Hip-hop heavyweights Cassper Nyovest and K.O. lead the nominations for the South
African Music Awards in its 21st year, with five nods respectively; the same number
bagged by Capetonian pop trio Beatenberg.
The nominations for this year’s awards, branded #SAMAXXI as the event comes of age
in a thrilling fashion, were unveiled during a press conference on Thursday, 12
March 2015, at The Rand Club in Johannesburg and will culminate in a star-studded
party later the same evening at Cocoon Lounge in Sandton.
Nyovest is in the running for awards in the Best Rap Album, Best Collaboration, Best
Album, Best Male Artist and Best Newcomer categories. Fellow rapper K.O., with two
nominations for Best Collaboration, will be competing head to head with him in
all these categories except Best Newcomer.
Making matters even more juicy is the fact that AKA and Duncan are also nominated
for three major awards each, ensuring that the XXI edition of the South African
Music Awards will be a highly competitive affair; a lip-smacking prospect for TV
audiences who will be tuning in to watch the ceremony, broadcast live from Sun City,
on SABC1 on 19 April.
The hip-hop heads have some serious competition; flying the pop music flag high at
the awards will be Beatenberg, who are up for gongs in the Best Pop Album, Best
Collaboration, Best Album, Best Duo/Group and Best Newcomer categories. Prime Circle
are proving that after 14 years of music making, they still have new tricks up their
sleeve with four nominations for Best Rock Album, Best Music Video, Best Producer
and Best Engineer for their album Let the Night In.
Hot on their heels with three nods each are fellow industry veterans Ringo
Madlingozi, whose long-awaited new release has earned him nominations for Best
African Adult Album, Best Male Artist and Album of the Year, and McCoy Mrubata, who
is
competing for glory in the categories for Best Jazz Album, Best Engineer and Best
Duo or Group.
On a poignant note, the late Lulu Dikana, the sister of fellow songbird Zonke
Dikana, has received three posthumous nominations for Best R&B/Soul/Reggae
Album, Best Producer and Best Female Artist.
The Album of the Year category, always a closely fought battle, will see stalwart
Ringo slug it out with young guns Beatenberg, Nyovest, K.O. and The Soil. Beatenberg
and Nyovest will come up against Duncan, as well as Jeremy Loops (also nominated
for Best Alternative Album) and Howie Combrink (a contender in the Best Adult
Contemporary Album category), in the Best Newcomer category.
South Africa’s newest Grammy Award winner, flautist Wouter Kellerman, is up for
accolades in two categories: Best Classical/Instrumental Album and Best Producer.
Last year multiple Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo were honoured with a
lifetime achievement award and this year, the XXI Annual South African Music Awards
will also be honouring living legends of the local music industry with Lifetime
Achievement Awards, announced prior to the awards ceremony.
Things are poised to become even more interesting when the 10 contenders for the KIA
Record of the Year (#KiaROTY) are announced on Friday, 13 March 2015, during a live
transmission of Live Amp on SABC 1 at 21h00, with members of the public asked to
vote for their favourite hit song of 2014. This one will be a zinger of a contest!
“Apart from charting yet another fantastic year of South African music, this year’s
South African Music Awards will be a truly memorable affair, coming of age in
spectacular fashion as we salute the legacy that our musical forebears bequeathed to
us
while looking towards the bright new horizons and opportunities that beckon for our
industry,” said Mika Chauke, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Relations for
the XXI Annual South African Music Awards.
Prepare for all the red carpet glamour, the nail biting tension and the drama, tears
and hugs, as the countdown begins to the most prestigious music awards on the South
African music calendar. Use the hashtag #SAMAXXI on social media platforms to
rewind to when you were 21 as the XXI Annual South African Music Awards looks back
and assesses how far the country and the music industry has come in the 21 years
since the advent of democracy, and the birth of the awards.
The XXI Annual South African Music Awards will be broadcast live on SABC 1 from Sun
City at 20h30 on 19 April 2015.
