South African Music Awards 2022: All the nominees

The announcement follows the release of the first batch of nominees in the Record of the Year, Music Video of the Year and SAMPRA Artist of the Year categories.

Zakes Bantwini is this year’s most nominated artist with seven nods. Other artists with multiple nominations include DJ Maphorisa, De Mthuda, Mobi Dixon, Msaki, Brian Temba, Sun-El Musician, Chymamusique and Khanyisile Mthetwa.

Below are the nominees:

Album of the Year

• African Electronic Dance Music – Sun-El Musician
• Ghetto King – Zakes Bantwini
• It's All You – Brian Temba
• Musique – Chymamusique
• When House Was House – Mobi Dixon

Duo or Group of the Year

• Ama Roto Vol.2 – Reece Madlisa and Zuma
• Elephant In The Room – Watershed
• Franco Prinsloo: Kruis Van Liefde – Franco Prinsloo and Vox Chamber Choir
• Pangaea – Wouter Kellerman and David Arkenstone
• Wangikhulisa uMama – Shwi Nomtekhala

Female Artist of the Year

• ‘Platinumb Heart Open’ – Msaki
• ‘African Bird’ – Khanyisile Mthetwa
• ‘Nkulunkulu’ – Kamo Mphela
• ‘Trailblazer’ – Reign Afrika
• ‘Trouble In Paradise’ – Shekhinah

Male Artist of the Year

• ‘African Electronic Dance Music’ – Sun-El Musician
• ‘Ghetto King’ – Zakes Bantwini
• ‘It’s All You’ – Brian Temba
• ‘Musique’ – Chymamusique
• ‘When House Was House’ – Mobi Dixon

White Star Newcomer of the Year

• Thapelo Lekoane – ‘Tapestry’
• Khanyisile Mthetwa – ‘African Bird’
• 25K – ‘Pheli Makaveli
• Ncebakazi Msomi – ‘The 34th Psalm’
• Botanist Mr Lamington – ‘The Shift’

Best Rock Album

• Headlights Dream – Steve Louw
• Partypocalypse – Springbok Nude Girls
• Revolution – Tim Parr
• Ennui – Deity’s Muse
• Sacred Sound – Albert Frost

Best Pop Album

• Souvenirs – Jeremy Loops
• Motion – Tresor
• Trouble In Paradise – Shekhinah
• A Journal – Bonj
• Don’t Let Go – Jacky Carpede

Beste Pop Album

• Hier Waar Ek Nou Is – Juan Boucher
• Prisma – Janie Bay
• Rugsak – Elandrê
• Niks Vergelyk – Posduif
• Roekeloos – Rita Li

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Tapestry – Thapelo Lekoane
• Where The Light Gets In – Pat McCay
• Elephant In The Room – Watershed
• Brother – Jacob Swann
• Platinumb Heart Open – Msaki

Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album

• Al Die Ysters – Jan Jan Jan
• Sangoma Sandilands and Jou Pa Se Posse Maanskyn – Neil Sandilands
• Twintigeenentwintig – Jennifer Zamudio
• Volume – Die Heuwels Fantasties
• Woorde – Jodi Jantjies

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Thetha Mama – The One Who Sings
• Camagu – Ntando
• 2020 – Joe Nina
• The Red Stoep – Nomfusi
• Cwaka – Mandisi Dyantyis

Best Alternative Music Album

• City Of God and The Jungle Below – Daniel Baron
• Night Speak – Lo-Ghost
• Glow – Alice Phoebe Lou
• Romance Was Born – Anna Wolf
• Child’s Play – Alice Phoebe Lou

Best R&B/Soul Album

• Real Talk – P.Postman
• The Arrival – Melleng
• Sour Milk – Joda Kgosi
• It’s All You – Brian Temba
• It Is What It is – Mikhale Jones

Best Hip Hop Album

• Father Of Zen – Kid X
• Pheli Makaveli – 25K
• Today’s Tragedy, Tomorrow’s Memory: Mixtape – A-Reece
• Logan – Emtee
• B4NOW – Blxckie

Best Kwaito Album

• Don’t Lose Focus – Sukiri Papa
• Let Dogs Lie Low – Simple Eugene
• Kwaito Pallet – Shisaboy
• Ama Roto Vol.2 – Reece Madlisa and Zuma
• Trip To Jozi – King Razo

Best Dance Album

• Muzika – Miza
• Ghetto King – Zakes Bantwini
• Musique – Chymamusique
• When House Was House – Mobi Dixon
• African Electronic Dance Music – Sun-El Musician

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Vela Nkosi – Jumbo
• In the Beginning – Paul K
• Heaven’s Scroll – Puleng March
• The Great Revival – Takie Ndou
• Shrubs of Chronicle (Live) – Zaza

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

• My Heart To Him – Thabelo
• Denga – Kingdmusic
• Sacrificial Worship (Live) - Pulane Maphari
• Find Me Singing – Lauren Cullen
• The 34th Psalm – Ncebakazi Msomi

Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album

• Ba Bosiu – Isaac and The Mighty Messengers
• Re Kopa Go Wena Ramasedi – JTG Gospel Choir
• Similapha Nkosi – NUZ Voices Of Joy
• Ore Etele Mohloeki – The Harmony Singers Artist Development
• Swi Lava Yeso – Zion Iskhalanga Academy

Rest of Africa Award

• ‘Son of A Tribe’ – Edgar Muzah (Zimbabwe)
• ‘Karabo’’ – Malome Vector (Lesotho)
• Boyfriend’ – Ckay (Nigeria)
• ‘If Orange Was A Place’ – Tems (Nigeria)
• ‘Love & Isolation’ – Tay Iwar (Nigeria)

Best Traditional Album

• Dlozified – Mkhanyakude
• Dziya Fhirtana – Vha Venda Cultural Group
• Tshihwilili Tshanga – Dr Mercy Masakona Madzivhandila
• Mathotse – Tau Sebata
• Hantam Kerfees – Klipwerf

Best Maskandi Album

• Ziyashisa – Makhamnandi
• Wangikhulisa uMama – Shwi Nomtekhala
• Idaymani – Thokozani Langa
• Phakathi Komhlane nembeleko – Udumakahle
• Ivila Laselawini – Mzukulu

Best Jazz Album

• At This Point In Time Voices in Volumes – Herbie Tsoaeli
• Music From My People – Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane
• History In A Frame – Jimmy Dludlu
• Revision – Steve Dyer
• Quiet Please – McCoy Mrubata

Best Classical/Instrumental Album

• Pangaea – Wouter Kellerman and David Arkenstone
• African Bird – Khanyisile Mthetwa
• It Takes Three – Charl Du Plessis Trio
• Afrikaans – Scheppel
• Franco Prinsloo: Kruis Van Liefde – Franco Prinsloo and Vox Chamber Choir

Best Afro Pop Album

• iStiff – Mnqobi Yazo
• New Faces To Old Problems – Bonga Kwana
• Sukulila – Cici
• Amalobolo – Aubrey Qwana
• Amagama – Nomfundo Moh

Best Collaboration

• ‘Imali’ – Karyendasoul and Zakes Bantwini ft. Nana Atta
• ‘Osama’ – Zakes Bantwini and Kasango
• ‘Wamuhle’ – Njelic and Boohle feat. De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef
• ‘Zwivhuya’ – Makhadzi ft. Joe Delinger
• ‘No Rainbow’ – Msaki feat. Da Capo

Best Produced Music Video

• ‘Inhlupheko’ by Big Zulu – Edward (Gobi Beast) and Ofentse Mwase
• ‘Playback’ by K.O. – Ted Magerman
• ‘Mamezala’’ by Mafikizolo ft. Simmy – Dale Fortune
• ‘When House Was House’ by Mobi Dixon feat. Mariechan and JNR SA – Mabi Ntuli and Shona
• ‘Finessin’ by AKA – Mninizo Sitho and Nhlanhla

Best Produced Album of the Year

• Karabo by Malome Vector – Bokang and Ndumiso
• Platinumb Heart Open by Msaki – Neo Muyanga and Asanda
• Destination Unknown by Vaughn Prangley – Howard Bradley
• Thetha Mama by The One Who Sings – Sean, Keanan Leroy and Arthur
• A World At Suicide by Kahn Morbee – Jacques du Plessis High

Best Engineered Album of the Year

• Candid by Moonga K – Greg Abrahams, Mike Zietsman and Vicente Espi
• Ghetto King by Zakes Bantwini – Zakes Bantwini
• Pheli Makaveli by 25K – Sibabalwe Andile Fiphaza
• City Of God and The Jungle Below by Daniel Baron – Daniel Baron and Darryn Muller
• It Takes Three by Charl Du Plessis Trio – Peter Auret

Remix of the Year

• Manyelo Dafro, Bassekou Kouyate and Da Capo – Ladon by Manyelo Dafro ft Basekou Kouyate
• Lira and DJ Maphorisa – Feel Good by Lira
• Sun-El Musician, Azana and Da Capo – Uhuru by Sun-El Musician and Azana
• Da Capo – Mama by Josiah De Disciple and Boohle
• DJ Cleo – Gcina Impilo Yam by Bucy Radebe

