Absent ‘King of Amapiano’ Kabza De Small reigns supreme at SAMA29 as several winners miss show | Life

• Kabza De Small took home the most awards at the South African Music Awards on Saturday evening.
• The awards took place in a last-minute collaboration with the inaugural Africa Fest at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.
• Earlier this month, SAMAs organisers scrambled to plot a way forward for the awards after the KZN government pulled out of hosting the event.

Amapiano superstar Kabza De Small was the biggest winner at the 29th South African Music Awards (SAMAs) on Saturday evening.

The awards ceremony took place in a last-minute collaboration with the inaugural Africa Feat at Sun International’s SunBet Arena in Pretoria after the KwaZulu-Natal government pulled out of hosting the event.

Although De Small won awards for Best Duo/Group of the Year alongside DJ Maphorisa; Best Produced Album; Best Amapiano Album, and Best Kwaito Album, he joined the long list of South African musicians who did not show up for the ceremony.

The likes of K.O, DJ Maphorisa and Zakes Bantwini were not available to collect their awards, though Bantwini was represented by his wife, the singer Nandi Madida.

Hot on De Small’s heels and taking home three awards was gospel music superstar Ntokozo Mbambo. She scooped Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Contemporary Faith Album.

Continuing his posthumous winning streak was murdered rapper AKA, who received awards for Male Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Best Engineered Album.

Hosted by DJ Sabby and Nomalanga Shozi, this year’s SAMAs also saw Zakes Bantwini, Wouter Kellerman, and Nomcebo Zikode honoured with the International Achievement Award. The trio earned a Grammy Award earlier this year for their collaboration on Bayethe.

Meanwhile, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mandoza, Ihashi Elimhlophe, Gloria Bosman and Pops Mohamed for their contribution to the music industry.

Both the Record of the Year and the Music Video of the Year, which were voted for by fans, went to 2Point1 for Stimela.

Even though she was not on stage to receive her award for Best Traditional Album, Makhadzi showed up at the end of the evening to perform, accompanied by TikTok sensation Skomota.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS BELOW:

Female Artist of the Year: Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo

Male Artist of the Year: Mass Country – AKA

Duo/Group of the Year: DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small – Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena

Album of the Year: Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo

Newcomer of the Year: Myztro – 2.0 Nkwari

Best Engineered Album: Mass Country – AKA, Engineered by Robin Kohl & Itu

Best Dance Album: Asante – Mörda

Best African Adult Contemporary: Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi

Best Adult Contemporary Album: Dark Secrets – Louise Carver

Best Afro-Pop Album: Isibuko – Sjava

Best Alternative Album: On The Romance of Being – Desire Marea

Best Amapiano Album: KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small

Best Classical/Instrumental Album: Fire Beast – Vox Chamber Choir & Franco Prinsloo

Best Collaboration: AKA feat Nasty C – Lemons (Lemonade)

Best Hip-Hop Album: This Is Religion – MashBeatz

Best Jazz Album: The Spirit of Ntu – Nduduzo Makhathini

Best Kwaito Album: Speak N Vrostaan – Kwesta & Kabza De Small

Best Maskandi Album: Umqhele neThawula – Khuzani

Best Pop Album: Seasons – Lloyiso

Best Produced Album: KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small, Produced by Da Muziqal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa, Felo Le Tee

Best Produced Music Video: Elaine – Shine, Directed by Jesse Ray Diamond, Produced by Shayna Gianelli

Best R&B/Soul Album: But Could The Moments in Between – Manana

Best Reggae Album: Unleashed – Blakka Yut

Best Rock Album: Kanniedood – Francois van Coke

Best Traditional Faith Album: The Overflow Gcwala Kimi – Dumi Mkokstad

Best Contemporary Faith Album: Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album: Toe Roep Ek Jou Naam – Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet

Best Traditional Album: African Queen 2.0 – Makhadzi

Beste Pop Album: Jona – Bernice West

Remix of the Year: Mörda & Yallunder – Ndinovalo

Rest of Africa award: Sounds of Peace – Moreira Sounds of Peace – Moreira Chonguiç

Best Gqom Album: Meeting With The King – DJ LAG

Best African Indigenous faith Album: Emmanuel ( Farewell to Phodiso Joel Kgaudi) – JTG Gospel Choir 

SAMRO Highest Airplay Composer Award: SETE (feat. Young Stunna & Blxckie)

CAPASSO Most Streamed Song Award: SETE (feat. Young Stunna & Blxckie)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Mandoza (posthumous), Ihhashi Elimhlophe, Gloria Bosman(posthumous) and Pops Mohamed.

International Achievement: Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode.