South African Music Awards 2023: All the nominees

By wazup on October 4, 2023 Comments Closed / 71 views

The announcement, made at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani on 3 October, is a culmination of months of behind-the-scenes preparations as committees of officials from major and independent labels finalised the rules, judging criteria and selection of judges.

The judges are drawn from the music industry and ancillary professionals in media, academic institutions and cultural bodies.

Organised by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), this year’s awards, dubbed #SAMA29, will celebrate top albums and singles released between 1 February 2022 and 14 April 2023.

“We are proud to present the class of SAMA29 who over a 14-month period put out some of the best tunes, collaborations and music videos in the country,” RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said. “We commend their artistry, resilience and tenacity that have led to them rising to the top and positioning themselves to be in line for the highest music accolade South Africa can bestow on an artist. We wish them well as we embark on the road to #SAMA29 in KwaZulu-Natal.”

The nominees cut across a variety of genres and reflect the vibrant South African music scene. The late rapper AKA leads the nominees with seven nods for his posthumous album Mass Country. Other top nominees are rapper K.O with six nominations, Sjava with four and amapiano artist Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa who earned four and three nominations apiece, respectively. The latter two further walked away with two nods for their collaboration as Scorpion Kings.

Sincerely Anne bagged three nods for Newcomer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Best Engineered Album for To Whom it May Concern. Ntokozo Mbambo’s Lavish Worship is the only album by a woman competing in the Album of the Year category. She is also up for the Female Artist of the Year and Best Contemporary Faith Album awards.

Below is the full list of nominees:

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

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 African 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 II 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 Thorns

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)

Best Reggae Album