SAMAs 2023 announce first batch of winners

Kabza De Small is so far leading with a total of two awards in the Best Produced Album and Best Engineered Album categories. As the second most nominated artist for this year’s SAMAs, this puts Kabza De Small ahead with two out of seven of his nominations in the bag. The late AKA won Best Engineered Album for Mass Country in collaboration with Robin Kohl and Itu, and with eight nominations in total, AKA continues to lead the SAMAs nominees. 

With just two years under his belt as a solo artist, Mörda took home the Best Dance Album award for his first solo project Asante, named after his daughter. Additionally, he won the Remix of the Year award for ‘Ndinovalo’ in which he partnered with Yallunder, and he is also nominated for Best Collaborations with House DJ Oscar Mbo. Desire Marea triumphed in the Best Alternative Album category while Dumi Mkokstad and Ntokozo Mbambo took home Best Traditional Faith Album and Best Contemporary Faith Music Album awards, respectively.

“Our winners are always a reflection of the work that is put into their craft and the music industry as a whole,” RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said. “These artists, producers, writers and musical practitioners invest years into this moment and we are so grateful that we are able to acknowledge and celebrate them for SAMAs29. This is just the beginning of the trajectories of their careers and we encourage them to continue to leave an undeniable mark on the South African music industry and the world. We commend you on your excellence.”

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 second batch of SAMAs winners can be broadcast below: