SAMA29 List of Nominees

SAMA29 has arrived in all its glory! This year’s theme, “Music Has It All,” promises to be a dazzling celebration of South African musical excellence and creative ingenuity.

In a grand reveal at the iconic Soweto Theatre, the South African Music Awards (SAMA) has unveiled the highly anticipated full list of nominees for SAMA29. The event was made even more special with a captivating live performance by the talented Young Stunna.

SAMA29 stands out with a refreshing shift in nominee selections, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. DJ Maphorisa and AKA lead the pack with an impressive seven nominations each, closely trailed by the remarkable Kabza De Small, who boasts an impressive tally of six nominations.

This extraordinary edition of SAMA29 is made possible by the remarkable efforts of RISA, with KZN EDTEA as the esteemed lead partner. Notably, SABC1, the Department of Sports, Arts & Culture, CAPASSO, SAMPRA, SAMRO, PRASA, and the Icebolethu Group have all joined hands as sponsors and partners, ensuring that “Music Has It All” indeed!

Best Amapiano

• Amukelani – Kelvin Momo
• Ba Straata – DJ Maphorisa x Visca
• 2.0 Nkwari – Myztro
• KOA I Part 1 – Kabza Dé Small
• Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena – DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small

BEST FEMALE

• From A God To A King – Kelly Khumalo
• Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo
• To Whom it May Concern – Sincerely Anne
• Take Heart – HLE
• BLK Elijah & The Children of Moreo – Thandi Ntuli

BEST MALE

• Mass Country – AKA
• Isibuko – Sjava
• KOA Il Part 1 – Kabza De Small
• SR3 – K.O
• Seasons – Lloyiso

BEST ALBUM

• Mass country – AKA
• SR3 – k.O
• Isibuko – Sjava
• KOA Il Part 1 – Kabza De Small
• Ntokozo Mbambo – Lavish Worship

Best African Indigenous faith

• Emmanuel – JTG Gospel Choir
• Mantswe A Supileng – Spiritual Gospel-Choir
• Ikhoni Mfuyo – In Zion of Christ
• Ba Ya Mo Nyasta – Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo
• Ingqayizivele Gospel Choir – Ntate Le Rato La Hao

Best Collaboration

• Sete – K.O, Young Stunna ft Blckie
• Lemons (Lemonade) – AKA ft Nasty C
• Ba Straata – DJ Maphorisa x Visca ft 2Woshorts, Stompiiey, Shaun Musiq & Ftears & Madumane
• Mohigan Sun – Morda ft Oscar Mbo, Murumba Pitch
• Company – AKA ft. Kiddominant

Best Gqom

• Meeting with the King – DJ LAG
• Fikelephi – Sizwe Mdlalose
• Love & Light – Cairo
• Nande 2.0 – DJ Sandiso
• ITHUBA – Newlandz Finest

Best Classical

• Live in Europe 22 – CH2
• Fire Beast – Vox Chamber Choir & Franco
• One Night On Earth – Derek Gripper
• Maike – Juliet String
• Sanctuary – Carol Thorns

Best Reggae

• Unleashed – Blakka Yut
• Ghetto Youth’s Cry – Botanist Mr Lamington
• Red Carpet Live – Maximum Stylez
• Flight Mode Riddim – Blackness Blue Productio
• Healing – Lavoro Duro.

Rest of Africa award

• Sad Romance – Ckay
• Timeless – Davido
• I’m Alive – Sha Sha
• Worry  – Tim Lyre
• Dynastie – Ferre Gola
• Sounds of Peace – Moreira Chonguica

Remix of the Year

• Morda – Ndinovalo
• Sete – K.O ft Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz
• Hayii Citizen Beef Remix – Citizen Deep X Mzux Maen ft Yasmin Lev
• Au dede – Karyendasoul
• Tobesta Remake – Myztro ft, Focalistic, DaliWonga, Shaun Musiq & Ftears

Best Alternative

• Glitch Vol 2: – The Future Is Now
  uBeyond
• Synthetic Hearts – Msaki x Tubartsi
• Blue Lawns – The Great Yawn
• Leaving All The Time – Bye Beneco
• On the Romance of Being – On the Romance of Being

Best R&B

• 4LUV (Deluxe) – Blixckie
• But Could the Moments in Between – Manana
• Germander II – FLVME
• Bad Weather – Nanette
• Passion Fruit – KABOMO

BEST NEWCOMER

• 2.0 Nkwari – Myztro
• Unleashed – Blakka Yut
• To Whom it May Conéern – Sincerely Anne
• Seasons – Lloyiso
• Love Is Pain – Venom x Shishiliza

BEST DUO-GROUP

• Ba Straata – Dj Maphorisa x Visca
• Love Is Pain – Venom x Shishiliza
• Idwala – Mafikizolo
• Scorpion Kings LiveSun Arena – Dj Maphorisa & Kabza De Small
• Synthetic Hearts – Msaki x Tubartsi

Best Engineered Album

• To Whom it May Concern
  Sincerely Anne
  Engineered by: WEE Van an walt & Daniel Baron
• Mass Country
  AKA
  Engineered by: Robin kohl & Itu
• Kanniedood
  Francois van Coka
  Engineered by: TAYLOR Soundworks
• Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroe
  Thandi Ntuli
  Engineered by: Shane Tshepo, Thandi & Clinton
• Isibuko
  Sjava
  Engineered by: Ruff

Best Pop

• Things We Don’ t Talk About – Jimmy Nevis
• Heard You Got Love – Jeremy Loop
• GAME OVER – Tyler Page
• Seasons – Lloyiso
• Petrichor – Amy Lilley

Best Produced Music Video

• Lemons(Lemonade)
  AKA ft Nasty C
  Producer: Tebogo Mabaso Director: Nate Thomas
• Sete
  K.O ft 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 Gianeli Director Jesse Ray Diamond

Best Produced Album 

• KOA II Part 1
• Kabza De Small
• Produced by: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muzigal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa, Felo Lee Tee
• Things We Don’t Talk About
  Jimmy Nevis
  Produced by: Darren Petersen
• Amukelani
  Kelvin Momo .
  Produced by: Kelvin Momo
• Lindokuhle
  Lindokuhle
  Produced by Mthunzi; Howard, Herc, Tshepo Morone, DJ Maphorisa, Masiapo .
• Isibuko
  Sjava
  Produced by: Webmoms, Delayde, Ruff, Jah Cool

Beste Kontemporere Musiek

• Sing, Hoop, Weerklink – Prop
• Skree Net Sag – Alter Ego
• Ep In F -Herman Kleinhans
• Jagvat – Jan Rhaap
• Toe Roep Ek Jou Naam – Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet
• Katryn – Stefan Jansen

Best African Contemporary

• Celebrating African Song Dumisa – Maswana
• Smile – Choko
• I Am Gold – S’nazo
• Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi
• Ubuhle – Lethiwe Sithole