Nathi, Black Coffee the big Sama winners

Afro pop breakthrough star Nathi Mankayi’s platinum-selling album Buyelekhaya helped him to sweep five awards at the SA Music Awards (Samas) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

DJ Black Coffee swept four awards for Best Dance Album, Best Engineered Album and Album of the Year for Pieces Of Me. Towards the end of the night, he took the International Achievement Award after going to the Coachella festival in the US and being nominated in the BET Awards’ Best International Act: Africa Awards.

Nathi took Best R&B/ Soul/ Reggae Album, Best Newcomer, Best Male Artist, Bestselling Full-Track Music Download for Nomvula, and Bestselling Album of the Year.

Few would have believed that the one-time convict could captivate the country and win hearts and fans as completely as he has. He also did well at the Metro FM Awards that preceded last night’s more high-profile event.

Rapper Emcee scooped Rap Album of the Year for his debut, Avery. He also won Amstel Record of the Year, which received 400 000 votes from fans.

Sfiso Ncwane won three Samas (for Bayede Baba) in the Bestselling Music Download, Bestselling Ringback Tone, and the Capasso Composers’ Award for Bestselling Digital Download.

Dbn Nyts took home three awards for Shumaya. They won Best Collaboration, the Sampra Highest Radio Airplay Award and Samro Composers’ Award for the Highest Radio Airplay categories.

Big Nuz won Best Kwaito Album and Best Duo/Group of the Year awards for For The Fans.

Zonke took Best Female Artist and Judith Sephuma won Best Adult Contemporary Album and Zahara’s Robbie Malinga got the nod for Best Produced Album.