AKA & K.O lead SAMAs 2023 nominations
The late South African rapper, AKA and his compatriot, 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 an 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.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES FOR SAMA29:
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
- UbuhleUbuhle & 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 and 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 and 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 and 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