The 25th annual South African Music Awards take place on 31 May and 1 June 2019 and ahead of the extravaganza, the Recording Industry of South Africa has announced the nominees who will battle it out for an award this year.
Black Coffee leads the nominations with a staggering five nominations. The star has been making waves both locally and internationally and this year, the super-producer is being celebrated for his latest project ‘Music Is King’ which earned him a nomination in the Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Best Dance Album categories. He also scored a double nomination in the Collaboration of the Year award.
Sjava also has a major night scoring four nods for his album ‘Umqhele’. The album scored nominations in the Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Best Afro Pop Album and Best Engineer categories.
Someone who has had the most exceptional year is Sho Madjozi. Her smash hit ‘Huku’ became one of the biggest tracks of 2018 and her debut album ‘Limpopo Champions League’ has been highly celebrated by critics and fans alike. So, unsurprisingly, she also lands four nominations in the Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Best Kwaito/ Gqom/ Amapiano Album categories for ‘Limpopo Champions League’ and in the Music Video of the Year category for ‘Huku’.
Finally, Zonke also found herself with four nominations for her critically-acclaimed album ‘L.O.V.E.’ in the Album of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Best R&B/Soul Album and Best Produced Album categories as well as Sun-El Musician who scored nods in the Newcomer of the Year, Best Dance Album for Africa To The World and a double whammy in the Collaboration of the Year categories.
Here is the full list of winners:
| Male Artist of the Year | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Anatii | IYEZA |
| Black Coffee | Music is King |
| Nakhane | You will not die |
| Sjava | Umqhele |
| Thokozani Langa | Iyabuza Induna |
| Female Artist of the Year | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Busiswa | Summer Life |
| Kelly Khumalo | Unleashed |
| Lebo Sekgobela | Umusa |
| Sho Madjozi | Limpopo Champions League |
| Zonke | L.O.V.E |
| Duo/Group of the Year | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Tshwane Gospel Choir | The Next Revival |
| Spirit of Praise | Spirit of Praise Vol.7 |
| Ofeleba | Hi & Low |
| Encore | Segarona |
| Black Motion | Moya Wa Taola |
| Album of the Year | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Black Coffee | Music is King |
| Black Motion | Moya Wa Taola |
| Sjava | Umqhele |
| Vusi Nova | Manyan-nyan |
| Zonke | L.O.V.E |
| Newcomer of the Year | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Mlindo The Vocalist | Emakhaya |
| Paxton | This is me |
| Sho Madjozi | Limpopo Champions League |
| Simmy | Tugela Fairy |
| Sun-El Musician | Africa To The World |
| Best Jazz Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane | Closer to Home |
| Thandi Ntuli | Exiled |
| Bokani Dyer Trio | Neo Native |
| Tune Recreation Committee | Afrika Grooves with the Tune Recreation Committee |
| Mandisi Dyantyis | Somandla |
| Best Pop Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Jarrad Ricketts | Break the Rules |
| Paxton | This is me |
| Majozi | Majozi |
| Tresor | Nostalgia |
| Tholwana | 2.0.1.5 |
| Beste Pop Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| 4 Werke | 4 by 4 |
| The Rockets | Sonskyn |
| Brendan Peyper | Dis Nie Sonde Nie |
| Snotkop | SOUS |
| Jan Bloukaas | Lewe |
| Best Live Audio Visual Recording | |
| Artist | Name of Live Recording |
| Neyi Zimu | Another Level of Worship |
| Krone Various Artists | Krone 5 |
| Jabu Hlongwane | Crosspower Experience 3 |
| Cassper Nyovest | Fill up Orlando Stadium |
| Spirit of Praise Vol 7 | Spirit of Praise 7 |
| Best Maskandi Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Thokozani Langa | Iyabuza Induna |
| Ofeleba | Hi & Low |
| Sgwebo Sentambo | Yekani Umona |
| Mbuzeni | Ungishiyelani |
| Ichwane Lebhaca | Imali Yesoso |
| Rest of Africa Artist | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Diamond Platnumz | A Boy From Tandale |
| Kommanda Obbs | Kommanda Obbs |
| Mr Eazi | Lagos to London |
| Nixon | Who We Are |
| Oliver Mtukudzi | Hany’ga |
| Best Afro Pop Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Kelly Khumalo | Unleashed |
| Mlindo The Vocalist | Emakhaya |
| Simmy | Tugela Fairy |
| Sjava | Umqhele |
| Vusi Nova | Manyan-Nyan |
| Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Almero | Maandag |
| Coenie de Villiers | Pure Coenie |
| Douvoordag | Die Avontuur |
| Jan Blohm | Die Liefde Album |
| Refentse | Liefdegenerasie |
| Best Reggae Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Black Dillinger | Mavara is King |
| The Meditators | Explosion |
| Ras Vuyo | Diversion |
| Botanist | Game Changer |
| Bongo Riot | Next Levels |
| Best Hip Hop Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| AKA | Touch my Blood |
| Emtee | DIY2 |
| Jabba X | #FGTBB |
