Great news Music Fans! The South African Music Awards (#SAMA23) nominations announcements were made at the Destiny Exclusive Hotel in Kempton Park today. Nhlanhla Sibisi, CEO of the Recording Industry of SA toasted the achievers.
I’m not in the mood to beat around the bush, so here’s the full list of the nominees:
| Best Newcomer of the Year | Best Duo/Group of the Year | Best Female Artist of the Year |
| Soul Kulture – Ngeliny’ilanga | The Soil – The Soil | Lebo Sekgobela – Restored |
| Babes Wodumo – Gqom Queen Vol. 1 | Jaziel Brothers – Jaziel Brothers | Babes Wodumo – Gqom Queen Vol. 1 |
| Sketchy Bongo- Unmasked | Soul Kulture – Ngeliny’ilanga | Kelly Khumalo – My Truth |
| Nasty C – Bad Hair Extentions | The Parlotones – Trinkets Relics & Heirlooms | Amanda Black – Amazulu |
| Amanda Black – Amazulu | Black Motion – Ya Badimo | Thandiswa – Belede |
| Best Duo/Group of the Year | Best Female Artist of the Year | Best Male Artist of the Year |
| The Soil – The Soil | Lebo Sekgobela – Restored | Dr Tumi – Heart of a king |
| Jaziel Brothers – Jaziel Brothers | Babes Wodumo – Gqom Queen Vol. 1 | Kwesta – Dakar II |
| Soul Kulture – Ngeliny’ilanga | Kelly Khumalo – My Truth | Musa – Musa |
| The Parlotones – Trinkets Relics & Heirlooms | Amanda Black – Amazulu | Nasty C – Bad Hair Extentions |
| Black Motion – Ya Badimo | Thandiswa – Belede | Nathi – Umbulelo Wam |
| Best Album of the Year | Best Rock Album | Best Adult Contemporary Album |
| Kwesta – Dakar II | The Sweet Resistance – Where There Is Hope | Elvis Blue – Optics |
| Black Motion – Ya Badimo | Lost & Found – Lost & Found |
Hugh Masekela – No Borders |
| Amanda Black – Amazulu | Richard Stirton – Middle Ground | Majozi – Fire |
| Nasty C – Bad Hair Extentions | The Parlotones – Trinkets, Relics & Heirlooms |
Mango Groove – Faces To The Sun |
| Thandiswa – Belede | Albert Frost – The Wake Up | Msaki – Zaneliza: How The Water Moves |
| Best Pop Album | Beste Pop Album | Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album |
| Matthew Mole – Run | 4Werke – 4 Warm | Adam Tas – Patatas en Pyptabak |
| Locnville – Taste The Weekend | ADAM – Hoogtevrees | Coenie de Villiers – Emoji |
| GoodLuck – The Nature Within | Dewald Wasserfall – Jy Is Die Storm |
Joshua na die Reën – Die Wêreld Binne My |
| Sketchy Bongo – Unmasked | Kurt Darren – Sal Jy Met My Dans | Refentse – My hart bly in ‘n taal |
| TiMO ODV – Origins (Digital Edition) | Snotkop – HKGK | Ricus Nel – Ouskool Boerseun |
| Best African Adult Album | Best Alternative Music Album | Best R&B Soul Reggae Album |
| Dumza Maswana – Molo | Arno Carstens – Die Aandblom 13 | Afrotraction – Love and respect |
| Kelly Khumalo – My Truth | Chris Chameleon – Firmament | Amanda Black – Amazulu |
| Nathi – Umbulelo Wam | Native Young – Kings | Brenda Mtambo – So Much More |
| Nozipho – Thando | Somerfaan – Alien Boogie Stuff | Karabo – Matters of the heart |
| Soul Kulture – Ngeliny’ilanga | Tailor – Trust Part 1 | Tima Reece – 9 |
| Best Rap Album | Best Kwaito Album | Best Dance Album |
| A Reece – Paradise | Babes Wodumo – Gqom Queen Vol. 1 | DJ Clock – The 5th tick |
| Khuli Chana – One Source | Bullistic – N.W.O (New World Order) |
Black Motion – Ya Badimo |
| Kwesta – Dakar II | Dr Malinga – Goodwill | Durbans’ Finest – Durbans’ Finest – Reloaded |
| Nasty C – Bad Hair Extentions | Taylor K – Paper Chase | Mobi Dixon – Live The Music |
| Stogie T – Stogie T | Trademark & Zinhle Ngidi – Trademark & Zinhle Ngidi |
NaakMusiQ – Born to Entertain |
| Best Traditional Faith Music Album |
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album | Best Traditional Music Album |
| Deborah Fraser – Uhambo | Dr Tumi – Heart of a king | Candy – Easy Come Easy Go |
| Sfiso Ncwane – Wethembekile Baba | Dr Tumi – Love and grace | Dr Thomas Chauke Na Shinyori Sisters – Shimatsatsa No 34: Xiganga |
| Spirit Of Praise – Spirit Of Praise Vol.6 |
Khaya Mthethwa – The Dawn | Mmaausi – Monna Oa Sokelwa |
| Teboho – Nkutlwele Bohloko | Lebo Sekgobela – Restored | Qadasi & Maqhinga – Lashis’ Ilanga |
| Zaza – Blowing the horn of chronicle | We Will Worship – Mmuso | Shabalala Rhythm – Yebo Ngiyavuma |
| Best Maskandi Album | Best Jazz Album | Classical Instrumental Album |
| Imfez’emnyama – Monalisa | Darren English – Imagine Nation | Bongani Radebe – Buyelekhaya Sax Rendition |
| imithente – s”yawuvala umlomo | dave reynolds & pops mohamed – live in grahamstown |
Charl du Plessis Trio – Baroqueswing Vol. II |
| Khuzani – Inyoni yomthakathi | Nduduzo Makhathini with Umgidi Trio and One Voice Vocal Ensemble – Inner Dimensions |
Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society – And Then I Heard A Voice by SJ Khosa |
| Shwi noMtekhala – Kwabhalwa etsheni | Sydney Mavundla – Luhambo | The Voice of Angels – The Voice of Angels Volume 2 |
| Thokozani Langa – Amabrazo | Thandiswa – Belede | University of Pretoria – Love and War |
| Best Afro Pop Album | African Indigenous Gospel Album | Best African Artist |
| Jaziel Brothers – Jaziel Brothers | Amadodana Ase Wesile – Amadodana Ase Wesile |
Jah Prayzah – Jah Prayzah |
| Musa – Musa | Jerusalema E Ncha – Jerusalema E Ncha |
Oliver Mtukudzi – Oliver Mtukudzi |
| Robbie Malinga – Robbie Malinga | Lejwe la Motheo – Lejwe la Motheo | Patoranking – Patoranking |
| The Soil – The Soil | Living In Christ Legends – Living In Christ Legends |
Vee Mampeezy – Vee Mampeezy |
| Vusi Nova – Vusi Nova | T.C.C.C Mass Choir – T.C.C.C Mass Choir |
Vuyo Katsha – Vuyo Katsha |
| Live Audio Visual Recording Album | Best Collaboration Album | Best Music Video of the Year |
| Joyous Celebration – Joyous Celebration 20 – Part 2 – The Alumni |
Black Coffee – Your eyes | Khuli Chana – One Source |
| Joyous Celebration – Joyous Celebration 20 Live at The Moses Mabhida Stadium |
Kwesta ft DJ Bucks, Okmalumkoolkat & DJ Maphorisa – Mayibabo ft DJ Bucks, Okmalumkoolkat & DJ Maphorisa |
Miss Pru – Ameni |
| Khaya Mthethwa – The Dawn | Kwesta – Ngud’ | The Kiffness featuring Tawanna Shaunte – You Say You Love Me |
| Krone & Various Artists – Krone 3 DVD |
Miss Pru – Ameni | Sjava – Uthando |
| Spirit Of Praise – Spirit Of Praise Vol.6 |
Musa – Mthande | Reason ft AKA & Khuli Chana – Yipikayay |
| Best Produced Album | Best Engineered Album | Remix of the Year |
| Afrotraction – Love and respect | The Soil – Echoes of Kofifi | Distruction Boys – Wololo (Dbanj Remix) |
| Brenda Mtambo – So Much More | Arno Carstens – Aandblom 13 | DJ Mizz – Close to you (Mizz Afro Remix) |
| Matthew Mole – Run | Mango Groove – Faces To The Sun | Evida – The Woods (Evida Remix) |
| Rubber Duc – The Secret Sun | Jesse Clegg – Things Unseen | Kyle Deutsch – Can’t Get enough (Official Remix) |
| sjava – Isina Muva | LeAnne Dlamini – Warrior | Vic – Wena Wedwa (MusicCraftMAN Mix) |
Nasty C’s album (Bad Hair Extensions) earned him nods for Best Newcomer of the Year, Best Male Artist of the Year, Best Album of the Year and Best Rap Album. His videos “Don’t Do It” and “Good Girls” are also in the running for Best Music Video of the Year. Hot on th e heels of Nasty C is rapper Kwesta with five nods, while new singing sensation Amanda Black has four. The #SAMA23 ceremony will be held at the Sun City Superbowl on the 27th of May 2017.
UPDATE: The RiSA/SAMA office received a number of enquiries about the qualification of Nasty C’s music videos i.e. “Good Girls” and “Don’t Do It” in the category Best Music Video as announced at the SAMA 23 Nominees event on 20 April 2017.
Their investigations have revealed that the videos were submitted for entry on 24 January 2017. They have further determined that the videos were not flighted before the closing date of the entries of 31 January 2017 as required by the SAMA rules.
They have always trusted that all music videos submitted for this category to them have already been flighted by broadcasters during the specified entry period of the SAMAs entries . This case has proven them wrong and we accept full responsibility for our oversight to further verify whether the music videos submitted for this category were in fact flighted during the relevant SAMAs entry period.
In light of this, the two music videos are automatically disqualified because they do not meet the criteria for Best Music Video Category. Replacement nominees will be announced soon. Nhlanhla Sibisi, CEO of RiSA commented: ‘The SAMA prides itself with a rich history of accountability and credibility. Our legitimacy is in our checks and balances including public involvement and how swiftly we act.’ Nasty C’s tally of nominations goes down to five, making fellow rapper Kwesta the most nominated artist of SAMA 23 with his six nods.
UPDATE: “You Say You Love Me” by The Kiffness featuring Tawanna Shaunte and “Uthando” by Sjava have found their way on to the coveted SAMA 23 nominations list and have replaced the 2 disqualified Nasty C videos.
I think it’s great that South African artists are getting nods from the industry and getting nominated for their works. Only time will tell who will be the winners.
Watch this space for regular updates in the Music category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
