SAMAs 2020: All the winners

Ami Faku clinched the coveted Female Artist of the Year award for her debut album Imali. Prince Kaybee took home the Male Artist of the Year award for his album Re Mmino.

Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble walked away with the Newcomer of the Year and Best Jazz Album awards. Bishop Benjamin Dube and the late Dan Tshanda were both honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards, while the Ndlovu Youth Choir received the International Achiever Award.

Mlindo the Vocalist was honoured as the Best Selling Artist for his debut album Emakhaya, while gospel ensemble Joyous Celebration continued their winning streak in the Best Selling DVD category by securing the award for Volume 23 Live at CTICC.

Blaq Diamond received the top honours in the Record of the Year category for the hit ‘Ibhanoyi’, while AKA emerged as the fan favourite for the Music Video of the Year Award for ‘Jika’ featuring Yanga Chief.

K.O and Nandi Madida scooped the Best Collaboration Award for their duet 'Say U Will', and Nigerian Afrobeat star Davido won the Rest of Africa Award for his album A Good Time.

With three trophies apiece, Prince Kaybee, Benjamin Dube and Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble are the biggest winners at this years' SAMAs.

"We at the SAMA are delighted that despite the COVID-19 restrictions of lockdown and social distancing, the show has indeed gone on,” RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said on the opening night. “We extend our congratulations to all the musicians who received the prestigious SAMA, as well as the nominees and our honourees. Let's stand by our artists and support their efforts.”

All five episodes of the 2020 SAMAs will be available on DStv Catch Up.

Below is the full list of winners:

Female Artist of the Year

• Ami Faku – Imali
• Riana Nel – Sterker
• Lady Zamar – Monarch
• Manu Grace – June
• Spha Mdlalose – Indlel’eyekhaya

Male Artist of the Year

• Prince Kaybee – Re Mmino
• Benjamin Dube – Glory in His Presence
• Samthing Soweto – Isiphithiphithi
• Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane – Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko
• Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda – True Stories

Newcomer of the Year

• Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble – Queen Nandi: The African Symphony
• Sbu Noah – A David Kind of Psalm (Live)
• Ami Faku – Imali
• Spha Mdlalose – Indlel’eyekhaya
• Viwe Mkizwana – Tributes

Duo or Group of the Year

• Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble – Queen Nandi: The African Symphony
• Malumz on Decks – Find Your Way
• Worship House – Project 17 (Live at Carnival City)
• We Will Worship – Seasons, Volume II
• Qadasi & Maqhinga – Ungabanaki

Album of the Year

• Re Mmino – Prince Kaybee
• Isiphithiphithi – Samthing Soweto
• Seasons, Volume II – We Will Worship
• True Stories – Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda
• Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko – Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane

Best Maskandi Album

• Upopayi – Thokozani Langa
• Bawucisha ngo Paraffin – Abafana baka Mgqumeni
• Hlanga Lomhlabathi – Izingane Zoma
• Inhloko Nes’Xhanti – Khuzani
• Inyoka Yodumo – Sgwebo Sentambo

Best Traditional Music Album

• Ungabanaki – Qadasi & Maqhinga
• Botshelo – Makopanela Pineng
• Richang – Tswelelang Cultural Dancers
• Sialala – Vha Venda Cultural Group
• Tshimo Ea Tlholwa – Mma Ausi

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Calvary – Dumi Mkokstad
• Re-Birth – TYGC Family
• Psalm 103 – Jeffrey Mkansi
• Praise & Repentance 2nd Offering – Muzie B
• OkaJehova Akanqotshwa – Deborah Fraser

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

• A David Kind of Psalm (Live) – Sbu Noah
• Friends in Praise, Vol.2 – Neyi Zimu and Omega Khunou
• Glory in His Presence – Benjamin Dube
• Project 17 Live at Carnival City – Worship House
• Seasons, Volume II – We Will Worship

Best African Indigenous Faith Album

• Lona Ba Ratang Ho Phela – Amadodana Ase Wesile
• Uyalalelwa – The General Universal Zion Church of God (Isitimela)
• Thobela Morena – Matsobane Maifo
• Themba Lami – Amagoduka
• Modula Sione Ore Utlwe, Mookamedi – Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo

Best Jazz Album

• Queen Nandi: The African Symphony – Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble
• Genesis of a Different World – Steve Dyer
• Indlel’eyekhaya – Spha Mdlalose
• Tributes – Viwe Mkizwana
• Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko – Sibusiso 'Mash' Mashiloane

Best Afropop Album

• Isiphithiphithi – Samthing Soweto
• From Bongo With Love – Bongo Maffin
• Imali – Ami Faku
• Selimathunzi – Mthunzi
• Umuthi – Blaq Diamond

Best Reggae Album

• True Stories – Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda
• From the Low Land – Skeleton Blazer
• Impilo Kantanga – Jeremiah Fyah Ises
• The Revealer – Botanist
• Vision 2020 – Fruitystar

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Folklore: Chapter 1 – Pilani Bubu
• Toro ka Mmino – T.S
• S.G 2.0 – Tlale Makhene and Ziyawa Ka Zitha
• Power of Dreams – Judith Sephuma
• I Write What I Dream – Ntsika