Best Reggae Album

• He Crowned I Emperor – Skeleton Blazer
• Trailblazer – Reign Afrika
• Hard To Believe – Ras Canly
• The Shift – Botanist Mr Lamington
• Ngatanngwe – Red I Scorch

Best Amapiano Album

• Nkulunkulu – Kamo Mphela
• Auti eSharp – Mas Musiq
• Kwa Kwa – Mellow and Sleazy
• Notumato – Young Stunna
• President Ya Strata – Focalistic

Best Gqom Album

• Khula – Bello No Gallo
• Summer Banger – Dlala Thukzin
• Best Of The Best – T-Man
• The Journey – Slenda Da Dancing DJ
• Umshunqo Reloaded – Dladla Mshunqisi

Record of the Year

• ‘Osama’ – Zakes Bantwini and Kasango
• ‘Questions’ – Shekhinah
• ‘Mamela’ – Mi Casa
• ‘Banyana’ – DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU feat. Daliwonga, Sir Trill and Kabza De Small
• ‘Abalele – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku
• ‘Adiwele’ – Young Stunna feat. Kabza De Small
• ‘Bopha’ – Mellow& Sleazy and Felo Le Tee feat. DJ Maphorisa, Madumane and Young Stunna
• ‘Vula Mlomo’ – Musa Keys feat. Sir Trill and Nobantu Vilakazi
• ‘Asibe Happy’ – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku
• ‘John Wick’ – De Mthuda feat. Da Muziqal Chef and Sir Trill
• ‘I’m With You’ – Matthew Mole
• ‘Umsebenzi Wethu’ – Busta 929 and Mpura feat. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du and Reece Madlisa
• ‘Black And White’ – Nasty C and Ari Lennox
• ‘Izolo’ – DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU feat. Mpura, Daliwonga and Visca
• ‘Phakade Lami’ – Nomfundo Moh feat. Sha Sha and Ami Faku
• ‘Jola’ – De Mthuda feat. Sino Msolo
• ‘Shine Your Light’ – Master KG and David Guetta feat. Akon
• ‘Postcards’ – Jeremy Loops
• ‘Ngathwala Ngaye’ – Kelly Khumalo feat. Mondli Ngcobo
• ‘Right Now’ – Elaine

Music Video of the Year

• ‘LiYoshona (Main Mix)’ – Kwiish SA feat. Njelic, MalumNator and De Mthuda
• ‘Izolo’ – DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU feat. Mpura, Daliwonga and Visca
• ‘Summer Yo Muthi’ – Blaq Diamond
• ‘Phakade Lami’ – Nomfundo Moh feat. Sha Sha and Ami Faku
• ‘Nkulunkulu’ – Kamo Mphela
• ‘Jola’ – De Mthuda feat Sino Msolo and Da Muziqal Chef
• ‘Indlovu’ – DJ Zinhle feat. Lloyiso
• ‘Yini Sdakwa’ – ThackzinDJ, Tee Jay and Sir Trill feat. Dlala Thukzin, Nkosazana_ Daughter, Rascoe Kaos, Moscow and Mpura
• ‘S’bali’ – Intaba Yase Dubai
• ‘Mamela’ – Mi Casa
• ‘John Wick’ – De Mthuda feat. Sir Trill and Da Muziqal Chef
• ‘Woza’ – Mr JazziQ, Kabza De Small and Lady Du feat. Boohle
• ‘Superman’ – DJ Stokie feat. Kabza De Small, Masterpiece YVK and Madumane
• ‘Getting Late’ – Tyla feat. Kooldrink
• ‘Umuzi eSandton’ – Big Zulu Feat. Lwah Ndlunkulu
• ‘Buyile’ – Khuli Chana feat. Tyler ICU, Stino Le Thwenny and Lady Du
• ‘Ghanama’ – Makhadzi feat. Prince Benza
• ‘Inhlupheko’ – Big Zulu feat. Mduduzi
• ‘Chucks’ – YOUNOTUS and Mi Casa
• ‘Mmapula’ – Busta 929 feat. Mzu M

SAMPRA Artist of the Year

• Bello no Gallo
• Haksul MUZIQ
• Fanie Dick
• AfroToniQ
• Zion Agreement
• A-Reece
• Musa Keys
• Msaki
• Jennifer Zamudio
• Millie Ngwalangwala
• Rodger KB
• Brandon Dhludhlu
• HunTer Leite
• NLite
• Emtee
• PressCee
• Cece Vee
• Young Stunna
• Lady X
• Makhadzi