For more information, visit www.samusicawards.co.za and find the nominated albums at
iTunes.com/SAMA
• The XXI Annual South African Music Awards is organised by the Recording Industry
of South Africa (RiSA).
Related
• The Kia Record of the Year (#KiaROTY) nominees will be announced on Live Amp on
SABC 1, 13 March at 21h00 sharp.
Nominees for the XXI Annual South African Music Awards:
• Album of the Year
Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo
K.O. Skhanda Republic
Ringo Madlingozi Vulani
The Soil Nostalgic Moments
• Duo or Group of the Year
Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Bittereinder Skerm
BlackByrd Home
McCoy Mrubata Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2
The Soil Nostalgic Moments
• Female Artist of the Year
Bucie Princess of House (Easy to Love)
Lulu Dikana I Came to Love
Maleh You Make My Heart Go
Moneoa Ndim Lo
Simphiwe Dana Firebrand
• Male Artist of the Year
AKA Levels
Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo
Jimmy Nevis The Masses
K.O. Skhanda Republic
Ringo Madlingozi Vulani
• Newcomer of the Year
Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo
Duncan Street Government
Howie Combrink Eat it While it’s Hot
Jeremy Loops Trading Change
• Best Rock Album
aKing Morning After
Prime Circle Let the Night In
Reburn Majestic
Taxi Violence Tenfold
Zebra & Giraffe Knuckles
• Best Pop Album
Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Jimmy Nevis The Masses
Monark Negatives
The Kiffness KIFF
Toya Delazy Ascension
• Beste Pop Album
Bobby van Jaarsveld Maak ’n Wens
Eden Nooit Oud Raak Nie
Kurt Darren Lied vir die Vrou
Nádine Skildery
Riana Nel Die Regte Tyd
• Best Adult Contemporary Album
Arno Carstens Lightning Prevails
BlackByrd Home
Howie Combrink Eat it While it’s Hot
Josie Field S’bongile
Niemand Back Again
• Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album
Adam Tas Want Jy is Boer
Chris Chameleon & Posduif
Daniella Deysel
Dewald Wasserfall #EkEnJy
Dozi Hande Vol Genade
Pieter Koen Wat die Hart Van Vol Is
• Best African Adult Album
Kelly Khumalo Back to My Roots
Maleh You Make My Heart Go
Max-Hoba Travelling Man
Ringo Mandlingozi Vulani
Simphiwe Dana Firebrand
• Best Alternative Album
Bittereinder Skerm
Bye Beneco Space Elephant
Dassie Mistress
Jeremy Loops Trading Change
Tailor Light
• Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album
Afrotraction For the Lovers
Lulu Dikana I Came to Love
Moneoa Ndim Lo
The Soil Nostalgic Moments
Vusi Nova Did It for Love
• Best Rap Album
AKA Levels
Duncan Street Government
Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo
K.O. Skhanda Republic
Reason Audio High Definition
• Best Kwaito Album
L’vovo Derrango The Boss
Phi & Ginger Licence to Hustle
Professor University of Kalawa Jazmee Since 1994
Thebe Legend
Trompies Delicious
• Best Dance Album
Black Motion Fortune Teller
Bucie Princess of House (Easy to Love)
Cuebur The Brand New Me: Soul Candi Sessions 2015 (Disc 2)
Da Capo Da Capo
DJ Clock The 4th Tick: A Clockumentary
• Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Andile KaMajola Chapter 6 Ujehova Ungibiyele
Rebecca Malope Ama VIP
Rofhiwa Manyaga Victory in the Blood
S’fiso Ncwane Bayede Baba
Worship House Live Project 11
• Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
Khaya Mthethwa The Uprising (Limited Edition)
Loyiso Bala Power Love Sound
Ndo Dlakadla Rhythm of Worship
