SAMAs 2022 announce Lifetime and International Achievement recipients

Black Coffee will be presented with the International Achievement Award while Nina, Dludlu and Mrubata will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The two awards recognise musicians who have significantly contributed to the development, upliftment and advancement of the South African music industry over at past two decades.

“We are proud to be recognising these national treasures and ambassadors of South African music,” RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said. “These acts have not only raised the profile of South African music as a whole but served to inspire, nurture and cultivate South African talent. Deservedly, these individuals will be presented with these honours at Sun City.”

Black Coffee has received many firsts including becoming the first South African DJ to perform at Coachella twice and the first African DJ to win a BET Award. This year, he became the first African artist to win a Grammy in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category.

Nina was born to a guitarist father and a vocalist mother. At the age 14, he started providing music production services for Sony Music, Gallo Record Company and other international record distributors. Over the years, Nina has released more than 20 albums and produced for more than 50 South African artists, including Ringo Madlingozi, Ray Phiri, Sibongile Khumalo, Tsepo Tshola and Sharon D. He has won three SAMAs in the Best African Pop Album (2000 and 2001) and Best Alternative African Music Album (2010) categories.

Born in Mozambique, Dludlu’s musical journey began at age 13 when he learnt how to play the guitar by imitating jazz and African music he heard on radio. His musical style demonstrates a wide range of influences, combining traditional and modern jazz elements with African rhythms and melodies. His career took off in October 1995 after sharing the stage with Senegalese singer and guitarist Ismaël Lô in Cape Town. He went on to perform two highly acclaimed shows at the 1996 Arts Alive Festival in Johannesburg and later released his debut album Echoes From the Past in 1997. The project earned him two SAMAs for Newcomer of the Year and Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 1998 and sold more than 25 000 copies.

Mrubata is a well-known composer, saxophonist and band leader who grew up in Cape Town’s historic Langa township. In the early 1980s, he played in cover bands until the late Koloi Lebona spotted and offered him a recording contract. A year later, he formed Brotherhood with Dludlu, Nhlanhla Magagula and Lucas Khumalo. In the 1990s – having toured with the late Hugh Masekela, Lawrence Matshiza and the late pianist Moses Molelekwa – he released the Tears of Joy album. Besides creating scores for South African productions and starring in a Norwegian production based on John Coltrane’s life, he has collaborated with a wide range of local and international artists.