SAMA32 Full List of Nominees

The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) have revealed the nominees for the 32nd edition of the award show, which will be held in the coming months.

SAMA32 celebrates the many talented artists who have contributed to the growth and vibrancy of South Africa’s music scene. Although the nominations cover nearly every major genre in the country, rising genres such as Lekompo were notably omitted. As a result, many emerging talents within the genre were also left out of the nominations.

This situation mirrors what happened with Amapiano in its early years, when the genre was largely overlooked before eventually receiving recognition and being included in the award categories.

See the full list of nominees below!

Best Produced Music Video

• Abantwana Bakho – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy, Kabza De Small feat Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter
  Produced by Nyiko, Directed by Nyiko
• Leftie (Dlala Ngcobo) – Nasty C & Blxckie
  Produced by Nasty C, Ayanda Ngcobo, Directed by Lordnelle
• Partii – Kamo Mphela, Aymos, QUE DJ & Jay Music feat SpacePose
  Produced by Kamo Mphela, Directed by Lindo_Langa
• Shela (feat. Mano) – Single – Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, Mano
  Produced by Nyiko, Directed by Nyiko
• Wayside Lover – Msaki, Jesse Clegg & Sjava
  Produced by Nombuso Ngcobo,Directed by Marty Bleazard

Nominated for Best R&B Soul

• Island 22 – Gemma Fassie
• It’s Complicated – Maxine Ceasar
• Resurfaced – Lucille Slade
• Therapy: The Other Side – Langa Mavuso
• You, Me & The 90’s – lordkez

Best Produced Album

• Ingoma Busuku – Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini
  Produced by Nduduzo Makhathini
• Less Trouble – Shekhinah
  Produced by Shekhinah, Rudolph Willemse, imnotgoofy, Mzizi, Gregory Abrahams, Iam6teen,
• Brendon-Lee Earl Johnson, Master A Flat
• Sacred Cycle – Mauritz Lotz
  Produced by Mauritz Lotz
• Therapy: The Other Side – Langa Mavuso
  Produced by Darren Blackansee, Simphiwe Mashinini, Ndumiso Manana,Ndabo Zulu, Christer Kobedi, Civil Motha, Unako Chabeli, Langa Mavuso, Jabulani Nkabinde,Lindelani Lee, Seragi Thantsha, Mnqobi Bayanda Nxumalo, Zooci, Jonathan Takyi Mensah, Onkabetse John Hlongwane
• ZINZA – Banda Banda
  Produced by Banda Banda

Best Maskandi

• Amalandi Amathathu – Saliwa
• Izilotshi – Mbuzeni
• Khotha La (A Tribute To Mjikjelwa) – Ntencane
• Ngabe Ngiloyiwe – Smiramira
• Ng’funa intozami – Mzukulu

Best Jazz album

• Ingoma Busuku – Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini
• Intlambululo: Ukuhlambulula – Mandisi Dyantyis
• INTLUNGU. INTLUPHEKO. IMBILINI – Temba Ncetani
• Ithemba Elitsha (A New Hope) – Lumanyano Mzi
• The Y-Factor Project – Billy Monama

Best Engineered Album

• Bab’Motha – Kabza De Small
  Engineered by Thato & Kabza De Small
• Free – Nasty C
  Engineered by Mike Manitshana
• Ntu Futurism – L8 Antique
  Engineered by Matthew
• Orchestrations – Guy Buttery;
  Engineered by Guy Buttery & Fuzzy
• Touch is a Move (Good Morning) – Samthing Soweto;
  Engineered by Ross Dorkin

Best Reggae

• DIMAHR – DIMAHR
• Foreign Exchange – Ras Canly
• Forward We Continue – Don Dada
• Rasta Man Step – Layahn King
• Victorious – Red I Scorch

Best Gqom Album

• Dark or Durban 3 – Funky Qla
• Izinsimbi zaMakoya – DJ Tira
• New Wave – Blacks Jnr, Dankie Boi, GoldMax
• Puku Puku – Dladla Mshunqisi, Beast RSA
• Southside Mixtape – DJ Lag

Best classical & Instrumental Album

• First Light – Marius Small-Smith
• Let the Children Play – John Lundun
• Light the Whole Sky – University of Pretoria Camerata
• Orchestrations – Guy Buttery
• Radio Gogo Worldwide – uBeyond

Best Alternative

• From The Hill – Charles Webster
• Furniture – 44coles
  Handsome Luke & The
• Heartbreakers – Mars Baby
• Listen Properly – Bombshelter Beast
• THROWING STONES – Archi

Best African Indigenous Faith

• Difela – De Bruin Gospel Projects
• Monghali Mesia – Amadodana Ase Wesile
• NGIYA BONGA BABA – THE NEW BELIEVERS OF GOD GOSPEL SINGERS
• The Journey Continues – Abanqobi
• U TA HLAMULA – Zion Iskhalanga Academy

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Isitifiketi – Jabulile Majola.
• KwaNtu – Madala Kunene & Sibusile Xaba
• Moya – Simphiwe Dana
• Ngimuhle – Zawadi Yamungu
• ZINZA – BandaBanda

Best Adult Contemporary

• Abel Selaocoe’s “Four Spirits” (Live) – Abel Selaocoe, Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon, Bernhard Schimpelsberger
• Buzzhead – Kahn Morbee
• Malachi’s Dream – Tim Parr
• Wrapped in Rhythm, Vol.2 – Tutu Puoane, Metropole Orkest & Jacome Bairos
• You Love Who You Love – Wandile Mbambeni

Best Traditional Faith Album

• Back To The Altar – Ntethe
  Praise & Worship In The
• Wilderness, Pt. 1 – Bucy Radebe
  Sound of Gratitude (Live at Urban Brew Dome) – Zaza
• The Watchmans Camp – Sindi Ntombela
• Worship in Newness – Puleng March

Best Pop

• That’s Exactly What Love Does – Juan Boucher
• Spirit – Jack Louw
• Miena – Jan Rhaap
• Seasons – Deon Great
• Wedding material – Brendan Peyper

Best Hip-hop album

• Bayede – Danya Devs
• BLVCK & WHiTE – FLVME
• Boss Zonke Forever – Riky Rick
• Free – Nasty C
• THE SECRET FREQUENCY – MashBeatz

Best Amapiano Album

• Acquiesce – Babalwa M
• Bab’Motha – Kabza De Small
• Mthuthuzeli – De Mthuda
• N’wana Wa Mutsonga – Kelvin Momo
• Thato Ya Modimo – Kelvin Momo

Best Dance Album

• Amazwi Okubonga – MaWhoo
• Asante III – MÖRDA
• Indigo Child II: Love & Frequency – Da Capo
• MAYVIS – Dlala Thukzin
• The Most Wanted – JAZZWRLD, Thukuthela

Best Afro-Pop Album

• Amaciko – Lwah Ndlunkulu
• Busisiwe 2.0 – CiCi
• Inkanyezi 2.0 (Live) – Sjava
• Out The Box – Nomfundo Moh
• Touch is a Move (Good Morning) – Samthing Soweto

Best Contemporary Faith Album

• Passover – Nqubeko Mbatha
  Testify (Live at 012 Central, Pretoria 2024) – Mmuso Worship
• The 37th Psalm (Live at Emperors Palace) – Ncebakazi Msomi
• The GAP – Brenden Praise
• THE GROUND WE’RE ON – Hle

Best Collaboration

1. Abantwana Bakho – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy, Kabza De Small feat Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter
2. Dlala Ka Yona – DJ Maphorisa & XDuppy Enny Man Da Guitar, Focalistic, Ricky Lenyora, Uncool MC, Mellow & Sleazy
3. Shela – Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, Mano
4. Thandaza – Sam Deep, Thatohatsi
5. Tobetsa 3.0 – Myztro, Leehleza, Shaunmusiq, Ftears

Best Traditional Album

• Born For This – MetroBeatz RSA
• I Khant Do Dis Enimo – King Monada
• Pleasure in 20 Years – Pleasure Tsa Manyalo
• Sesi Ka Rose – Makhadzi Entertainment
• Thath’owakho – Soul Brothers

Best Remix of the Year

• Aweh (Remix) – lordkez feat. Cassper Nyovest
• Eningi (Remix) – Kabza De Small, feat. Njelic, Mthunzi, Mkeyz, GL_Ceejay, Simmy
• Mabebuza – Mdu aka TRP Remix – Maline Aura, Drega, Mdu aka TRP
• Midnight (Black Motion Remix) – 340ml, Black Motion
• Re-Amathambo (Remix) – Nduduzo Makhathini, Anna Widauer, Fka Mash

Best Pop Album

• Don’t Cry Because It’s Over – Will Linley
• Last Call for Departure – Matt Gardiner
• Less Trouble – Shekhinah
• not the same. – Anica Kiana
• Phases – Tannah

Best Rock Album

• AC/ES – AC/ES
• Back From the Dead – We Kill Cowboys
• Die Ruimte – Francois van Coke
• ONKRUID – Karel Bester & Die Kraaines Band
• Scatterling Empire – Acid Magus