Tebello Sukwene He’s Alive
Word and Life Freedom
• Best Traditional Music Album
Botlhale Boikanyo Spoken Word & Music
Brian Finch Living for Yesterday
Imfez’emnyama Palesa
Impumelelo Isiporoporo
Qadasi (David Jenkins) Uhambo Olusha
• Best Maskandi Album
Abakwamnyandu KoMalume
Amawele Ka Mamtshawe Mhla Uphelamandla
Ichwane Lebhaca Ohulumeni
Maqhinga Radebe iFacebook
Thokozani Langa Igema Lami
• Best Jazz Album
Herbie Tsoaeli African Time Quartet in Concert
Kyle Shepherd Trio Dream State
Marcus Wyatt & Maji Maji in the Land of Milk and Honey
Language 12
McCoy Mrubata Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2
Nduduzo Makhathini Mother Tongue
• Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
CH2 Guitar Duo Soos in die Ou Dae
Charl du Plessis Trio Baroqueswing
Tony Cox Padkos
University of Pretoria Phoenix
Camerata
Wouter Kellerman Winds of Samsara
• Best Live DVD
Benjamin Dube Renewal in His Presence (producers: Aubrey Peacock & Benjamin Dube)
Krone Krone Live (producer: Ben Heyns)
Lira First Decade (producer: Robin Kohl)
Spirit of Praise Spirit of Praise Vol. 5 (producers: Aubrey Peacock, Benjamin Dube
& Oupa Montshiwagae)
Various Artists Innibos is Groot 2014 ‘Live’ (producer: Barry Pretorius)
• Best Collaboration
AKA ft. K.O. Run Jozi
Cassper Nyovest ft. Gusheshe
OkMalumkoolkat
DJ Clock ft. Beatenberg Pluto
K.O. ft. Kid X Caracara
The Soil ft. Ladysmith Hamba Uyosebenza
Black Mambazo
• Best Music Video of the Year
Alessio Bettocchi (director) Yaya by DJ Dimplez ft. Dream Team & Anatii
Mzi Kumalo (director) Turn You On by Mi Casa
Ryan Kruger (director) Let the Night In by Prime Circle
Kyle Lewis (director) In Defence of My Art by Tumi Molekane
Zakes Bantwini (director) Ghetto by Zakes Bantwini
• Best Producer of the Year
Lulu Dikana & Powella Tiemo I Came to Love by Lulu Dikana
Ewald Jansen van Rensburg Negatives by Monark
Denholm Harding Let the Night In by Prime Circle
David Scott KIFF by The Kiffness
Wouter Kellerman & Winds of Samsara by Wouter Kellerman
Ricky Kej
• Best Engineer of the Year
Brian O’Shea, Crighton Johnny Apple by Johnny Apple
Goodwill & Marius Brouwer
Dave Reynolds & Peter The Light of Day by Dave Reynolds
Pearlson
Peter Auret Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 by McCoy Mrubata
Brendyn ‘Rusti’ Rossouw Let the Night In by Prime Circle
Jürgen von Wechmar, Ascension by Toya Delazy
Rogan Kelsey, Ross Fink
& Jaziel Sommers
• Remix of the Year
DJ Sbu, Robbie Malinga Indlela Yam by DJ Sbu
& Mojalefa Thebe
Select Play Tsiki Tsiki Remix by Duncan
Goldfish Moonwalk Away (Goldfish Moon Landing Mix) Radio Edit by Goldfish
Heavy K Personal Paradise by Danny K featuring Donald
Riky Rick Amantombazane by Riky Rick
Category winners to be announced at the awards ceremony:
KIA RECORD OF THE YEAR
SPECIAL AWARDS
• International Achievement Awards
• Lifetime Achievement Awards
BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOAD
• Best Selling Album
• Best Selling DVD
• Best Selling Mobile Music Download
• Best Selling Ring-Back Tone
• Best Selling Full-Track Download
SAMPRA AWARD
• Highest Airplay of the Year
• The XXI Annual South African Music Awards are made possible with the generous
support of official broadcast sponsor SABC1, Amstel Lager, official vehicle sponsor
Kia Motors SA and event sponsor Sun International, supported by the National
Department of Arts and Culture
