South African Music Awards 2026: All the winners

HLE’s haul included Best Contemporary Faith Music Album for The Ground We’re On, the SAMPRA Album of the Year award for the same project, and the Lesedi FM Female Artist of the Year title. Kabza De Small also collected three honours, winning Best Amapiano Album for Bab’Motha, Best Collaboration for ‘Abantwana Bakho’ with DJ Maphorisa, XDuppy, Thatohatsi, Young Stunna and Nkosazana Daughter, and Remix of the Year for the remix of ‘Eningi’.

The results placed both artists among the most prominent figures at this year’s ceremony, with their wins reflecting the continued strength of amapiano and contemporary gospel in South Africa’s music industry.

HLE’s The Ground We’re On won Best Contemporary Faith Music Album, beating projects by Nqubeko Mbatha, Mmuso Worship, Ncebakazi Msomi and Brenden Praise. The album also secured the SAMPRA Album of the Year award, while HLE was named Lesedi FM Female Artist of the Year.

Kabza De Small’s Bab’Motha won Best Amapiano Album, ahead of Babalwa M, De Mthuda and Kelvin Momo, who had two nominations in the category. Kabza’s collaboration with DJ Maphorisa and XDuppy, ‘Abantwana Bakho’, featuring Thatohatsi, Young Stunna and Nkosazana Daughter, won Best Collaboration, while his remix of ‘Eningi’, featuring Njelic, Mthunzi, Mkeyz, GL_Ceejay and Simmy, took Remix of the Year.

Below is the full list of winners:

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Wrapped in Rhythm, Vol.2 – Tutu Puoane, Metropole Orkest & Jacome Bairos
• Abel Selaocoe’s “Four Spirits” (Live) – Abel Selaocoe, Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon, Bernhard Schimpelsberger
• Buzzhead – Kahn Morbee
• Malachi’s Dream – Tim Parr
• You Love Who You Love – Wandile Mbambeni

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Moya – Simphiwe Dana
• Isitifiketi – Jabulile Majola
• KwaNtu – Madala Kunene & Sibusile Xaba
• Ngimuhle – Zawadi Yamungu
• ZINZA – BandaBanda

Best African Indigenous Faith Album

• Monghali Mesia – Amadodana Ase Wesile
• Difela – De Bruin Gospel Projects
• NGIYA BONGA BABA – THE NEW BELIEVERS OF GOD GOSPEL SINGERS
• The Journey Continues – Abanqobi
• U TA HLAMULA – Zion Iskhalanga Academy

Best Afro Pop Album

• Inkanyezi 2.0 (Live) – Sjava
• Amaciko – Lwah Ndlunkulu
• Busisiwe 2.0 – CiCi
• Out The Box – Nomfundo Moh
• Touch is a Move (Good Morning) – Samthing Soweto

Best Alternative Album

• Handsome Luke & The Heartbreakers – Mars Baby
• From The Hill – Charles Webster
• Furniture – 44coles
• Listen Properly – Bombshelter Beast
• THROWING STONES – Archi

Best Amapiano Album

• Bab’Motha – Kabza De Small
• Acquiesce – Babalwa M
• Mthuthuzeli – De Mthuda
• N’wana Wa Mutsonga – Kelvin Momo
• Thato Ya Modimo – Kelvin Momo

Best Classical Instrumental Album

• Orchestrations – Guy Buttery
• First Light – Marius Small-Smith
• Let the Children Play – John Lundun
• Light the Whole Sky – University of Pretoria Camerata
• Radio Gogo Worldwide – uBeyond

Best Collaboration

• Abantwana Bakho – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy, Kabza De Small feat Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter
• Dlala Ka Yona – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy Enny Man Da Guitar, Focalistic, Ricky Lenyora, Uncool MC, Mellow & Sleazy
• Shela – Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, Mano
• Thandaza – Sam Deep, Thatohatsi
• Tobetsa 3.0 – Myztro, Leehleza, Shaunmusiq, Ftears

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

• THE GROUND WE’RE ON – Hle
• Passover – Nqubeko Mbatha
• Testify (Live at 012 Central, Pretoria 2024) – Mmuso Worship
• The 37th Psalm (Live at Emperors Palace) – Ncebakazi Msomi
• The GAP – Brenden Praise

Best Dance Album

• The Most Wanted – JAZZWRLD, Thukuthela
• Amazwi Okubonga – MaWhoo
• Asante III – MÖRDA
• Indigo Child II: Love & Frequency – Da Capo
• MAYVIS – Dlala Thukzin

Best Engineered Album

• Orchestrations – Guy Buttery (Engineered by Guy Buttery & Fuzzy)
• Bab’Motha – Kabza De Small (Engineered by Thato & Kabza De Small)
• Free – Nasty C (Engineered by Mike Manitshana)
• Ntu Futurism – L8 Antique (Engineered by Matthew)
• Touch is a Move (Good Morning) – Samthing Soweto (Engineered by Ross Dorkin)

Best Gqom Album

• New Wave – Blacks Jnr, Dankie Boi, GoldMax
• Dark or Durban 3 – Funky Qla
• Izinsimbi zaMakoya – DJ Tira
• Puku Puku – Dladla Mshunqisi, Beast RSA
• Southside Mixtape – DJ Lag