| Kid X | Thank Da King |
| Nasty C | Strings and Bling |
| Best Contemporary Faith Music Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Tshwane Gospel Choir | The Next Revival |
| Khaya Mthethwa | All About Jesus |
| Neyi Zimu | Another Level of Worship |
| Ntokozo Mbambo | Moments in Time |
| We Will Worship | Seasons Volume 1 |
| Best Dance Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| DJ Fistaz | Mixwell Summer |
| Sun-El Musician | Africa To The World |
| Mobi Dixon | 10 Steps Forward |
| Black Coffee | Music is King |
| Black Motion | Moya Wa Taola |
| Best Traditional Faith Music Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Lebo Sekgobela | Umusa |
| Paul K | Time of God Manifest |
| Sipho Ngwenya | Intimate Worship Season 3 |
| Spirit of Praise 7 | Spirit of Praise Vol.7 |
| Kholeka | Your Word – Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho |
| Best African Adult Contemporary Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Anatii | IYEZA |
| Encore | Segarona |
| Nathi | Iphupha Labantu |
| Ntokozo Mbambo & Nqubeko Mbatha | The Anniversary Project |
| Tabia | The journey |
| Best R&B/Soul Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Kabomo | All Things Red |
| Mlu | A Day For The Universe |
| Lady X | Love.Life.Complicated |
| Zonke | L.O.V.E |
| Nicksoul | Therapy |
| Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Busiswa | Summer Life |
| Distruction Boyz | It Was All A Dream |
| DJ Maphorisa | Gqom Wave Vol.2 |
| Sho Madjozi | Limpopo Champions League |
| Spikiri | King Don Father |
| Best Rock Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| CrashCarBurn | Headlights |
| Dan Patlansky | Perfection Kills |
| Hellcats | The Hex and the Healer |
| The Black Cat Bones | Here is a Knife |
| The Parlotones | China |
| Best Traditional Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Vhavhenda Cultural Group | Tshianda Nguvhoni |
| University of Limpopo Choristers & Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra | Africa Tivule |
| Tswelelang Cultural Dancers | Motho Wa Me |
| Mzimkhulu Happy Boys | Nqoba izitha |
| Candy | Hupenyu Unenge Viri |
| Best Alternative Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Breindy and Matt | Ruth Ave |
| Gabi Motuba-Tefiti | Goddess of Creation |
| Jeremy Loops | Critical As Water |
| Nakhane | You will Not Die |
| Sannie Fox | My Soul Got Stranger |
| Best Adult Contemporary Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Watershed | Harbour |
| Roan Ash | Whiskey to my Soul |
| Georgetown | The Dog Show |
| Ard Matthews | Impossible Machines |
| 8 Misses Croon | …Like never before |
| Best African Indigenous Faith Album | |
| Artist | Name of Album |
| Trust in Christ Ministries | Elami Igama |
| The General Isitimela | Amen Ezulwini |
| Ithimba Le-Africa | Sesiphunyukile |
| In Zion of Christ | Izinyembezi |
| Christ Worshippers Mass Choir | Nkosi Ngiyakuthanda |
| Best Engineer | ||
| Artist | Name of Album | Name of Engineer |
| CH2 | Starstruck | Corneille Hutten; Michael ‘Nomad’ Ripoll; Steven A.Williams |
| Nasty C | Strings and Bling | Michael Themba Manitshana |
| Sjava | Umqhele | Mfanafuthi Ruff Nkosi |
| Hellcats | The Hex and the Healer | Paul Douglas Norwood; Craig Michael Hawkins; Richard Staub |
| Vusi Nova | Manyan-nyan | Robin Walsh |
| Remix of the Year | ||
| Artist | Name of Song | Name of Remixer |
| DJ Capital | Skebe Dep Dep | Kwesta, Kid X, Reason, Youngsta CPT & Stogie T |
| Prince Kaybee | Club Controller | Kabelo Motsamai |
| SPHEctacula and DJ Naves | Bhampa | DJ Regal Amapiano Remix |
| Zakes Bantwini | Bang Bang Bang | Kossi Emmanuel |
| Zakwe | Sebentin | Refiloe Maele Phoolo, Jabulani Tsambo; Lesego Moiloa; Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi; Ncazelo Mtolo |
| Collaboration of the year | ||
| Artist | Song | Collaborating Artist |
| Sun-El Musician | Sonini | Simphiwe Nhlangulela |
| Sun-El Musician | Ntaba Ezikude | Simphiwe Nhlangulela |
| Dj Sumbody | Monate Mpolaye | Casper Nyovest, Thebe and Vettis |
| Black Coffee | Drive | David Guetta; Delilah Montagu |
| Black Coffee | Wish you were here | Asanda Lusaseni-Mvana |
| Music Video of the Year | ||
| Artist | Name of Music Video | Name of Director |
| Bongeziwe Mabandla ft. Spoek Mathambo | Bawo Wam | Rick Joaquim |
| Jeremy Loops | Gold | Robert Smith |
| Mafikizolo ft. Jah Prayzah | Mazuva Akanaka | Mohau Mamafha |
| Sho Madjozi | Huku | Garth Von Glehn |
| The Parlotones | Beautiful Life | Michael Rix |
| Best Produced Album | ||
| Artist | Name of Album | Name of Producer |
| AKA | Touch my Blood | Kiernan Forbes; Mpilo Shabangu; Ayoola Agboola; Tumelo Mathebula; Ntokozo Mazibuko; Benn Gilbert; Tshegofatso Lehutso; Anathi Mnyango; Jeremy Makwe |
| Kholeka | Your Word – Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho | Kholeka Aquilla Dubula |
| Mlindo The Vocalist | Emakhaya | Themba Sekowe |
| Nasty C | String and Bling | Nsikayesizwe Ngcobo; Sipho Dlamini; Collin Gayle |
| Zonke | L.O.V.E | Zonke Dikana |
