It’s that time of the year. The 2018 South African Music Awards are upon us and as we ready ourselves for the main event, stars came out in their numbers to The Birchwood Hotel this evening for the official nominee reveal.
Mafikizolo, Mi Casa and Simphiwe Dana led the pack with three nominees each. Mafikizolo, were nominated in the Best Afro Pop Album, Best Engineered Album and Best Produced Album for ‘20’ – their milestone release. Mi Casa, the accomplished dance trio, also boast three nominations in Best Dance Album, Best Produced Album and Best Engineered Album for ‘Familia’. Then, Simphiwe Dana scored nods in the Best Live Audiovisual, Best Jazz Album and Best African Artist category for her ‘Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience’.
Artists who scored two nominations include dance duo Distruction Boyz; rappers Kwesta, Riky Rick, Rouge and Shane Eagle; DJs Mobi Dixon and Prince Kaybee; vocalists Shekhinah, Benjamin Dube and Zoe Modiga; and instrumentalist Nduduzo Makhathini.
RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi congratulated the nominees: ‘This has been a particularly formidable year. And the competition was exceedingly tight. We applaud those who have made the cut and wish them the best going to Sun City. The SAMA remains the most prestigious accolade our musicians aspire to possess and we are committed to a fair and credible process of selecting worthy winners.’
Nominees in the top five categories of Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Album of the Year will be announced early next month.
Here is the full list of nominees:
| Best Rock Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Snakes and Ladders | Lost & Found |
| 2 | If You Don’t You Never Will | Prime Circle |
| 3 | Those Meddling Kids (TMK) | Shortstraw |
| 4 | Blitzkriek | Willim Welsyn |
| 5 | Selfmedikasie | Fokofpolisiekar |
| Best Pop Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Restless | Craig Lucas |
| 2 | Barely Breathing | Connell Cruise |
| 3 | The Beautiful Madness | TRESOR |
| 4 | Monark | Monark |
| 5 | Rose Gold | Shekhinah |
| Beste Pop Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Uitbasuin | Ray Dylan |
| 2 | Sing Vir Liefde | Karlien van Jaarsveld |
| 3 | Hy Loop Oop | Brendan Peyper |
| 4 | Laat Die Dansvloer Brand | Kurt Darren |
| 5 | Iemand Om Lief Te He | Lianie May |
| Best Adult Contemporary Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Indie Soul | Josie Field |
| 2 | Now Listen Properly | Swing City |
| 3 | Symphonic Soweto | Wouter Kellerman |
| 4 | Life’s Journey | Charlie Finch |
| 5 | Miscellany | Janie Bay |
| Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Queen van die Toorbos | Saarkie |
| 2 | OKAY! | Die Heuwels Fantasties |
| 3 | Skepe | Jo Black |
| 4 | Korreltjie Kantel | Luna Paige, Nick Turner, Jamie Jupiter |
| 5 | Jy en Ek en Ek en Jy | Chris Chameleon |
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| Best African Adult Contemporary Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Time II Time | Joe Nina |
| 2 | Ilanga | Siseko Pame |
| 3 | Based on a True Story | Serame Sediti |
| 4 | Siphokazi | Siphokazi |
| 5 | Tribute Birdie Mboweni The Deluxe Edition Album | Tribute Birdie Mboweni |
| Best Alternative Music Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | You Princess is in Another Castle | Loui Lvndn |
| 2 | Afrika 4 Beginners | Jack Parow |
| 3 | Hierdie is die Lewe | Francois van Coke |
| 4 | The Morning Show | Josh Kempen |
| 5 | Mangaliso | Bongeziwe Mabandla |
| Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 11 | Busisiwe | Cici |
| 2 | The Greatest Hits | The Nameless Band |
| 3 | Songs About You | Thabsie |
| 4 | Relationships | Afrotraction |
| 5 | Never Lost | Thami |
| Best Hip Hop Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Stay Shining | Riky Rick |
| 2 | The New Era Sessions | Rouge |
| 3 | Yellow | Shane Eagle |
| 4 | Manando | Emtee |
| 5 | F2D Presents: Hall of Fame | Fresh 2 Def Productions |
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| Best Kwaito Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Bona That Rural Dream | Mashabela Galane |
| 2 | So fa Silahlane | Team Mosha |
| 3 | Do Mo Squats | Chomee |
| 4 | Highly Flavoured | Busiswa |
| 5 | Ska Ba Hemisa | Trendsetters |
| Best Dance Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Pure Black Album | DJ Merlon |
| 2 | Ganyani’s House Grooves 10 | DJ Ganyani |
| 3 | King Zamar | Lady Zamar |
| 4 | I Am Music | Prince Kaybee |
