The 20th Annual South African Music Awards (SAMA) is set to take place at the prestigious home of the SAMAs, the Sun City Superbowl, on 28 April 2014. 13 March 2014 saw the announcement of the nominees for this year’s special event which marks both two decades of the SAMAs as well as two decades of our country’s democracies.
The official announcement party, held at Johannesburg’s Carnival City, was hosted by SAMA co-chair, Keith Lister, who, with the help of a star-studded panel, announced the nominees for SAMA 20. The announcements for the categories this year were presented by Mi Casa’s J-Something, Zahara, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Elvis Blue, Khaya Mthetwa and more.
Nominations for award ceremonies are notoriously bogged with criticisms the world-over citing political bias among a myriad of things. It must be noted though that this year’s ceremony is without a doubt a reflection of the country’s diversity though and, more importantly, its progression in the last 20 years.
What stands out particularly from the list of nominees is the presence of new artists giving seasoned acts a run for their awards. Nakhane Touré, Gangs of Ballet and Matthew Mole are among some of 2013s biggest breakout acts and they sport the nominations to prove it. Touré leads the pack with four nominations including Newcomer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Best Alternative Album and, the coveted, Album of the Year. Gangs of Ballet sit comfortably with three nominations for Newcomer of the Year, Duo or Group of the Year and Best Rock Album. And the list of new artists scooping up nominations this year would not be complete without the presence of arguably one of 2013’s most successful artists, Matthew Mole. He receives two nods from the SAMA judges in the categories Best Pop Album and Male Artist of the Year.
But it doesn’t end there. Both Mole and Gangs of Ballets’ albums – The Home We Built and yes/no/grey respectively – receive further nods for their technical finesse. If you know anything about South African music, you’ll know that the two biggest names in production lately are Darryl Torr and Matthew Fink. Both legendary, award-winning producers in their own rights, they scoop nominations for exceptional contribution to the artists of this country. Torr receives a nomination for Best Producer of the Year and Best Engineer of the Year for yes/no/grey while Fink boasts two nods, both for Best Producer of the Year, for his work on The Home We Built as well as Shadowclub’s Goodbye Wild Child.
The winning artist in each category for SAMA 20 is anybody’s guess and these new acts are up against some fairly tough competition. It’s almost impossible to imagine South Africa without Mi Casa and their nominations are testament to this. They sit ahead of the pack with five nominations including Music Video of the Year and Album of the Year. The LA-based, The Parlotones, Mafikizolo and Naima Kay all come in with four nominations each.
But as with any year, questions and eyebrow raisers emerge, and this year is not immune of these. Just as was the case with the Metro FM Awards, curiosity is aroused by the Best Rap Album category. Why have rap heavyweights AKA and Khuli Chana been snubbed of this category? Khuli is up for three nominations; two of which are as a consequence of his collaboration with The Parlotones and Jon Savage on “Sleepwalker” and the third for a remix. AKA has not been nominated for any awards this year.
The Newcomer of the Year category looks fierce though with Gangs of Ballet, iFani, MuzArt, Naima Kay and Nakhane Touré all battling it out for the only award you can be nominated for and win once. But with Matthew Mole smashing records throughout the better part of 2013, it’s hard to believe that he was snubbed in a category where he seemingly would have stood the best chance.
The highly coveted viewer’s choice Song of the Year Award nominees have yet to be announced and it will be interesting to see which singles from the last year in music make the cut. As soon as this info surfaces, you can expect a full round-up as well as what to expect from SAMA 20. Until then, check out the complete list of nominees below:
Album of the Year
DJ Kent for The Weekent
Mafikizolo for Reunited
Mi Casa for Su Casa
Naima Kay for Umsebenzi
Nakhane Touré for Brave Confusion
Duo or Group of the Year
Gangs of Ballet for Yes/No/Grey
GoodLuck for Creatures of the Night
Mafikizolo for Reunited
Mi Casa for Su Casa
The Parlotones for Stand Like Giants
Female Artist of the Year
Dear Reader for Rivonia
Judith Sephuma for The Experience Live in Concert
Naima Kay for Umsebenzi
Rebecca for Bayos’Khomba
Zahara for Phendula
Male Artist of the Year
Connell Cruise for Connell Cruise
Kabomo for Memory Remains
Matthew Mole for The Home We Built
Nakhane Touré for Brave Confusion
Vusi Mahlasela for Sing to the People
Newcomer of the Year
Gangs Of Ballet for Yes/No/Grey
iFani for I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant)
MuzArt for MuzArt
Naima Kay for Umsebenzi
Nakhane Touré for Brave Confusion
