SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards announces nominees

The awards, which are in their 10th edition, are designed to recognise the outstanding achievements made by gospel artists. Out of the 600 applications received, 120 artists were nominated  in 39 categories. Topping the list of nominees are Sipho Ngwenya with seven nominations. Spirit of Praise, Pastor Benjamin Dube and Neyi Zimu are also multiple nominees.

“Ten years later we continue to be the leading gospel music industry awards in South Africa and the entire African continent, recognising and moulding raw talent to deliver only the best gospel work that lovers of this popular genre can be inspired and revived by,” SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards founder and executive producer Zanele Mbokazi said. “This year will be bigger and better than before as we are working on a massive show that will leave our fans and supporters longing for more.”

All the nominated artists will receive:

• One night accommodation at a five-star hotel.
• Two VIP tickets to the main event and cocktail after party.

Voting criteria

The public will only get to vote for artists winners in the below categories, while the rest of the categories will be decided by a panel of judges.

• Best Kaskandi: SMS Maskandi and the name of the artist to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).
• Best TV Show: SMS Gospel TV Show and the name of the TV Show to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).
• Best Amazion: SMS Amazion and the name of the group to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).
• Best Commercial Gospel Radio Show: SMS Commercial Gospel Radio Show and the name of the show to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).
• Best Community Gospel Radio Show: SMS Community Gospel Radio Show and the name of the show to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).
• Song of the Decade: SMS Song of the Decade and the name of the song to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).
• Artist/Group of the Decade: SMS Artist/Group of the Decade and the name of the artist/group to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).

NB: Voting for the above and below categories will close on 20 November at 12am and 26 November at 9pm respectively.

• Best Gospel Song: SMS Song and the name of the song to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).
• Best Gospel Artist: SMS Artist and the name of the artist to 34069 (R1.50/SMS).

Tickets to the awards ceremony are available at Computicket.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Classic of All Time

• Jay Jay – ‘Joale ke Nako’
• Morwesi – ‘Modimo Ona’
• Teboho – ‘O Mosa o Mohau’
• Alcy Tivane – ‘Oh He Lifted Me’

Best Gospel Producer

• Sam Ngonyama – ‘Intimate Worship Season 2’
• Benjamin Dube – Victorious in His Presence’
• Xoli Thabethe – ‘Ke a Leboha Jesu’
• Lucky Sekgobela – ‘Restored’

Best Gospel Song

• Sipho Ngwenya – ‘Jesu ufika Ekuseni’
• Spirit of Praise – ‘Jehova Retshepile Wena’
• We will Worship ft Khaya – ‘This I Know’
• Jumbo – ‘Singenise’

Best Church Choir

• 3c Live – ‘Your Name’
• Blessed Jerusalem – ‘Mthokozisi’
• Abahlabeleli – ‘Uzowapholisa Amanxeba’
• Tacc National – ‘Umuntu’

Best of Africa Gospel

• Vitus Onyeze – ‘Ingwe’
• Janet Manyowa – ‘Amazing God’
• James Okon – ‘Chineke’
• Nduduzo Matse – ‘Gelekeqe’

Best Male Gospel Artist

• Sipho Ngwenya
• Neyi Zimu
• Thina Zungu
• Takie Ndou

Best Female Gospel Artist

• Buhle Nhlangulela
• Maduvha
• Putuma Tiso
• Mabongi Mabaso

Best Accapella

• Abathandwa – ‘Amagatsha’
• Reality 7 – ‘Endumisweni’
• Ithimba le Afrika – ‘Sesiphunyukile’
• Thabiso Tsotesi – ‘Kanye Nawe’

Best Community Outreach by Artist or Group

• Sbu Banda
• Fisani Projects
• True Faith Gospel Choir
• Mashudu (prof)

Best Maskandi Gospel

• Majotha Zungu ‘Simoni ka Jona’
• Pastor Phakade – ‘Yenzeka Indaba’
• Abafana baka Mgqumeni – ‘Uzungivikel’ Ezitheni’
• Jesus Is Alive – ‘Vuma’

Best Gospel Album

• Sipho Ngwenya – Intimate Worship Season 2
• Spirit of Praise – Spirit of Praise Vol. 6
• Benjamin Dube – Victorious in His Presence
• Lebo Sekgobela – Restored

Best R&B

• Lynette Jonathan – ‘You Are Not Alone’
• Tumi B – ‘You Loved Me Still’
• Israel Izzie Mkhize – ‘My Story Line’
• Ndo Dlakadla – ‘Mercy Found Me’
• Thabang Mothapo – ‘Ngidinga Wena’

Best Rap

• Church boy Bizness – ‘The Rain is Falling’
• Phlo Girl – ‘Everything I Need’
• Tebogo Motlabi – ‘Golokile’
• Mawat – ‘Blessed’

Best Commercial Radio Show

• Brown Mosipa – Rorisang (Motsweding FM)
• Portia Makona – Siyadvumisa Ligwalagwala

Best Community Radio Show

• Lefa Pheto – Thetha FM Gospel Tunes (Thetha FM)
• Thami Ntombela – Injobo Ithungelwa eBandla (Imbokodo FM)
• Thanduxolo lo Tasco – Masabela (Kingfisher FM)
• Tholang Lebelo – Dithoriso (Mogale FM)

