SA: Kabelo El Chen Mogale leads nominations for 10th Mzantsi Jazz Awards

Mogale earned nominations in the Best Jazz Album, Best African Jazz Album/Artist, Best Traditional Jazz Album and Best Male Jazz Artist categories for his album El Chen (The Unfinished Story). He is also shortlisted in the Best African Jazz Album/Artist category, making him the most recognised nominee in this year's awards.

The Best Jazz Song category features eight nominees: Salphina Kadiaka for ‘Pasopa Driver’, Wendy Allen Twyford for ‘Ain’t No Sunshine (When He’s Gone)’, Mdu Mtshali for ‘Okae Molao’, Lefa Mosea for ‘Unonkala’, Kabelo El Chen Mogale for ‘iShoba Labangoma’, Lindi Ngonelo for ‘In a Man’s World’, Wowo Mndau for ‘Spontaneously So’ and Bonginkosi Yeko for ‘Mahayihayi’.

Five albums are in contention for Best Jazz Album. The nominees are Matshawandile Yenana’s Way Out Is In, Mogale's El Chen (The Unfinished Story), Lindi Ngonelo’s In a Man’s World, Kabelo Boy Mokhatla’s Dot Series and Siyanqoba Mthethwa’s Inevitable (Jazz Edition).

The Best African Jazz Album/Artist category includes Berima Amo, Sibusiso Lerole, Apiwe Bubu, Bonginkosi Innocent Yeko, Mogale, Christine Kamau, Siyanqoba Mthethwa, Isaiah Katumwa, Fanie Sandile Dick, Dotun Bankole and Ola Onabulé.

In the Best International Jazz Album/Artist category, Daniel John Martin, Isaiah Katumwa, Tutu Puoane and Ola Onabulé have been nominated.

The Best Radio Station Promoting Jazz award will be contested by Mams Radio 92.9 and Urban Edge Radio.

The jury-selected Best Contemporary Jazz Album category features Wendy Allen Twyford’s Reimagined, Mdu Mtshali’s Okae Molao and Bokang Ramatlapeng’s Qalo.

Nominees for the jury-selected Best Traditional Jazz Album category are Sibusiso Lerole’s Tribute to Jack Lerole, Mogale’s El Chen (The Unfinished Story), Mawatla Ledwaba’s Ledwaba Ndebele and Bonginkosi Yeko’s Xigaza Jazz Vol. 1.

The Best Male Jazz Artist nominees are Mdu Mtshali, Sibusiso Lerole, Kabelo El Chen Mogale, Kabelo Boy Mokhatla, Matshawandile Yenana and Bonginkosi Yeko.

The Best Jazz Song, Best Jazz Album, Best African Jazz Album/Artist, Best International Jazz Album/Artist and Best Radio Station Promoting Jazz categories will be decided by public vote, while the remaining categories will be judged by a panel.

Best Jazz Song

This category will be decided by public vote. To vote, send an SMS with ZaJazz followed by the nominee’s code (for example, BS1) to 40439. Each SMS costs R2, with one SMS counting as one vote. Free SMSs do not apply.

• Salphina Kadiaka – ‘Pasopa Driver’ (BS1)
• Wendy Allen Twyford – ‘Ain't No Sunshine (when he’s gone)’ (BS2)
• Mdu Mtshali – ‘Okae Molao’ (BS3)
• Lefa Mosea – ‘Unonkala’ (BS4)
• Kabelo El Chen Mogale – ‘iShoba Labangoma’ (BS5)
• Lindi Ngonelo – ‘In a Man’s World’ (BS6)
• Wowo Mndau – ‘Spontaneously So’ (BS7)
• Bonginkosi Yeko – ‘Mahayihayi’ (BS8)

Best Jazz Album

This category will be decided by public vote. To vote, send an SMS with ZaJazz followed by the nominee's voting code (for example, BJ1) to 40439. Each SMS costs R2, with one SMS counting as one vote. Free SMSs do not apply.

• Matshawandile Yenana – Way Out Is In (BJ1)
• Kabelo El Chen Mogale – El Chen (The Unfinished Story) (BJ2)
• Lindi Ngonelo – In a Man’s World (BJ3)
• Kabelo Boy Mokhatla – Dot Series (BJ4)
• Siyanqoba Mthethwa – Inevitable (jazz edition) (BJ5)

Best African Jazz Album/Artist

This category will be decided by public vote. To vote, send an SMS with ZaJazz followed by the nominee's voting code (for example, BA1) to 40439. Each SMS costs R2, and each SMS counts as one vote. Free SMSs do not apply.

• Berima Amo – Fake Flowers (BA1)
• Sibusiso Lerole – Tribute to Jack Lerole (BA2)
• Apiwe Bubu – Reflections of a Sound Mind (BA3)
• Bonginkosi Innocent Yeko – Xigaza Jazz Vol 1 (BA4)
• Kabelo El Chen Mogale – El Chen (The Unfinished Story)
• (BA5), Christine Kamau – Wednesday Afternoon (BA6)
• Siyanqoba Mthethwa – Inevitable (jazz edition) (BA7)
• Isaiah Katumwa – New Days (BA8)
• Fanie Sandile Dick – Away from sorrows (BA9)
• Dotun Bankole – OLÙGBÀLÀ (BA10)
• Ola Onabulé – It’s Never Over (BA11)

Best International Jazz Album/Artist

This category will be decided by public vote. To vote, send an SMS with ZaJazz followed by the nominee's voting code (for example, BF1) to 40439. Each SMS costs R2, and each SMS counts as one vote. Free SMSs do not apply.

• Daniel John Martin – Pardon My French (BF1)
• Isaiah Katumwa – New Days (BF2)
• Tutu Puoane – Wrapped in Rhythm Vol II (BF3)
• Ola Onabulé – It’s Never Over (BF4)

Best Radio Station Promoting Jazz

This category will be decided by public vote. To vote, send an SMS with ZaJazz followed by the nominee's voting code (for example, BR1) to 40439. Each SMS costs R2, and each SMS counts as one vote. Free SMSs do not apply.

• Mams Radio 92.9 (BR1)
• Urban Edge Radio (BR2)

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

This is a jury category

• Wendy Allen Twyford – Reimagined
• Mdu Mtshali – Okae Molao
• Bokang Ramatlapeng – Qalo

Best Traditional Jazz Album

This is a jury category

• Sibusiso Lerole – Tribute to Jack Lerole
• Kabelo El Chen Mogale – El Chen (The Unfinished Story)
• Mawatla Ledwaba – Ledwaba Ndebele
• Bonginkosi Yeko – Xigaza Jazz Vol 1

Best Male Jazz Artist

This is a jury category

• Mdu Mtshali
• Sibusiso Lerol
• Kabelo El Chen Mogale
• Kabelo Boy Mokhatla
• Matshawandile Yenana
• Bonginkosi Yeko