SAMAs 31 Full List of Nominees

It seems like the South African Music Awards(SAMAs) keeps getting better with every criticism. And we can see it in their recent SAMAs 31 nominee list.

Unlike previous editions, the upcoming SAMAs 31 captures the heartbeat of everything that makes up South African music, redirecting their focus to every genre and artists that has made feet to moves and body to shake.

Sjava bagged more awards in the Afro-Pop scene with Inkanyezi and Isibuko in the Best Afro-Pop Album category, while Isibuko also won in the Best Engineered Album category. In the Amapiano genre, Kelvin Momo led with three nominations. His albums Ntsako and Sewe dominated the Best Amapiano Album category, and he was also nominated in the Best Collaboration category for his single “Waze Wamuhle” with Thatohatsi.

See the full list of nominees below:
Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Betusile Mcinga — Uyingqaba Yam (Jehovah Nissi)
• Tebogo David Maponya — The Journey (Part 1)
• Malusi Mbokazi — The Full Circle Revival
• Rofhiwa Manyaga — Rofhiwa Dzina
• Ayanda Ntanzi — According to Grace, A One Man Show

Remix of the Year:

• TitoM — Tshwala Bam
• Woodblock DJs — Skuta Baba
• Jnr SA — Mngani
• Tycoon — Iza Mawala
• Mpho.Wav — Hlala

Rest of Africa Award

• Ayra Starr — The Year I Turned 21
• Bensoul — The Party & After Party
• Wizkid — Morayo
• Tems — Born In The Wild
• Fireboy DML — Adedamola

Best Reggae Album

• Dread Lloyd — Mekwei
• Anela Jahmena — The Rise
• Dimahr — Flaws in Frame
• LUWE DA LION — After All
• Botanist Mr Lamington — Area Code

Best Traditional Music Album 

• Keitumetse Mangate — O Molele
• MmaAusi Lekoma — Mmakgodu
• Makhadzi — Miracle Child (Deluxe)
• Sabu Jiyana — Kwanomthandazo
• Pleasure Tsa Manyalo — Bakokota (EP)

 Best Jazz Album

•  Nduduzo Makhathini —
• uNomkhubulwane
•  Nick Ford — Terra Solus
•  Nomfundo Xaluva — Ndilapha
• Peter Auret — Hope Dies Last
•  Ncesh Nonxishi — Apho Kungenje

Best Produced Album

• Zamajobe Sithole — UMI
• Black Motion — The Cradle of Art
• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa
• Qü — Reprise on 2nd Avenue
• Linda Sikhakhane — iLadi

Best Contemporary Music Album

• Pietman Geldenhuys — Vaalsand
• Ampie – No One’s Land
• Spitting wolf — Final destination
• Neil Sandilands — Land & Sand
• Majo Rademeyer — Frames

Best Maskandi Album

• Umafikizolo — Ngathi Nguye
• Phuzekhemisi — iPolitiki
• Khuzani — Angidlali Nezingane
• Ntencane — Alingeni
• Imithente — Amathambo Kagogo

Best Produced Music Video

• 🎥 Soa Mattrix — Umbuzo
• 🎥 Mthandeni SK ft. MaWhoo — Gucci (Official Music Video)
• 🎥 TitoM & Yuppe — Tshwala Bam (Remix)
• 🎥 Blxckie — South
• 🎥 Shekhinah ft. Moliy — Risk

Best Classical/Instrumental Album 

• 🎶 John Lundun — In The Morning
• 🎶 Christopher Vale, Eugene Joubert & Franco Prinsloo — By Alle Skone Dinge
• 🎶 Derek Gripper — Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper
• 🎶 Franco Prinsloo & Vox Chamber Choir — A Season in Paradise
• 🎶 Pascal Righini — Awake for 22 Hours

Best Collaboration

• Kelvin Momo & Thatohatsi  — Waze Wamuhle
• Black Motion & Thabo Roy Mabogwane — Takala
• Kususa & Joshua Sihle Sokweba — Ematshwaleni
• Matt Davies & Matthew Kyle Davies — Stay With Me
• Mas Musiq, Lawd Weez & DJ
• Maphorisa ft TO Starquality — Mas Musiq

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

• Jabu Hlongwane — Crosspower Experience 4
• Takie Ndou — The Glory
• SbuNoah — Heavenly Psalms Level 2
• Nontokozo Mkhize — Lindwe
• Mangaliso — Living Word

Best Dance Album

• 💿 Black Motion — The Cradle Of Art
• 💿 Dlala Thukzin — FINALLY FAMOUS TOO
• 💿 MÖRDA — Cr4zy!!..
• 💿 Shimza — Dreaming
• 💿 Caiiro — Caiiro

Best Engineered Album

• Black Motion — The Cradle of Art
• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa
• Sjava — Isibuko (Deluxe)
• Keenan Meyer — Reawakening
• Jeremy Loops — Feathers & Stone

Best Alternative Album

• Yoav & Jabulile Majola — Unyazi
• Zádok — Perspective: Black
• Francis Soal — Hindsight 2020
• Th&o. — Emilotheni
• Spoegwolf — Berge

Best Amapiano Album

• Vigro Deep — Your Piano Is Not My Piano
• Kelvin Momo — Sewe
• Kelvin Momo — Ntsako
• Mellow & Sleazy — Midnight in Sunnyside 3
• Zee Nxumalo — Inja Ye Game

Best African Indigenous Faith Album

• Kago Molefe — Re Kgoletsa Magodimong
• JTG Gospel Choir — Morena Re Ya Leboga
• Thapelo Mosia — Busa Jeso
• Zanele J. Naledi — Ikutana
• Brown Mosiapoa — Nkapese Ka Maatla

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Just 6 — uKhisimuzi: An African Christmas
• Melanie Scholtz — Seven
• Tony Drake — Room For Everyone
• Nue Sam — Nonyezi
• The Morning After — Look At You Now

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Zamajobe be — UMI
• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa
• ZOÉ — Nomthandazo
• Ndu Shezi — Isibusiso Sami
• Mthuthu — Indumiso YabeNguni

Best Afro Pop Album

• Nomfundo Moh_Music — Twenty Four
• Malik — Malik
• Sjava_ATM — Isibuko (Deluxe)
• Sjava_ATM — Inkanyezi (Live)