Urban Music Awards launches in SA, unveils nominees

Originally founded in 2003 in the UK, the UMA has steadily grown over the years, expanding to the United States in 2007, the Caribbean in 2008, and Asia in 2009. The newly introduced Urban Music Awards South Africa (UMA SA) aims to elevate South African musicians, producers, DJs, and artists onto the global stage. The inaugural UMA SA ceremony is set to take place on 4 May 2025 at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria.

“The launch of UMA South Africa is more than an awards ceremony, it’s a movement to empower South African artists with the tools to brand, monetise, and transcend global audiences across Europe, Asia, North America, and the rest of Africa,” UMA founder & president, Jordan Kensington, said. “South African music is vibrant, diverse, and influential, and now is the time for the world to truly embrace its talent.”

South Africa has long been a hub of musical innovation, with genres like amapiano gaining international traction. The success of Tyla, Black Coffee, and Master KG’s global hit ‘Jerusalema’ has demonstrated the country’s influence in the global music industry. The UMA SA aims to further amplify this impact, providing a platform for South African artists to gain international recognition.

UMA and Official World Charts head of global partnerships Cressida Oppenheimer, said: “We are thrilled to expand the Urban Music Awards and Official World Charts into South Africa. This expansion is a game-changer, offering South African artists an unparalleled opportunity to succeed on a global stage. Music tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry, encompassing sales, concerts, tours, festivals, merchandise, and businesses, and our mission is to ensure South African music reaps the rewards worldwide.”

Meanwhile, nominees for the inaugural UMA SA have been announced ahead of the awards ceremony at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria on 4 May.

Fans now have the opportunity to vote for their favourite nominees until midnight on 2 May.

To vote, users must register via this link.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Artist of the Year

• Tyla
• Kabza De Small
• Lwah Ndlunkulu
• Kelvin Momo
• Priddy Ugly
• Usimamane
• Zee Nxumalo
• KO

Best Male Act

• Kabza De Small
• Mthunzi
• uGatsheni
• Kelvin Momo
• Blxxie
• Usimamane
• Scotts Maphumas Maphuma
• Lee-Mac
• Casper Nyovest
• Oscar Mbo

Best Female Act

• Tyla
• Lwah Ndlunkulu
• DJ Zinhle
• Ami Faku
• Makhadzi
• Nkosazana Daughter
• Uncle Waffles
• Kamo Mphela
• Boohle
• Mawhoo
• Babalwa M
• Brenda Mtambo

Best Newcomer

• Naledi Aphiwe
• Lwah Ndlunkulu
• Scotts Maphuma
• Mawelele
• Joliza
• Neo Dube
• Tony Dayimane
• Usimamane
• Dee Koala
• LaTique
• LeeMcKrazy

Best Group

• Mellow & Sleezy
• Artwork Sounds
• Black Motion
• Shakes & Les
• Justin 99 & PC
• Major League
• Skorpion Kings
• Joyous Celebration
• Shakes & Les
• Die Antwoord

Best Collaboration

• Kabza De Small & Mthunzi – ‘Isimo’
• Mellow & Sleazy, Sjavas De Deejay, TitoM – ‘Imnadi Lento’
• Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt – ‘Almal Gly’
• Tyla & DJ Lag – ‘Overdue’
• Makhadzi & Master KG – ‘Kulakwe’
• Elaine & Blxckie – ‘Loving You’
• KO & Nasty C – ‘Too Much’
• Woodblock Djs, Casper, Kwesta – ‘Skuta Baba’
• Scotts Maphuma, Maphorisa – ‘Biri Marung’
• Scotts Maphuma, Felo Le Tee, Thabza Tee – ‘Yebo Lapho’

Best Album

• Kabza De Small & Mthunzi – Isimo
• De Mthuda – Baba Yaga
• Daliwonga – Dali Dali
• Kelvin Momo – Kurhula
• Tyla – Tyla
• Brenda Mtambo – Sane
• Morda – Crazy
• Pretty Ugly – Dust
• Sjava – Isbuko
• 25k – Loyal to the Plug
• AKA – Mass Country