| 5 | Familia | Mi Casa |
| Best Traditional Faith Music Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Live In Johannesburg | Women In Praise |
| 2 | Sinekhaya | Sipho Makhabane |
| 3 | Egameni LikaJesu | Dumi Mkokstad |
| 4 | Worship In Spirit & in Truth with Omega Khunou | Omega Khunou |
| 5 | Andile KaMajola Chapter 8 Sekwanele | Andile KaMajola |
| Best Contemporary Faith Music Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Wonders of Mercy | Bongani Nchang |
| 2 | Victorious In His Presence with Benjamin Dube | Benjamin Dube |
| 3 | The Alabaster | Swazi |
| 4 | Solid Rock | Sicelo Moya |
| 5 | Heaven’s Ways | Nqubeko Mbatha |
| Best African Indigenous Gospel Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Yala Nkosi | Believers in Christ |
| 2 | Samson Aphi Amandla Akho | Vuma Zion |
| 3 | Bonke Abamethembayo | Futhi Shongwe |
| 4 | Soloko Intliziyo Yam | Amadodana Ase Wesile |
| 5 | Ntjhafatso | Barorisi Ba Morena |
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| Best African Artist Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | This is Me | NINIOLA |
| 2 | Sounds from the Other Side | Wizkid |
| 3 | Yellow The Novel | Zoë Modiga |
| 4 | M&M | Moreira Chonguica and Manu Dibango |
| 5 | The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience | Simphiwe Dana |
| Best Traditional Music Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Pitsi | Dinonyane Cultural Group |
| 2 | Uthando | Bomshell |
| 3 | Isiqalo – The Beginning | Complete |
| 4 | Jessica Mbangeni Sings IGoli Live @Lyric Theatre Johannesburg | Jessica Mbangeni |
| 5 | Indodana | University of Pretoria Camerata |
| Best Maskandi Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Miss South Africa | Uqhosha Ngokwenzakwakhe |
| 2 | Emkhathini | Shwi noMtekhala |
| 3 | Isixaxa Samaxoki | Khuzani |
| 4 | 6 to 6 | Abafana Baka Mgqumeni |
| 5 | Wavuma | Mbuzeni |
| Best Jazz Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience | Simphiwe Dana |
| 2 | Live at the Bird’s Eye | The Blue Notes Tribute Orkestra |
| 3 | Yellow The Novel | Zoë Modiga |
| 4 | Voices of our Vision | Tune Recreation Committee |
| 5 | Ikhambi | Nduduzo Makhathini |
| Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Insomnia | CH2 |
| 2 | Chilled | James Grace |
| 3 | Matimba Ya Vuyimbeleri | University of Limpopo Choristers & the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 4 | Window to the Ashram | Kinsmen |
| 5 | Baroqueswing Vol. III | Charl du Plessis Trio |
| Best Afro Pop Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Inqola | Blaq Diamond |
| 2 | Mayibuye | Ntando |
| 3 | 20 | Mafikizolo |
| 4 | Mgodi | Zahara |
| 5 | Robbie Malinga | Robbie Malinga |
| Best Live Audio Visual Recording / DVD | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Krone 4 Live | Krone |
| 2 | Victorious In His Presence with Benjamin Dube | Benjamin Dube |
| 3 | The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience Experience |
Simphiwe Dana |
| 4 | The Parlotones Orchestrated | The Parlotones |
| 5 | Red Mic Experience | Donald |
| Best Collaboration | ||
| NAME OF SONG | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Omunye | Distruction Boyz ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi |
| 2 | Spirit | Kwesta ft Wale |
| 3 | Inde | Heavy K ft Busi & Nokwazi |
| 4 | Akanamali | Sun_EL Musician ft Samthing Soweto |
| 5 | Ngempela | Sjava ft Howard & DJ Maphorisa |
| Music Video of the Year | ||
| NAME OF SONG | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Let It Flow | Shane Eagle |
| 2 | Naaa Meaan | Nadia Nakai |
| 3 | Spirit | Kwesta ft Wale |
| 4 | Don’t do it | Nasty C |
| 5 | Arumtumtum | Rouge |
| Best Produced Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Rose Gold | Shekhinah |
| 2 | Familia | Mi Casa |
| 3 | 20 | Mafikizolo |
| 4 | Late Night People | Goldfish |
| 5 | I Am Music | Prince Kaybee |
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| Best Engineered Album | ||
| NAME OF ALBUM | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | A Noise in the Void | Kahn |
| 2 | Familia | Mi Casa |
| 3 | 20 | Mafikizolo |
| 4 | Ikhambi | Nduduzo Makhathini |
| 5 | Gqom Is The Future | Distruction Boyz |
| Remix of the Year | ||
| NAME OF SONG | NAME OF ARTIST/ GROUP | |
| 1 | Faith Alive | King Bayaa |
| 2 | I Got You | Mobi Dixon |
| 3 | Free | Household Funk |
| 4 | Buy It Out | Riky Rick feat. Youngsta CPT, KLY, Da Les, Frank Casino, J Molley & Stilo Magolide |
| 5 | Lake By The Ocean | Mobi Dixon |
