AKA, K.O lead Sama 2023 nominees as show heads to KZN

• AKA and K.O lead the list of nominees for the upcoming South African Music Awards (Samas). 
• The nominees were announced at an exclusive yet poorly attended event at the Jabulani Theatre in Soweto on Tuesday. 
• The 29th Samas will take place at the Durban ICC next month. 

Slain rapper AKA and K.O lead the list of nominees for the upcoming South African Music Awards (Samas), scheduled for next month, with a whopping seven and six nominations, respectively.  

The nominees for the 29th edition of the awards ceremony were announced at a poorly attended yet exclusive event at the Jabulani Theatre in Soweto on Tuesday.

The awards are set to take place on the weekend of 17 and 18 November at the Durban ICC and will be broadcast live on SABC 1.

Returing to the province after right years, the awards will be held in KwaZulu-Natal as part of a partnership between the Samas and the province's Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs.

The new partnership will see the awards held in the province for the next three years.

At the announcement event, Economic Development and Environmental Affairs MEC Siboniso Duma said: "We are looking forward to hosting thousands of music lovers and tourists who will visit our province ahead of the Samas and during the event itself."

Recording Industry of South Africa's (RiSA) Refilwe Ramogase said they worked tirelessly, since the last staging of the Samas, to bring to life a show they could be proud of.

"We have spent the past few months, as the Samas office along with the industry representatives from and independent labels, to craft a Sama show that we trust we will be proud of," he added.

"These committed men and women of the industry have devoted their time in finetuning the rule of Sama 29, perfecting the judging criteria and painstakingly curating and selecting all important panel members whose assignment is the unenviable task of selecting the nominees from a wide pool of talent."

Last year, the awards show was marred by poor attendance in Sun City and criticism from industry heavyweights for allegedly shoddy planning and execution.

Shortly afterwards, RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi announced the Sama project management team was suspended, and an internal disciplinary process for the alleged flouting of Sama rules was instituted.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES HERE:

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 0 KOA || 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 || Part 1 - Kabza De Small

Lavish Worship - Ntokozo Mbambo

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 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 - Desire Marea

Best Amapiano Album:

Amukelani - Kelvin Momo

Ba Straata - DJ Maphorisa and Visca

2.0 Nkwari - Myztro

KOA || Part 1 - Kabza De Small

Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena - DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small

Best Classical/Instrumental 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 Thomas

Best Collaboration:

K.O, Young Stunna featuring Blxckie - Sete

AKA featuring Nasty C - Lemons (Lemonade)

DJ Maphorisa and Visca featuring 2woshortrsa, Stompiiey, ShaunMusiQ, Ftears and Madumance - Ba Straata

Morda featuring Oscar Mbo and Murumba Pitch - Mohigan Sun

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 || Part 1 - Kabza De Small (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muzigal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa and Felo Le Tee)

Things We Don't Talk About - Jummy 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 Adasanya; director: Meiji Alabi)

Shine - Elaine (producer: Shayna Gianelli; director: Jesse Ray Diamond)

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

Remix of the Year:  

Ndinovalo - Morda

Sete - K.O featuring Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz

Hayii Citizen Deep Remix - Citizen Deep X Mzux Maen ft Yasmin Levy

Au dede - Karyendasoul 

Tobesta Remake - Myztro featuring Focalistic, Daliwonga, Shaunmusiq and Ftears

Rest of Africa Award:

Sad Romance - Ckay 

Timeless - Davido

Worry - Lyre

Dynastie - Ferre Gola

Sounds of Peace - Moreira Chonguiça

Best Gqom Album:

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 Album:   

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

Best Hip Hop Album:

Religion - MashBeatz

Mass Country - AKA

SR3 - K.O

Life is Gangsta - Thato Saul

Diaspora - Maglera Doe Boy

Best Jazz Album:

In the Spirit of Ntu - Nduduzo Makhathini

Isambulu - Linda Sikhakhane

Blk Elija & The Children of Meroe - Thandi Ntuli

The 1st Gospel - Mthunzi Mvubu

Finish the Sun - Shane Cooper and Mabuta

Best Kwaito Album:  

Speak n Vrostaan - Kwesta and Kabza De Small

R Mashesha - Big Nuz

I Am Who I Am - Nkiyase

Jukebox - Shisaboy

Barabbas - Taylor K

Best Maskandi Album:

Umqhele Nethawula - Khuzani

Ngeke Ungiphathe - Menzi

Is'khiye Se-Coldroom - Thokozani Langa

Iphakade Lami - Abafana Bakamgqumeni

Home Alone - Inkos'yamagcokama

Best R&B Album:  

But Could The Moments in Between - Ndumiso Manana

Germander II - Lesego Kyle Mnyandu

4LUV (Deluxe) - Sihle Sithole

Bad Weather - Nanette Siphesihle

Passion Fruit - Kabomo

Best Traditional Album:  

African Queen 2.0 - Makhadzi

Ke Bone Molelo O Timile - MmaAusi

A Reyeng Bahurutshe - Oarabele France Makgore

Obe Happy - Molebatsi Tsotetsi

Inkabi Nation - Big Zulu

Best Adult Contemporary Album:

Dark Secrets - Louise Carver

Bait For Steps Forward - Nobuhle Ashanti

Memories - Drakensberg Boys Choir

Ndikhethiwe - Vusi Nova

Love - Viwo Kulati

Best Dance Album:  

Asante - Morda

Next Level - Russell Zuma

The Gospel According to Artwork Sounds - Grain

WL4OM - Bonga Ntozini

A New Dawn - Siyanda Makanya

Best Afro-pop Album:

Isibuko - Sjava

From A God to A King - Kelly Khumalo

Idwala - Mafikizolo

Love is Pain - Venom

Ekhayakomama - Philadlozi Mfekayi

Best Rock Album:

Kanniedood - Francois Badenhorst

Fine Thanks, and You? - Russell Coward

Hellcats - End of Days - Warwick Rautenbach/Alessandro Benigno

Fuzigish - Malcolm King

Testify - Basson Laubscher

Best Traditional Faith Album:  

The Overflow - Dumi Mkokstad

Hoja Ke Sena Wena - IPCC

Ndiyabulela - Tsholofelo Ntuli

The Grace Encounter Vol.1 - Phumulani Radebe

Sedi Laka - Brown Mosiapoa

Best Contemporary Faith Album:

Lavish Worship - Ntokozo Mbambo

Mhalamhala - Brenden Praise

Take Heart - Hle

Restored: The Jesus Collective - The Jesus Collective

Hope - Vincent Jiyane

Beste Pop:  

Jona - Bernice van der Westhuizen

Insomnia - Brendan Peyper

Loufi Flippen Loufi - Ifan-Luc Carlo Handel

Hittegolf - Brandon Eloff