Best Amapiano Act

• Kabza De Small
• Kelvin Momo
• De Mthuda
• DJ Maphorisa
• Amos
• Felo Le Tee
• Leemackrazy
• Scotts Maphuma
• Uncle Waffles
• Baballwa M
• Tyla ICU
• Zee Nxumalo

Best Hip Hop Act

• Nasty C
• A-Reece
• Cassper Nyovest
• Blxckie
• Kwesta
• Usimamane
• Maglera Doe Boy
• Priddy Ugly
• Yanga Chief
• K.O

Best Gqom Act

• Mr Thela
• DJ Lag
• RudeBoyz
• TNS
• Dladla Mshunqisi
• Dlala Thukzin
• Goldmax
• DJ Tira
• Bhuda M
• Sparks Bantwana

Best Afro Pop Act

• Lwah Ndlunkulu
• Blaq Diamond
• Big Zulu
• Aubrey
• Ntate Stunna
• Vusi Nova
• Sjava
• Simmy
• Sun-El Musician
• Kelly Khumalo

Best House Music Act

• Black Coffee
• DJ Zinhle
• Culoe De Song
• Euphonik
• Heavy K
• Shimza
• Prince Kaybee
• Da Capo
• DJ Jaivane

Best R&B Act

• Elaine
• Lloyiso
• Ricky Tyler
• Jesse Clegg
• Rowlene
• Shekhinah
• Tellaman
• Langa Mavuso
• Brenden Praise
• Vusi Nova

Best Jazz Act

• Judith Sephuma
• Marcus Wyatt
• Rorisang Sechele
• Nick Ford
• Simphiwe Dana
• Lucas Senyatso
• Siyabonga Mthethwa
• Thandeka Dladla
• Nduduzo Makhathini

Best Gospel Act

• Joyous Celebration
• Benjamin Dube
• Dr Tumi
• Ntokozo Mbambo
• Lebo Sekgobela
• Soweto Gospel Choir
• Dumi Mkokstad
• Mahalia Buchanan
• Khaya Mthethwa
• Ncubeko Mbatha
• Ayanda Ntenzi
• Dube Brothers
• Mmatema
• Spirit Of Praise

Best Maskandi Act

• Mthandeni SK
• Izingane Zoma
• Khuthuza
• Ntencane
• Mjolisi
• uGatsheni
• Menzi Music
• Bahubhe
• Zwide
• Umafikizolo

Best Reggae & Dancehall Act

• The Rudimentals
• Tidal Waves
• Jah Seed
• Black Dillinger
• Nkulee Dube
• Azania Band
• Ras Dumisani

Best Producer

• DJ Maphorisa
• Kabza De Small
• Sun-El Musician
• Master KG
• Vigro Deep
• Kelvin Momo
• TitoM and Yuppe
• Tyler ICU
• Dlala Thukzin
• Nqubeko Mbatha

Best DJ

• Black Coffee
• DJ Zinhle
• Lamiez Holworthy
• Shimza
• DJ Tira
• DJ Maphorisa
• Tyler ICU
• Vigro Deep
• DJ Euphonik
• Uncle Waffles

Best Music Video

• Kamo Mphela, Khalil Harrison & Tyler ICU – ‘Dalie’ ft. Baby S.O.N
• TXC & Davido – ‘Yebo’ (Official Video) ft. Tony Duardo, LeeMckrazy & DJ Biza
• Wanitwa Mos, Master KG, Nkosazana Daughter – ‘Keneilwe’ (ft. Dalom Kids)
• K.O – ‘Let Me Cook’ (Official Music Video) ft. Maglera Doe Boy
• Tyler ICU – ‘Ebasini Wav.files’ ft. Leemckrazy, Tman Xpress, Ceeka RSA, Visca, AL Xapo, Sjavas DaDeejay
• Mr JazziQ x Vigro Deep – ‘Fede’ (Official Music Video)
• Vigro Deep, DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small (ft. Focalistic, Scotts Maphuma) – ‘A-Z (Yashi Moto)’
• Nasty C & @audiomarcdj – ‘For Certain’
• Usimamane & Rick Ross – ‘Dangerous II’
• Dee Koala – ‘Gwan’ (Official Music Video) ft. Maglera Doe Boy
• Priddy Ugly & Maglera Doe Boy ft. MashBeatz – ‘NTJA’KA’
• DJ Maphorisa, XDuppy, Sean1401 – ‘Ngibolekeni’ ft. Leemckrazy, Scotts Maphuma, Blxckie, Pcee, Kabelo Sings
• Uncle Waffles & Royal Musiq – ‘Wadibusa’ ft. Ohp Sage & Pcee (Official Music Video)
• Tyla, Sean Paul – ‘PUSH 2 START (REMIX)’
• TitoM & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ ft. S.N.E & EeQue

