Black Coffee stamped his authority on the local music scene when he walked away with an impressive five nods at tonight’s SAMA25 nominee announcement.
The internationally acclaimed DJ’s album Music is King secured him spots in Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Best Dance Album. He also scored a double nomination in the Collaboration of the Year award, first for Drive featuring David Guetta and Delilah Montagu and second for Wish You Were Here featuring Asanda Lusaseni-Mvana.
For their 25th year, the SAMAs ‘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.
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.
Hot on the heels of Black Coffee was Sjava’s Umqhele that earned him four nominations in Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Best Afro Pop Album and Best Engineer.
Also standing at four nods is Sho Madjozi in Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Best Kwaito/ Gqom/ Amapiano Album for Limpopo Champions League and Music Video of the Year for Huku.
It was also a good night for Zonke who bagged four nods in Album of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Best R&B/Soul Album and Best Produced Album for L.O.V.E. Sun-El Musician also hit a slam dunk with four nominations in Newcomer of the Year, Best Dance Album for Africa To The World and a double whammy in the Collaboration of the Year first for Sonini featuring Simmy and Ntaba Ezikude featuring Simmy.
Nasty C scored three nominations in Best Hip Hop Album, Best Produced Album and Best Engineer for Strings and Bling while Vusi Nova also sits pretty with nods in Album of the Year, Best engineer and Best Afro Pop Album for Manyan-nyan.
The late Oliver Mtukudzi is up for the Rest of Africa Artist award where he is nominated with Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania, Kommanda Obbs from Lesotho, Mr Eazi from Nigeria and Nixon Zimbabwe.
It will be an epic battle as the Best Hip Hop Album award is vied for by AKA (Touch My Blood), Emtee (DIY2), Jabba X (#FGTBB), Kid X (Thank Da King) and Nasty C (Strings and Bling).
The top honours in the Best Jazz Album category is contested by 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 Dyantyi (Somandla).
In the Best Maskandi Album Thokozani Langa (Iyabuza Induna) takes on Ofeleba (Hi &Low), Sgwebo Sentambo (Yekani Umona), Mbuzeni (Ungishiyelani) and Ichwane Lebhaca (Imali Yesoso).
SAMA25 sees the return of the Best Reggae Album category. Nominees vying for the trophy are Bongo Riot (Next Levels), Botanist (Game Changer), Ras Vuyo (Diversion) The Mediators (Explosion) and Black Dillinger (Mavara is King).
Two reality TV show winners Tholwana (2.0.1.5) and Paxton (This is Me) stake their claim for glory in the Best Pop Album as they go up against Majozi (Majozi), Tresor (Nostalgia) and Jarrad Ricketts (Break the Rules) while in the Beste Pop Album Snotkop (SOUS) is pitted up against 4 Werke (4 by 4), The Rockets (Sonskyn), Brendan Peyper (Dis Nie Sonde Nie) and Jan Bloukaas (Lewe).
The Best Traditional Faith Music Album is a stiff competition between Lebo Sekgobela (Umusa), Kholeka (Your Word – Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho), Spirit of Praise (Spirit of Praise Vol.7), Sipho Ngwenya (Intimate Worship Season 3) and Paul K (Time of God Manifest). In the Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Ntokozo Mbambo (Moments in Time) will slug it out with Neyi Zimu (Another Level of Worship), Khaya Mthethwa (All About Jesus), Tshwane Gospel Choir (The Next Revival) and We Will Worship (Seasons Volume 1).
Nhlanhla Sibisi, RiSA CEO congratulated the 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.”
The theme for this year was revealed as #recognise. We recognise that this 25th year anniversary moment is bigger than any single artist, genre, award or song. We recognise that we are here because of all that has gone before:
The artists
The genres
The story of our Democracy
The soundtracks of our lives
We recognise the power of the moment where stand right now.
And we recognise the possibility of where we are going.
“Just like the SAMAs, Vodacom celebrates 25 years of connecting South Africans to the music they love this year, and in doing so acknowledges the hard work and dedication that goes in before being recognised on a nominees list of this calibre. My Muze, connected by Vodacom, congratulates every nominee, and wishes them all the best on the night and for a very exciting future.” – Rehana Hassim: Vodacom Portfolio Manager – Music.
