And the winners of the 27th South African Music Awards are:
Artist of The Year
New category! Voted for by the public
Blaq Diamond
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
Female 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
The awards were a virtual affair and aired on SABC1 on Saturday 31 July, preceded by a Red Carpet build-up on RGB.
Bucy Radebe
Hle
MacDonald Ndou
Nadia Nakai
Nicolas Nkuna
Manu Worldstar and Mariechan
Thandi Ntuli
Sun-El Musician
Msaki
Vendaboy Poet
Black Motion's Murdah Bongz
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
Kabza De Small led the nominations with a total of six and was the most awarded artist on the night, winning four of the six categories.
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 Man 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 Groovists - 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
OTHER PUBLIC VOTING CATEGORIES
Record of The Year
1. Jerusalema - Master KG ft Nomcebo
2. You're the One - Elaine
3. eMcimbini - Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa
4. Xola Moya Wam’ - Nomcebo Zikode ft Master KG
5. Love Letter - Blaq Diamond
6. Molo - Aubrey Qwana
7. uBomi Abumanga - Sun-El Musician ft Msaki
8. uWrongo - Prince Kaybee, Black Motion, Shimza & Ami Faku
9. Empini - Kelly Khumalo
10. Amanikiniki - MFR Souls ft Major League Djz, Kamo Mphela & Bontle Smith
11. Tender Love - Sha Sha ft DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small
12. Price to Pay - Miss Pru ft Blaq Diamond & Malome Vector
13. Umona - TNS ft Mpumi
14. Keep it Together - Matthew Mole
15. Ngihamba Nawe - Simmy feat. Sino Msolo
16. Summer YoMuthi - Blaq Diamond
17. Love You Tonight - MFR Souls ft Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa & Sha Sha
18. SAD - Jethro Tait
19. Fixate - Shekhinah feat. Bey T
20. Your Love - Azana
Music Video of The Year
1. Amanikiniki - MFR Souls Feat. Major League DJz, Kamo Mphela & Bontle Smith
2. Uwrongo - Prince Kaybee Feat. Black Motion, Shimza & Ami Faku
3. Tender Love - Sha Sha Feat. DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small
4. Price To Pay - Miss Pru Feat. Blaq Diamond & Malome Vector
5. Jerusalema - Master KG Feat. Nomcebo
6. Lover 4 Life - Ayanda Jiya Feat. Stogie T
7. Dumelang - Malome Vector Feat. Blaq Diamond
8. Gabadiya - Semi Tee Feat. Kammu Dee & Miano
9. Molo - Aubrey Qwana
10. There They Go - Nasty C
11. Njandini - Kwesta
12. You're The One - Elaine
13. Lorch - DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small Feat. Semi Tee, Miano & Kammu Dee
14. Ayabonga - TNS & Skillz Feat. Le Soul
15. Okokoko - Sphectacula & DJ Naves Feat. Thebe & Unathi
16. Eazy - Nasty C
17. Ke Star - Focalistic Feat. Vigro Deep
18. One By One - Rouge Feat. AKA
19. Your Love - Azana
20. Paris - Shane Eagle Feat. Nasty C
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lebo M
Dr Lindelani Mkhize
PJ Powers
International Achievement Award
Master KG
Best Selling Artist
Mlindo the Vocalist - Emakhaya
Most Streamed Song
You’re the One - Elaine
SAMRO Composer Highest Airplay
Kgaugelo Moagi (Master KG) and Nomcebo Zikode - Jerusalema