Best Live Performance

• Cassper Nyovest
• Makhadzi
• Sjava
• Ami Faku
• Justin 99 & Pcee
• Uncle Waffles
• Kamo Mphela
• Priddy Ugly
• Maglera Doe Boy
• Zee Nxumalo
• Busiswa
• Toss

Best Radio Station

• Metro FM
• 5FM
• Ukhozi FM
• YFM
• Gagasi FM
• Kaya FM
• Capricorn FM
• Power FM
• Good Hope FM
• Jozi FM

Best Radio Show

• The Touchdown with Tbo Touch (Metro FM)
• The Roger Goode Show (5FM)
• The Midday Link-up (Metro FM)
• The Drive with Mo Flava (Metro FM)
• The Best T Drive (Ukhozi FM)
• The Big Breakfast Show (R2000)
• The Khaya Countdown (Kaya 959)
• The Eskhaleni Party (R2000)
• The Sound Supreme (Good Hope FM)
• The Big Breakfast with DJ Sabby (YFM)
• 5 Hip Hop Nights (5FM)
• The Fresh Breakfast (Metro FM)
• Weekend Breakfast with Thando Thabethe (947)

Best Music Television Show

• MTV Inside Life (MTV Base)
• SA Hits Countdown (MTV Base)
• Massive Music (Channel O)
• Channel O Top 30 (Channel O)
• JR’s Feel-Good Live Sessions (SABC 1)
• Gospel Unplugged (SABC 1)
• Connect (SABC 1)
• LunchTime Vibes (SABC1)
• Video Wall (eTV)
• Yash’ingoma (Mzansi Magic)
• Mzansi House Countdown (Mzansi Magic)

Best Online Music Platform

• SlikourOnLife
• VooVix TV
• Music In Africa
• OkayAfrica
• Trace Africa
• HYPE Magazine
• Channel O Online
• SA Hip-Hop Mag
• Zkhiphani
• YFM Online

Best Viral Breakthrough Song

• Uncle Waffles – ‘Tanzania’
• Young Stunna – ‘Adiwele’
• TitoM & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’
• Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow & Tebogo G Mashego – ‘Biri Marung’ ft. DJ Maphorisa, Focalistic & Scotts Maphuma
• Blxckie – ‘David’
• Tyla – ‘Water’
• Dlala Thukzin – ‘Sohlala Sonke’
• Uncle Waffles – ‘Wadibusa’
• K.O – ‘SETE’

International Artist of the Year

• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• Sarkodie (Ghana)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• Sauti Sol (Kenya)
• Omah Lay (Nigeria)
• Tyla (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles (South Africa)

Best International Collaboration (South Africa x Global)

• Tyla & Tems – ‘No.1’
• Master KG & Nkosazana Daughter – ‘Makhelwane’
• Black Coffee & John Legend – ‘10 Missed Calls’
• DJ Maphorisa & Drake – ‘Amapiano Nights’
• Nasty C & Lil Wayne – ‘Dreams’
• Burna Boy Ft. Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Nasty C – ‘4 You’
• Makhadzi & Davido – ‘Tshikwama’
• Cassper Nyovest & Wizkid – ‘Starboy’
• Usimamane Ft. Rick Ross – ‘Dangerous’