best Rock Album

CrashCarBurn - Headlights, Dan Patlansky - Perfection Kills, Hellcats - The Hex and the Healer, The Black, Cat Bones - Here is a Knife and The Parlotones - China

Best Traditional Album

Vhavhenda Cultural Group - Tshianda Nguvhoni, University of Limpopo Choristers & Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra  - Africa Tivule, Tswelelang Cultural Dancers - Motho Wa Me, Mzimkhulu Happy Boys - Nqoba izitha and Candy - Hupenyu Unenge Viri

Best Alternative Album

Breindy and Matt - Ruth Ave, Gabi Motuba- Tefiti Goddess of Creation, Jeremy Loops  - Critical As Water, Nakhane - You will Not Die and Sannie Fox - My Soul Got Stranger

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Watershed -  Harbour, Roan Ash - Whiskey to my Soul, Georgetown - The Dog Show, Ard Matthews - Impossible Machines and 8 Misses Croon - …Like never before

Best African Indigenous Faith Album

Trust in Christ Ministries - Elami Igama, The General Isitimela - Amen Ezulwini, Ithimba Le-Africa - Sesiphunyukile, In Zion of Christ -  Izinyembezi and Christ Worshippers Mass Choir - Nkosi Ngiyakuthanda

Best Engineer

CH2 - Starstruck, Nasty C - Strings and Bling, Sjava - Umqhele, Hellcats - The Hex and the Healer and Vusi Nova - Manyan-nyan

Remix of the Year

DJ Capital - Skebe Dep Dep ft. Kwesta, Kid X, Reason, Youngsta CPT and Stogie T, Prince Kaybee - Club Controller, SPHEctacula and DJ Naves - Bhampa, Zakes Bantwini - Bang Bang Bang and Zakwe -  Sebentin ft. Refiloe Maele Phoolo, Jabulani Tsambo; Lesego Moiloa; Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi; Ncazelo Mtolo

Collaboration of the year

Sun-El Musician - Sonini ft. Simphiwe Nhlangulela, Sun-El Musician - Ntaba Ezikude ft. Simphiwe Nhlangulela, Dj Sumbody - Monate Mpolaye ft. Cassper Nyovest, Thebe and Vettis, Black Coffee - Drive  ft. David Guetta and Delilah Montagu and Black Coffee - Wish you were here ft. Asanda Lusaseni-Mvana

Music Video of the Year

Bongeziwe Mabandla ft. Spoek Mathambo - Bawo Wam, Jeremy Loops - Gold, Mafikizolo ft. Jah Prayzah  -  Mazuva Akanaka, Sho Madjozi  -  Huku and The Parlotones  - Beautiful Life

Best Produced Album

AKA - Touch my Blood, Kholeka - Your Word - Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho, The Vocalist - Emakhaya, Nasty C - String and Bling and Zonke - L.O.V.E