AKA leads the pack with 6 SAMA nominations

The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) are back for its 29th edition this year. The ceremony will be held in KwaZulu-Natal on 18 and 19 November, with AKA scoring the most nominations.

Speaking at the SAMA nominees announcement party on Tuesday at the Soweto Theatre, KZN’s MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, said the provincial government was happy to host the awards.

“We have no doubt the entire tourism industry and other sectors of our economy will be stimulated. We are looking forward to hosting thousands of music lovers. Tourists will visit our province ahead of the SAMAs and during the event itself.

“Rest assured you will be warm enough, you’ll be welcome and enjoy what’s on the ground,” Duma said.

ALSO READ: Saftas: Here is a complete list of the 2023 winners

SAMAs 2023 nominees

The late multi-award-winning rapper Kiernan ‘AKA‘ Forbes is leading the pack with six nods. K.O is the second most nominated artist, with five nods.

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 Mbatha

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 and produced by Robin Kohl and Itu)
• Kanniedood – Francois van Coke (engineered and produced by Taylor Soundworks)
• Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë – Thandi Ntuli​ (engineered and produced by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi and Clinton)
• Isibuko – Sjava, (engineered and 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 – Buyani Mcunu

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 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 & Madumane – Ba Straata
• Mohigan Sun – Morda featuring Oscar Mbo and Murumba Pitch
• 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, Mduaka 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 R&B Album

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

Best Reggae Album

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

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album​

• 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

Remix of the year

• Ndinovalo – Morda
• Sete – K.O featuring Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz​
• Hayii Citizen Deep Remix – Citizen Deep X Mzux Maenft Yasmin Levy
• Au dede – Karyendasoul
• Tobesta Remake – Myztro featuring Focalistic, Daliwonga, Shaunmusiq and Ftears

Rest of Africa award

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

Best Gqom

• Meeting with the King – DJ Lag​​
• Fikelephi – Sizwe Mdlalose
• Love & Light – Cairo CPT
• Nande 2.0 – DJ Sandiso
• Ithuba – Newlandz Finest

Best African Indigenous faith​

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

NOW READ: Anele Mdoda dishes on her favourite ‘Celebrity Game Night’ guests