SAMAs 2023: From Controversy to Celebration

The biggest event on the South African music calendar takes place this weekend – after a string of controversies.

November 17, 2023

AKA's press image that accompanied "Lemons (Lemonade)" single.

(AKA/Vth Season)

This Saturday, November 18th, the SAMAs (South African Music Awards) will give out their top honors for 2023. The ceremony, which was meant to be held in Kwazulu-Natal, will take place in Pretoria instead, after the local government pulled out of its hosting duties over an outcry about the budget it required and questions over who would be benefiting from it.

KwaZulu-Natal was meant to host the awards as part of a three-year partnership with the province’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. There had been claims that

The ceremony will feature live performances from leading nominees, including Kabza De Small, Makhadzi, and others.

RiSA Unveils Non-Broadcast Winners for SAMAs

The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) has revealed the non-broadcast winners that have been awarded so far. Kabza De Small leads with two awards, and the late AKA received Best Engineered Album. In a statement, RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi praised the winners, highlighting their contributions to the music industry. The televised portion of the event will unfold on Saturday evening.

RISA revealed the nominees for #SAMA29 earlier this year. The nominations highlight outstanding albums and singles released between February 1st, 2022, and April 14th, 2023. AKA leads with seven nominations. Other notable nominees include K.O, Sjava, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, and Sincerely Anne. The awards ceremony will recognize the resilience and artistry of South Africa's vibrant music scene.

Below is the list of non-broadcast winners:

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Dark Secrets – Louise Carver
Bait For Steps Forward – Nobuhle Ashanti
Memories – Drakensberg Boys Choir
Ndikhethiwe – Vusi Nova
Love – Viwo Kulati

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album

Toe Roep Ek Jou Naam – Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet
Sing, Hoop, Weerklink – Prop
Skree Net Sag – Alter Ego
Ep In F – Herman Kleinhans
Jagvat – Jan Rhaap

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi
Celebrating African Song – Dumza Maswana,
Smile – Choko
I am Gold – S'nazo
Ubuhle Ubuhle – Lethiwe Sithole

Best Alternative Album

On the Romance of Being – Desire Marea
Glitch Vol 2: The Future Is Now – uBeyond
Synthetic Hearts – Msaki and Tubatsi
Blue Lawns – The Great Yawn
Leaving All The Time – Bye Beneco

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 Classical/Instrumental Album

Fire Beast – Vox Chamber Choir and Franco Prinsloo
Live in Europe 22 – CH2
One Night On Earth – Derek Gripper
Maike – Juliet String Quartet
Sanctuary – Carol Thorns

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

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 Dance Album

Asante – Morda
Next Level – Russell Zuma
The Gospel According to Artwork Sounds – Grain
WL4OM – Bonga Ntozini
A New Dawn – Siyanda Makanya

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 Afropop Album

Isibuko – Sjava
From A God to A King – Kelly Khumalo
Idwala – Mafikizolo
Love is Pain – Venom
Ekhayakomama – Philadlozi Mfekayi

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

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 Produced Music Video

Shine – Elaine (producer: Shayna Gianelli; director: Jesse Ray Diamond)
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 Adesanya; director: Meiji Alabi)

Best Produced Album

KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muziqal Chef, Mdu aka 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 Engineered Album

Mass Country – AKA (engineered & produced by Robin Kohl and Itu)
To Whom it May Concern – Sincerely Anne (engineered and produced by Tjaart van der Walt and Daniel Baron)
Kanniedood – Francois van Coke (engineered & produced by Taylor Soundworks)
Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë – Thandi Ntuli (engineered & produced by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi & Clinton)
Isibuko – Sjava, (engineered & produced by Ruff)

Best Pop Album

Seasons – Lloyiso
Things We Don't Talk About – Jimmy Nevis
Heard You Got Love – Jeremy Loops
Game Over – Tyler Page
Petrichor – Amy Lilley

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

Best Maskandi Album

Umqhele Nethawula – Khuzani
Ngeke Ungiphathe – Menzi
Is’khiye Se-Coldroom – Thokozani Langa
Iphakade Lami – Abafana Bakamgqumeni
Home Alone – Inkos'yamagcokama

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 Gqom Album

Meeting with the King – DJ Lag
Fikelephi – Sizwe Mdlalose
Love & Light – Cairo CPT
Nande 2.0 – DJ Sandiso
Ithuba – Newlandz Finest

Rest of Africa Award

Sounds of Peace – Moreira Chonguiça
Sad Romance – CKay
Timeless – Davido
Worry – Lyre
Dynastie – Ferre Gola

The nominations in some of the key categories are as follows.

Below is the full list of nominees:

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 Mbambo