Amapiano producer Kabza De Small has secured five nominations for the 32nd South African Music Awards (SAMAs), topping the list of contenders announced online on 25 June. The awards ceremony is set for 15 August at the Sun City Superbowl in North West Province.
His album Bab’Motha is shortlisted for Best Amapiano Album and Best Engineered Album. Collaborative tracks earned him additional nods in Best Collaboration, Best Produced Music Video, and Remix of the Year.
Multiple Nominees
DJ Maphorisa and Nasty C each received three nominations. DJ Maphorisa’s collaborative work on ‘Abantwana Bakho’ is recognised in Best Collaboration and Best Produced Music Video, while ‘Dlala Ka Yona’ earned a Best Collaboration nod. Nasty C’s album Free is nominated for Best Hip Hop Album and Best Engineered Album, and ‘Leftie (Dlala Ngcobo)’ is up for Best Produced Music Video.
Kelvin Momo landed two nominations in the Best Amapiano Album category for N’wana Wa Mutsonga and Thato Ya Modimo, and appears in the Remix of the Year category via ‘Eningi (Remix)’.
Other artists with multiple nominations include Samthing Soweto (Best Afro Pop Album, Best Engineered Album for Touch is a Move (Good Morning)), Shekhinah (Best Pop Album, Best Produced Album for Less Trouble), Langa Mavuso (Best R&B Soul Album, Best Produced Album for Therapy: The Other Side), and Guy Buttery (Best Classical Instrumental Album, Best Engineered Album for Orchestrations).
Category Contests
The Best Afro Pop Album race includes CiCi (Busisiwe 2.0), Lwah Ndlunkulu (Amaciko), Sjava (Inkanyezi 2.0 (Live)), Nomfundo Moh (Out The Box), and Samthing Soweto.
Best Dance Album nominees are MaWhoo, MÖRDA, Da Capo, Dlala Thukzin and JAZZWRLD with Thukuthela. The Best Maskandi Album category features Saliwa, Mbuzeni, Ntencane, Smiramira and Mzukulu.
Jazz category nominees include Mandisi Dyantyis, Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini, Temba Ncetani, Lumanyano Mzi and Billy Monama. The Best Pop Album shortlist comprises Will Linley, Matt Gardiner, Shekhinah, Anica Kiana and Tannah.
The Rest of Africa Award will be contested by Ghanaian artists Gyakie and Black Sherif, alongside Nigerian acts Olamide, Wizkid, Asake and Tiwa Savage.