Best Hip Hop Album

• Free – Nasty C
• Bayede – Danya Devs
• BLVCK & WHiTE – FLVME
• Boss Zonke Forever – Riky Rick
• THE SECRET FREQUENCY – MashBeatz

Best Jazz Album

• Intlambululo: Ukuhlambulula – Mandisi Dyantyis
• Ingoma Busuku – Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini
• INTLUNGU. INTLUPHEKO. IMBILINI – Temba Ncetani
• Ithemba Elitsha (A New Hope) – Lumanyano Mzi
• The Y-Factor Project – Billy Monama

Best Maskandi Album

• Ng’funa intozami – Mzukulu
• Amalandi Amathathu – Saliwa
• Izilotshi – Mbuzeni
• Khotha La (A Tribute To Mjikjelwa) – Ntencane
• Ngabe Ngiloyiwe – Smiramira

Best Pop Album

• Don’t Cry Because It’s Over – Will Linley
• Last Call for Departure – Matt Gardiner
• Less Trouble – Shekhinah
• Not the Same – Anica Kiana
• Phases – Tannah

Best Produced Album

• Therapy: The Other Side – Langa Mavuso (Produced by Darren Blackansee, Simphiwe Mashinini, Ndumiso Manana, Ndabo Zulu, Christer Kobedi, Civil Motha, Unako Chabeli, Langa Mavuso, Jabulani Nkabinde, Lindelani Lee, Seragi Thantsha, Mnqobi Bayanda Nxumalo, Zooci, Jonathan Takyi Mensah, Onkabetse John Hlongwane)
• Ingoma Busuku – Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini (Produced by Nduduzo Makhathini)
• Less Trouble – Shekhinah (Produced by Shekhinah, Rudolph Willemse, imnotgoofy, Mzizi, Gregory Abrahams, Iam6teen, Brendon-Lee Earl Johnson, Master A Flat)
• Sacred Cycle – Mauritz Lotz (Produced by Mauritz Lotz)
• ZINZA – Banda Banda (Produced by Banda Banda)

Best Produced Music Video

• Wayside Lover – Msaki, Jesse Clegg & Sjava (Produced by Nombuso Ngcobo; Directed by Marty Bleazard)
• Abantwana Bakho – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy, Kabza De Small feat Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter (Produced by Nyiko; Directed by Nyiko)
• Leftie (Dlala Ngcobo) – Nasty C & Blxckie (Produced by Nasty C, Ayanda Ngcobo; Directed by Lordnelle)
• Partii – Kamo Mphela, Aymos, QUE DJ & Jay Music feat SpacePose (Produced by Kamo Mphela; Directed by Lindo_Langa)
• Shela (feat. Mano) – Single – Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, Mano (Produced by Nyiko; Directed by Nyiko)

Best R&B Soul Album

• You, Me & The 90’s – lordkez
• Island 22 – Gemma Fassie
• It’s Complicated – Maxine Ceasar
• Resurfaced – Lucille Slade
• Therapy: The Other Side – Langa Mavuso

Best Reggae Album

• Foreign Exchange – Ras Canly
• DIMAHR – DIMAHR
• Forward We Continue – Don Dada
• Rasta Man Step – Layahn King
• Victorious – Red I Scorch

Best Rock Album

• Die Ruimte – Francois van Coke
• AC/ES – AC/ES
• Back From the Dead – We Kill Cowboys
• ONKRUID – Karel Bester & Die Kraaines Band
• Scatterling Empire – Acid Magus

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Praise & Worship In The Wilderness, Pt. 1 – Bucy Radebe
• Back To The Altar – Ntethe
• Sound of Gratitude (Live at Urban Brew Dome) – Zaza
• The Watchmans Camp – Sindi Ntombela
• Worship in Newness – Puleng March

Best Traditional Music Album

• Sesi Ka Rose – Makhadzi Entertainment
• Born For This – MetroBeatz RSA
• I Khant Do Dhis Enimo – King Monada
• Pleasure in 20 Years – Pleasure Tsa Manyalo
• Thath’owakho – Soul Brothers

Beste Pop Album

• Troumateriaal – Brendan Peyper
• Dis Presies Wat Liefde Doen – Juan Boucher
• Gees – Jakkie Louw
• Miena – Jan Rhaap
• Seisoene – Deon Groot

SAMPRA Album of the Year

• HLE The Ground We’re On

CAPASSO Most Streamed Song of the Year

• Abantwana Bakho – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy, featuring Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter

SAMRO Highest Airplay Composer Award

• Nontokozo Mkhize – Esandleni

SABC 1 Newcomer of the Year

• Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini

AfriPure International Achievement Award

• Tyla

Lesedi FM Female Artist of the Year

• HLE

Motsweding FM Male Artist of the Year

• Mzukulu

Radio 2000 Duo/Group of the Year

• Amadodana Ase Wesile

Rest of Africa Award

• This One Is Personal – Tiwa Savage

Remix of the Year: Eningi (Remix)

• Kabza De Small feat. Njelic, Mthunzi, Mkeyz, GL_Ceejay and Simmy

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Oskido