Best Gospel TV Show

• Let’s Talk With Sam Zungu (Omega TV)
• The journey (1 gospel)
• Amahubo (Dumisa)
• According to the Bible (Soweto TV)

Best Contemporary Song

• Neyi Zimu – ‘Miracle’
• Lebo Elle – ‘For My Good’
• Infinite – ‘Able God’
• Lynette Jonathan – ‘You Are Not Alone’

Best Pop Gospel

• Bongi and Colin – ‘You’ve Been So Good’
• Lynette Jonathan – ‘You are not Alone’
• The Plain Truth Band – ‘Anthology’

Best Rock Gospel

• Samuel Duloo – ‘Superman’
• DCC Worship – ‘Overflow’
• Outcry Band – ‘Storm’
• Secret of Worship – ‘Praise Him Up’

Best Tap and Clap

• The Book of Lekgowa – ‘Ke Kgodisitse Bona’
• Lejwe la Motheo Gospel Group – ‘Tse Patiloeng’
• Sefofane Gospel Choir – ‘O Modimo’
• Vosloorus Gospel Singers – ‘Ho Teso Ke Beile’

Best Worship Song

• Newie – ‘Ngangoho vha Murena’
• Gospel Goes Classic ft – ‘Donnie Holy’
• Bongi and Collin – ‘Yahweh’
• Lebo Sekgobela – ‘Sithi Bayede’

Best DVD

• Spirit of Praise – ‘Spirit of Praise Vol. 6’
• Benjamin Dube – ‘Victorious in His Presence’
• Lebo Elle – ‘In Love’
• Gospel Goes Classic ft Donnie – ‘Akekho ofana no Jesu’

Best Engineer

• Aaron Nkosi – ‘Intimate Worship Season 2’
• Shyane Kistensammy – ‘Over Flow DCC’
• Hlengiwe Masondo – ‘Fihlwe Kuwe’
• Emmanuel Mamphogoro – ‘Holy’

Best Gospel Artist

• Sipho Ngwenya
• Neyi Zimu
• Butho Vuthelo
• Teboho Moloi/Skhosana

Best Newcomer

• DCC Worship – Overflow
• Ayanda Shange – The Praise Alter
• Tumi B – Ni ta Khonelela
• Smavat – Khangelani
• Secret of Worship – Awesome Father

Best Gospel Group

• Spirit of Praise – Spirit of Praise Vol. 6
• We Will Worship – Mmuso
• Ithimba le Afrika – Sesiphunyukile
• Secret of Worship – Awesome Father

Best Traditional Gospel

• Lwei Netshivale – ‘Murangi’
• Urban Matjila – ‘Reka le bala Jwang’
• Alcy Tivane – ‘Haufinyane’
• Winnie Mashaba – ‘Dilo tsa Lefase’
• Senzo Khumalo – ‘Kunendoda’

Best Amazion

• Umusa ka Thixo Male Voices – ‘Umzimba ka Thixo’
• Resembles of Christ – ‘Dwala Laphakade’
• Joyous of God Mass Choir – ‘Londoloza’
• Umthombo kaJehova – ‘uJesu unaMandla’
• God Vision Ministries – ‘Nansi Mpilo Yami’

Best Gospel Music Video

• Mawat – ‘Everywhere’
• Verona Pillay – ‘Be Still’
• Ntethelelo – ‘Ngaphandle Kwakho’
• PK Baas – ‘You Are’

Best Songwriter

• Kenny Shibambu – ‘Hope for Africa’
• 3c Live – ‘All Through Blood’
• Thinah Zungu – ‘uJes’ufika Ekuseni’
• Dumi Mkokstad – ‘Ulwandle’

Gospel Poetry

• The Supremacy of Christ – Not Worthy
• Sphindile Ndlovu – Izwi Lakhe
• Crystal Tryon – Word Poetry
• Nokwethemba Mchunu – We Won’t Lose Our Praise

Itende

• Nkosana Thabile – ‘Sawubona Jesu’
• Mxolisi Kwinana – ‘Uhamba Nobani’
• Precious GM – ‘Ngikunika uqobo Lwani’
• Nolwethu Fumba – ‘Vuthelani iXilongo’

Best Praise Song

• Adrian Sing – ‘Siyakukhonza’
• Spirit of Praise – ‘Ungenzela konke Okuhle’
• Obrey M – ‘Bayede’
• Pastor Lungi Ndala – ‘Kea leboha Jesu’

Best Collaboration Song

• Sipho Ngwenya ft Thinah Zungu – ‘Jesu ufik’ekuseni’
• Sbu Banda ft. Benjamin Dube – ‘Sengimdala’
• Gospel Goes Classic, Donnie, Ntokozo & others – ‘Great is Your Messy’
• We Will Worship ft. Khaya Mthethwa – ‘This I Know’

Best Gospel Jazz

• Lwei – ‘Mudzimu Washu’
• Peter Mabula – ‘Ndoyika’
• Mashudu – ‘Who is God?’
• Tsepo Mngoma – ‘Themba Lami’

Artist of the Decade

• Hlengiwe Mhlaba
• Sfiso Ncwane
• Winnie Mashaba
• Benjamin Dube

Song of the Decade

• ‘Wahamba Nathi’ – Solly Mahlangu
• ‘Kwanqaba Umusa’ – Thina Zungu
• ‘Kulungile Baba’ – Sfiso Ncwane