Here’s the full list of SAMA25 Nominees
Male Artist of the Year
- Anatii – IYEZA
- Black Coffee – Music is King
- Nakhane – You will not die
- Sjava – Umqhele
- Thokozani Langa – Iyabuza Induna
Female Artist of the Year
- Busiswa – Summer Life
- Kelly Khumalo – Unleashed
- Lebo Sekgobela – Umusa
- Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Mandisi Dyantyis – Somandla
Best Pop Album
- Jarrad Ricketts – Break the Rules
- Paxton – This is me
- Majozi – Majozi
- Tresor – Nostalgia
- Tholwana – 2.0.1.5
Beste Pop Album
- 4 Werke – 4 by 4
- The Rockets – Sonskyn
- Brendan Peyper – Dis Nie Sonde Nie
- Snotkop – SOUS
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Oliver Mtukudzi – Hany’ga
Best Afro Pop Album
- Kelly Khumalo – Unleashed
- Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya
- Simmy – Tugela Fairy
- Sjava – Umqhele
- Vusi Nova – Manyan-Nyan
Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album
- Almero – Maandag
- Coenie de Villiers – Pure Coenie
- Douvoordag – Die Avontuur
- Jan Blohm – Die Liefde Album
- Refentse – Liefdegenerasie
Best Reggae Album
- Black Dillinger – Mavara is King
- The Meditators – Explosion
- Ras Vuyo – Diversion
- Botanist – Game Changer
- Bongo Riot – Next Levels
Best Hip Hop Album
- AKA – Touch my Blood
- Emtee – DIY2
- Jabba X – #FGTBB
- Kid X – Thank Da King
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Christ Worshippers Mass Choir – Nkosi Ngiyakuthanda
Best Engineer
- CH2 – Starstruck – Corneille Hutten; Michael ‘Nomad’ Ripoll; Steven A.Williams
- Nasty C – Strings and Bling – Michael Themba Manitshana
- Sjava – Umqhele – Mfanafuthi Ruff Nkosi
- Hellcats – The Hex and the Healer – Paul Douglas Norwood; Craig Michael Hawkins; Richard Staub
- Vusi Nova – Manyan-nyan – Robin Walsh
Remix of the Year
- DJ Capital – Skebe Dep Dep – Kwesta, Kid X, Reason, Youngsta CPT & Stogie T
- Prince Kaybee – Club Controller – Kabelo Motsamai
- SPHEctacula and DJ Naves – Bhampa – DJ Regal Amapiano Remix
- Zakes Bantwini – Bang Bang Bang – Kossi Emmanuel
- Zakwe – Sebentin – Refiloe Maele Phoolo, Jabulani Tsambo; Lesego Moiloa; Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi; Ncazelo Mtolo
Collaboration of the year
- Sun-El Musician – Sonini – Simphiwe Nhlangulela
- Sun-El Musician – Ntaba Ezikude – Simphiwe Nhlangulela
- Dj Sumbody – Monate Mpolaye – Casper Nyovest, Thebe and Vettis
- Black Coffee – Drive – David Guetta; Delilah Montagu
- Black Coffee – Wish you were here – Asanda Lusaseni-Mvana
Music Video of the Year
- Bongeziwe Mabandla ft. Spoek Mathambo – Bawo Wam – Rick Joaquim
- Jeremy Loops – Gold – Robert Smith
- Mafikizolo ft. Jah Prayzah – Mazuva Akanaka – Mohau Mamafha
- Sho Madjozi – Huku – Garth Von Glehn
- The Parlotones – Beautiful Life – Michael Rix
Best Produced Album
- AKA – Touch my Blood – Kiernan Forbes; Mpilo Shabangu; Ayoola Agboola; Tumelo Mathebula; Ntokozo Mazibuko; Benn Gilbert; Tshegofatso Lehutso; Anathi Mnyango; Jeremy Makwe
- Kholeka – Your Word – Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho – Kholeka Aquilla Dubula
- Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya – Themba Sekowe
- Nasty C – String and Bling – Nsikayesizwe Ngcobo; Sipho Dlamini; Collin Gayle
- Zonke – L.O.V.E – Zonke Dikana
Do you have any SAMA25 winner predictions? Leave a comment below and share them with us.