Best Rock Album
Gangs of Ballet for Yes/No/Grey
Shadowclub for Goodbye Wild Child
The Black Cat Bones for Beatipiller
The Parlotones for Stand Like Giants
Van Coke Kartel for Bloed, Sweet & Trane
Best Pop Album
Danny K for Good Look
GoodLuck for Creatures of the Night
LCNVL for Faster Longer Mixtape
Mafikizolo for Reunited
Matthew Mole for The Home We Built
Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans)
4Werke for 4 Harte
Charlize Berg for Charlize Berg
JAY for Dis Hoe Ons Rol
Karlien van Jaarsveld for Uitklophou
Kurt Darren for Seerower
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Connell Cruise for Connell Cruise
Farryl Purkiss for Home
Hinds Brothers for Ocean of Milk
Michael Lowman for Crayon Boxes
Shaun Jacobs for Love Can
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album
Ampie for Niks en Niemand
Andriëtte for Wat Rym met Liefde
Bok van Blerk for Steek Die Vure Aan
Elvis Blue for Afrikaans
Jak de Priester for N1 van My Hart
Best African Adult Album
Naima Kay for Umsebenzi
Selaelo Selota for The Promise
Vusi Mahlasela for Sing to the People
Zamajobe for Thula Mntwana
Zonke for Give and Take Live
Best Alternative Album
Chris Letcherfor Hyperbalist
Dear Reader for Rivonia
Death by Misadventure for Dumb Dumb
Die See for II
Nakhane Touré for Brave Confusion
Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album
Kabomo for Memory Remains
MuzArt for MuzArt
The Soil for Reflections Live in Joburg
Vusi Nova for Walk into Light
Zahara for Phendula
Best Rap Album
AB Crazy for Home Coming
iFani for I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant)
Kwesta for DaKAR
L-Tido for All of Me
Molemi for A Sia
Best Kwaito Album
Alaska for The Revival
Big Nuz for Made in Africa
Character for Self-Control
Mandoza for Sgantsontso
Tzozo for Amabills
Best Dance Album
DJ Kent for The Weekent
Lulo Café for Soul Africa
Mi Casa for Su Casa
Uhuru for Our Father
Zakes Bantwini for The Fake Book & Real Book: My Music Bible
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Andile KaMajola for Chapter 6 ujehova ungibiyele
Deborah fot Umqhele
Lusanda Spiritual Group for Uhambo Lwam
Rebecca for Bayos’Khomba
Worship House for Project 10 Live in Limpopo, RSA
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
Benjamin Dube for Renewal in His Presence with Benjamin Dube
Judith Sephuma for The Experience Live in Concert
Nqubeko Mbatha for Sentiments of a Worshiper
Soweto Gospel Choir for Divine Decade & Friends
We Will Worship for YHWH
Best Traditional Album
Hennie de Bruyn en die Kitaarkêrels for Kitaar Kwêla
Joe Shirimani na Vana va Ndoda for Hawu Ra Mina
PS. Manyike Na Vatirhi Va Hosi for Taduma e Kerekeni
Sayicology for Round 2
Dr. Thomas Chauke Na Shinyori Sisters for Shimatsatsa No 32
Best Maskandi Album
Amabunjwa for X6
Buselaphi for Gijima Ntuthwane
Khwelebhasini for Ngiyistress
Phuzekhemisi for Kungakho Nilwa Nodwa
Thokozani Langa for Inyakanyaka
Best Jazz Album
Marcus Wyatt Quartet for One Life in the Sun
Shane Cooper for Oscillations
Sisa Sopazi for Images & Figures
Tumi Mogorosi for Project Elo
Zim Ngqawana for Live at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
Cape Consort for Claudio Monteverdi – Selected Madrigals
Guy Buttery for Live in KwaZulu
Ockie Vermeulen for Obsession
Tygerberg Children’s Choir for Glorious
Zanne Stapelberg & Kathleen Tagg for Soul of Fire
Best Live DVD
Nataniël for Factory
Skouspel 2013 for Skouspel 2013
The Soil for Reflections Live in Joburg
Unathi for An Intimate Night with Unathi
Zonke for Give and Take Live
Best Collaboration
DJ Kent Ft The Arrows for Spin My World Around
LCNVL Ft Lakota Silva for Closer
Mafikizolo Ft May D for Happiness
The Parlotones, Khuli Chana & Jon Savage for Sleepwalker
Uhuru Ft Oskido, Professor & DJ Bucks – Y-tjukutja
Best Music Video of the Year
Goldfishfor One Million Views
Mi Casa for Jika
The Muffinz Umsebenzi Wendoda (An Ode to Single Mothers)
The Parlotones, Khuli Chana & Jon Savage for Sleepwalker
Toya Delazy for Memoriam
Best Producer of the Year
Danny K for Good Look by Danny K
Darryl Torr for Yes/No/Grey by Gangs of Ballet
David Poole & Dominic Peters for Three Second Memory by Goldfish
Dan Roberts for Border Crossing by Laurie Levine
Shaun Jacobs for Love Can by Shaun Jacobs
Best Engineer of the Year
Peter Auret for Pimp My Piano by Charl du Plessis
Darryl Torr for Yes/No/Grey by Gangs of Ballet
Matthew Fink for The Home We Built by Matthew Mole
Matthew Fink for Goodbye Wild Child by Shadowclub
Shaun Jacobs for Love Can by Shaun Jacobs
Remix of the Year
Euphonik for Hallelujah Anyway
Khuli Chana for Hape (Part 2)
Mi Casa for Jika
Oskido for Tsa Ma Ndebele
Uhuru for Thath’isghubu
Category winners to be announced at the awards ceremony:
SPECIAL AWARDS
- International Achievement Awards
BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOAD
- Best Selling Album
- Best Selling DVD
- Best Selling Mobile Music Download
- Best Selling True-Tone
- Best Selling Ring-Back Tone
- Best Selling Full-Track Download
SAMPRA AWARD
- Highest Airplay of the Year
Decibel360 
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