The South African Music Awards (Samas) have announced the nominees for this year’s instalment, with a few surprises.
The artist with the most nominations went to music producer and DJ Kabza De Small. He received nods for Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Best Amapiano Album. His collaboration with DJ Maphorisa , for the album Once Upon A Time in Lockdown, received six nominations.
Sun-El Musician is in hot pursuit, with five nominations for Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Best Amapiano Album.
The 27th annual Samas have introduced a few new categories, finally introducing best amapiano, gqom and kwaito albums as their own categories. Before, all three music genres were placed under one.
It will be interesting to see the reaction from the music industry to this year’s nominees. In the past, the award show was dogged by allegations of payola from recording labels.
ALSO READ: Samas hit back at Cassper’s ‘meaningless awards’ jibe
Complete list of nominees Album of the Year Persistence – Bongo Riot The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small Back to Love – Junior Taurus Duo/Group of the Year Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa & Zuma Musical Kings – MFR Souls Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) Shonamalanga – Mas Musiq & Aymos We Made It – Mi Casa Artist of the Year On the Frontline – Reign Africa Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe What a Life – Sho Madjozi Xola Moya Wam’ – Nomcebo Zikode Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle Male Artist of the Year To The World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician Persistence – Bongo Riot I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small For the Groovists – Oscar Mbo Back to Love – Junior Taurus Newcomer of the Year Jesus is Enough – Xolly Mncwango On the Frontline – Reign Africa Africado – BandaBanda & The Crocodiles Ingoma – Azana Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe Best Rock Album Chrome Neon Jesus – Ethyl Ether Here’s to the Now – Nathan Smith Orange Sunshine – Yum Yuck The Devils Cattle – Ruff Majik Nothing’s Gonna Change – Oooth Best Pop Album 11:11 – Rowlene I Don’t Sleep – Jethro Tait Tribes & Angels – Locnville Sugar – Mark Stent She – Amy Lilley Beste Pop Album 2021 – Die Heuwels Fantasties Die Toekoms is Synth – Synth Peter Twintig20 – Brendan Peyper Gewigloos – Juan Boucher Gemaklik Verlore – Christa Visser Best Adult Contemporary Album In the Kingdom of the Aloes – amaFranx Repaired – Jack Atlantic Rise – Ndlovu Youth Choir Take Me To The River – Connell Cruise The South African Songbook – Kurt Darren & The Soweto Gospel Choir Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album Wandel in my Woning – Refentse Herverbeel – Die Heuwels Fantasties Net Geleen – Bernice West Monumentaal – Ruhan Du Toit Spontaan – Riaan Benadê Best African Adult Contemporary Album Umsebenzi – Sjava Isambulo – 1020 Cartel Artists Amakhaya – Max – Hoba Bamako – Simphiwe Dana Buhlebendalo – Chosi Best Alternative Music Album Mania/Post Mania – Yellow House iimini – Bongeziwe Mabandla Hot Mess – Evert Snyman Filth and Wisdom – The Medicine Dolls Ebusuku – Th&o Best R&B/Soul Album A Force To Be Reckoned With – Thando LANGA – Langa Mavuso Sindisiwe – LaSauce Small World – Ricky Tyler Uhambo – Soul Kulture Best Hip Hop Album 4436 – Boity Nadia Naked II – Nadia Nakai Zulu With Some Power – Nasty C POPSTAR – Yanga Chief Zakwe & Duncan – Zakwe & Duncan Best Kwaito Album Sgubhu OverDoze – Lvovo & Danger Endaweni – Darkie Fiction Don’t Lose Hope – Sukiripapa Bhut’Madlisa – Mampintsha Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa & Zuma Best Dance Album To The World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician For The Goovists – Oscar Mbo Xola Moya Wam’ – Nomcebo Zikode The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion We Made It – Mi Casa Best Traditional Faith Music Album Project 17 – Chapter 2 – Worship House Buya Nkosi – Thinah Zungu Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe Wathi Eloyi Eloyi – Sipho Makhabane Izulu – Sneziey Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Devotion – Nqubeko Mbatha Face 2 Face – Collen Maluleke Jesus is Enough – Xolly Mncwango Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle The Promised Revival Part One – Tshwane Gospel Choir Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album Makhosi Akithi – Vuma Zion Izwi Lakho – Mandlethu Gospel Singers Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development – Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development Sithembe Wena Nkosi – JTG Gospel Choir Enyokumkhonza – Enyonini Mission Ministries Rest of Africa Award Unity Album – Buffalo Souljah A Better Time – Davido Made in Lagos – Wizkid Midnight Train – Sauti Sol Songs in the Key of Love – Berita Best Traditional Album Love and War – Henny C What a Life – Sho Madjozi Angeke Bakuthande Boke – Smangele Shebeen Queen – Vusi Mahlasela Ndavhuko – Vendaboy Poet Best Maskandi Amagupta – iChwane Lebhaca Ziyangiluma Izinja – Phuzekhemisi Iqatha Eliziqobayo – Thokozani Langa Banathi Shaqa – Imithente Imfene Kamakhelwane – Abafana Baka Mgqumeni Best Jazz Album Africado – BandaBanda & The Crocodiles An Open Dialogue – Linda Sikhakhane iHubo Labomdabu – Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane Modes of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds – Nduduzo Makhathini Thandi Ntuli (Live at Jazzwerkstatt) – Thandi Ntuli Best Classical/Instrumental Album Live in Cape Town – Guy Battery & Derek Gripper Imagine – Charles du Plessis Trio Live in Lisbon – Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Battery Tek’o – CH2 We’ve All Known The Times – Wouter Kellerman Best Afro Pop Album Ingoma – Azana Molimo – Manu Worldstar Ngumama – Vusi Nova The Voice of Africa – Kelly Khumalo Tugela Fairy: Made of Stars – Simmy Best Live Audio Visual Recording of the Year Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle The Throne (Live Edition) – Presss Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe My Hart Klop Refentse – Refentse A Journey to the World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician Best Collaboration Uthando – Darque featuring Zakes Bantwini Ek Like Hoe Jy Dans – Chê featuring Snotkop Mali Eningi – Big Zulu featuring Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai Senzeni – Mthandazo Gatya featuring Comado & DJ Manzo SA Yehla Moya – Da Capo & Nduduzo Makhathini featuring Omagugu Best Produced Music Video Where is the DJ by Malumz on Decks featuring Khanyisa – Oscar Nyathi Qhawe – Made to Create by Toya Delazy – Kyle Lewis & Vjorn Tucker Mamela by Mi Casa – Katya Abedian Lucky Star by K.O – Adam Zackon & Dale Fortune Hosh by Prince Kaybee featuring Sir Trill – Ofentse Best Produced Album of the Year In the Beginning was the End by Manana – Manana & Noble Ithemba by Luyolo – Marcus MC & Andy Keys Umsebenzi by Sjava – Delaydem, Ruff, Webmoms, Zadok &Vuyo Manyike Tugela Fairy: Made of Stars by Simmy – Sun-El Musician, Claudio Wayde, Da Capo, Mpho Mohlolong The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion Best Engineered Album of the Year Swingle Bells by Jonathan Roxmouth – Adam Howard Goodluck Upclose by Goodluck – Murray Anderson & Andrew Rawborn Isambulo by 1020 Cartel Artists – Mfanafuthi Ruff The Second Coming by Kid Tini – James Smals, Kitie, Ron Epidemic & Tweezy Inganekwane by Zoe Modiga – Papi Diretsi & Songo Oyama Remix of the Year Jerusalema – Kid Fonque Ndanele – Dwson Sala Nabani – Sun-El Musician, Claudio & Kenza Speak Lord – Sculpturedmusic Yehla Moya – Da Capo Best Reggae Album The Journey – Ras Canly Persistence – Bongo Riot My Music – Freeky On the Frontline – Reign Africa Empathy Riddim – Lavoro Duro Best Amapiano Album Musical Kings – MFR Souls Back to Love – Junior Taurus I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small Once Upon A Time In Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) Shonamalanga – Mas Musiq & Aymos Best Gqom Album We Don’t Play the Same Gqom – Que Make Cape Town Great Again – Mshayi & Mr Thela Isiqalo – DragerNation InzaloYekwaito – Zinaro Idando Kazi – Babes Wodumo Subscribe to updates Unsubscribe from updates 