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Africa – Ndlovu Youth Choir
• Swansong – Lance James
• Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue – The Parlotones
• Power – Amanda Black
• In a Different Light – Wouter Kellerman

Best R&B/Soul Album

• My Heart to Your Soul – Lungisa Xhamela
• Elements – Elaine
• God Decides – Tellaman
• Pink Panther – Tshego
• Promised Land – Yanga Sobetwa

Best Alternative Music Album

• Cult Pop – Lo-Ghost
• Zeno – Muzi
• The Calling – James Deacon
• Ndim Nani – Zu.
• June – Manu Grace

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album

• Sterker – Riana Nel
• Coenie 2.2 – Coenie de Villiers
• Boomhuis – Elandré
• Jou Huis – Elvis Blue
• Pure Plaas – Ricus Nel

Best Kwaito Album

• Ikhenani – DJ Tira
• Baby Boy III – Vigro Deep
• Scorpion Kings – DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small
• The Beginning – MFR Souls
• The Return of the Scorpion Kings – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa

Best Pop Album

• Ghost – Matthew Mole
• DEEP BREATH – Deep Breath
• Here I Am – Christian Heath
• Lifeline – Josh Wantie
• Solitude – Mike Stent

Beste Pop Album

• #Partytjiedier – Kurt Darren
• Elektrisiteit – Dewald Wasserfall
• Hou Vas – HANCO
• Patriot – Appel
• Swaeltjies – Danny Smoke

Best Hip Hop Album

• Becoming a Pop Star – Yanga Chief
• 3T – YoungstaCPT
• Injayam Vol.2 – DJ Sliqe
• PTYunLTD – K.O
• Ungqongqoshe Wongqongqoshe – Big Zulu

Best Rock Album

• Dagdrome in Suburbia – Francois van Coke
• Until The Last Prayer – Gunshot Blue
• The Bright Blue Orchids – The Plastics
• Sins of the Father – Black Pistol
• Plastic Kids –The Tazers

Best Classical Album

• Andaluza – Music of Spain III – James Grace
• Vignettes for Violin – Kristel Birkholtz
• Die Tale Van My Hart – Wilhelm Lichtenburg
• Freehand – Charl du Plessis
• Africa Celebrates – University of Limpopo Choristers and the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra

Best Dance Album

• Akhiwe – Oskido
• Find Your Way – Malumz on Decks
• Monarch – Lady Zamar
• Re Mmino – Prince Kaybee
• Vibez – DJ Mshega

Rest of Africa Award

• A Good Time – Davido (Nigeria)
• Blossom – Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
• I Love Girls With Trobul – Sarz and WurlD (Nigeria)
• Metamorfose – Isabel Novella (Mozambique)
• YPSZN2 – PsychoYP (Nigeria)

Best Produced Album

• String and Bling – Nasty C
• Touch my Blood – AKA
• Your Word – Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho 
• Emakhaya – Mlindo The Vocalist
• L.O.V.E – Zonke

Best Engineered Album

• Into Dust/Waltz for Jozi – Peter Auret
• I Write What I Dream – Robin Walsh
• Isiphithiphithi – Samthing Soweto, Pete Maher and Mas Musiq
• Promised Land – Kurt Michael
• The Return of the Scorpion Kings – Mas Musiq

Best Live Audio-visual Recording

• Glory in His Presence – Benjamin Dube
• A David Kind of Psalm (Live) – Sbu Noah
• Calvary – Dumi Mkokstad
• Krone 6 Live – Krone Various Artists
• Your Word Alibuyi Lilambatha – Kholeka

Best Produced Music Video

• ‘Fetch Your Life’ – Ofentse Mwase
• ‘Akulaleki’ – Yolanda Hlakula and Paul Ramaema
• ‘Whipped’ – Kyle White
• ‘SMA’ – Kyle White
• ‘Pearls to Swine’ – Tresor & Kid X and Msaki

Remix of the Year

• ‘Shay’inumber’ (Deep Sen) – Oscar Nyathi
• ‘Utatakho Remix’ – Yanga Chief ft. Boity, Dee Koala and Riky Rick
• ‘Sad To Think (Fka Mash Glitch Dub)’ – SculpturedMusic
• ‘Culture Vulture (Remix)’ – 25K
• ‘When Jazz Meets House (The Squad Remix)’ – DJ General Slam ft. Bruno Soares Sax

Best Collaboration

• ‘Say U Will’ – K.O ft. Nandi Madida
• ‘Akulaleki’ – Samthing Soweto ft. Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small
• ‘Fetch Your Life’ – Prince Kaybee ft. Msaki
• ‘Love You Tonight’ – MFR Souls ft. DJ Maphorisa, Sha Sha and Kabza De Small
• ‘Tender Love’ – Sha Sha ft. DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small

Record of the Year

• Ibhanoyi by Blaq Diamond

Music Video of the Year

• ‘Jika’ by AKA featuring Yanga Chief 

Best Selling DVD

• Volume 23 Live at CTICC by Joyous Celebration

Best Selling Artist

• Mlindo the Vocalist – Emakhaya

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Dan Tshanda
• Benjamin Dube
• Ndlovu Youth Choir