AKA bags the most SAMA 2023 nomination
Nominees for the 29th edition of the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) were announced on Tuesday, at the Jabulani Theatre in Soweto. The awards are set to take place on the weekend of 17 and 18 November at the Durban ICC and will be broadcast live on SABC 1. Economic Development and Environmental Affairs MEC Siboniso Duma said: "We are looking forward to hosting thousands of music lovers and tourists who will visit our province ahead of the Samas and during the event itself." Just as it happened at the South African Hip Hop Awards 2023, AKA and K.O bagged the most nominations. Kiernan "AKA" Forbes is leading the pack with six nods, while K.O was nominated at 5 categories. Full list of SAMA 2023 nominees below: Female Artist of the Year: Kelly Khumalo - From A God To A King Ntokozo Mbambo - Lavish Worship Sincerely Anne - To Whom It May Concern Hle - Take Heart Thandi Ntuli - Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë Male Artist of the Year: Kabza De Small 0 KOA || Part 1 AKA - Mass Country Sjava - Isibuko K.O - SR3 Lloyiso - Seasons Duo/Group of the Year: DJ Maphorisa and Visca - Ba Straata Venom and Shishiliza - Love Is Pain Mafikizolo - Idwala DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small - Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena Msaki and Tubatsi - Synthetic Hearts Newcomer of the Year: Myztro - 2.0 Nkwari Blakka Yut - Unleashed Sincerely Anne - To Whom It May Concern Lloyiso - Seasons Venom and Shishiliza - Love Is Pain Album of the Year: Mass Country - AKA SR3 - K.O Isibuko - Sjava KOA || Part 1 - Kabza De Small Lavish Worship - Ntokozo Mbambo Best Engineered Album: To Whom It May Concern - Sincerely Anne (engineered and produced by Tjaart van der Walt and Daniel Baron) Mass Country - AKA (engineered and produced by Robin Kohl and Itu) Kanniedood - Francois van Coke (engineered and produced by Taylor Soundworks) Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë - Thandi Ntuli (engineered and produced by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi and Clinton)
Isibuko - Sjava (engineered and produced by Ruff) Best Adult Contemporary Album: Celebrating African Song - Dumza Maswana Smile - Choko I am Gold - S'nazo Usiba Lwe Gazi - Nathi Ubuhle Ubuhle - Lethiwe Sithole Best Alternative Album: Glitch Vol 2: The Future Is Now - uBeyond Synthetic Hearts - Msaki and Tubatsi Blue Lawns - The Great Yawn Leaving All The Time - Bye Beneco On the Romance of Being - Desire Marea Best Amapiano Album: Amukelani - Kelvin Momo Ba Straata - DJ Maphorisa and Visca 2.0 Nkwari - Myztro KOA || Part 1 - Kabza De Small Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena - DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small Best Classical/Instrumental Album: Live in Europe 22 - CH2 Fire Beast - Vox Chamber Choir and Franco Prinsloo One Night On Earth - Derek Gripper Maike - Juliet String Quartet Sanctuary - Carol Thomas Best Collaboration: K.O, Young Stunna featuring Blxckie - Sete AKA featuring Nasty C - Lemons (Lemonade) DJ Maphorisa and Visca featuring 2woshortrsa, Stompiiey, ShaunMusiQ, Ftears and Madumance - Ba Straata Morda featuring Oscar Mbo and Murumba Pitch - Mohigan Sun AKA featuring Kiddominant - Company Best Pop Album: Things We Don't Talk About - Jimmy Nevis Heard You Got Love - Jeremy Loops Game Over - Tyler Page Seasons - Lloyiso Petrichor - Amy Lilley Best Produced Album: KOA || Part 1 - Kabza De Small (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muzigal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa and Felo Le Tee) Things We Don't Talk About - Jummy Nevis (producer: Darren Petersen) Amukelani - Kelvin Momo (producer: Kelvin Momo) Lindokuhle - Lindokuhle (producer: Mthunzi, Howard, Herc, Tshepo Morone, DJ Maphorisa, Masiano) Isibuko - Sjava (producer: Delayde, Ruff, Jah Cool) Best Produced Music Video: Lemons (Lemonade) - AKA featuring Nasty C (producer: Tebogo Mabaso; director: Nate Thomas) Sete - K.O featuring Young Stunna & Blxckie (producer: K.O, Tsholofelo Moremedi, Ted Magerman; director: Ted Magerman) Be Free - Desire Marea (producer: Will Nicholson; director: Imraan Christian) Been Thinking - Tyla (producer: Jimi Adasanya; director: Meiji Alabi) Shine - Elaine (producer: Shayna Gianelli; director: Jesse Ray Diamond) Best Reggae Album: Unleashed - Blakka Yut Youth's Cry - Botanist Mr Lamington Red Carpet Live - Maximum Stylez Flight More Riddim - Blackness Blue Productions Healing - Lavoro Duro Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album:   Sing, Hoop, Weerklink - Prop Skree Net Sag - Alter Ego Ep In F - Herman Kleinhans Jagvat - Jan Rhaap Toe Roep Ek Jou Naam - Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet Remix of the Year:  Ndinovalo - Morda Sete - K.O featuring Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz Hayii Citizen Deep Remix - Citizen Deep X Mzux Maen ft Yasmin Levy Au dede - Karyendasoul Tobesta Remake - Myztro featuring Focalistic, Daliwonga, Shaunmusiq and Ftears Rest of Africa Award: Sad Romance - Ckay Timeless - Davido Worry - Lyre Dynastie - Ferre Gola Sounds of Peace - Moreira Chonguiça Best Gqom Album: Meeting with the King - DJ Lag Fikelephi - Sizwe Mdlalose Love & Light - Cairo CPT Nande 2.0 - DJ Sandiso Ithuba - Newlandz Finest Best African Indigenous Faith Album:    Emmanuel - JTG Gospel Choir Mantswe A Supileng - Spiritual Gospel Choir Ikhoni Mfuyo - In Zion of Christ Ba Ya Mo Nyatsa - Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo Ntate Le Rato La Hao - Ingqayizivele Gospel Choir Best Hip Hop Album: Religion - MashBeatz Mass Country - AKA SR3 - K.O Life is Gangsta - Thato Saul Diaspora - Maglera Doe Boy Best Jazz Album: In the Spirit of Ntu - Nduduzo Makhathini Isambulu - Linda Sikhakhane Blk Elija & The Children of Meroe - Thandi Ntuli The 1st Gospel - Mthunzi Mvubu Finish the Sun - Shane Cooper and Mabuta Best Kwaito Album:   Speak n Vrostaan - Kwesta and Kabza De Small R Mashesha - Big Nuz I Am Who I Am - Nkiyase Jukebox - Shisaboy Barabbas - Taylor K Best Maskandi Album: Umqhele Nethawula - Khuzani Ngeke Ungiphathe - Menzi Is'khiye Se-Coldroom - Thokozani Langa Iphakade Lami - Abafana Bakamgqumeni Home Alone - Inkos'yamagcokama Best R&B Album:  But Could The Moments in Between - Ndumiso Manana Germander II - Lesego Kyle Mnyandu 4LUV (Deluxe) - Sihle Sithole Bad Weather - Nanette Siphesihle Passion Fruit - Kabomo Best Traditional Album:  African Queen 2.0 - Makhadzi Ke Bone Molelo O Timile - MmaAusi A Reyeng Bahurutshe - Oarabele France Makgore Obe Happy - Molebatsi Tsotetsi Inkabi Nation - Big Zulu Best Adult Contemporary Album: Dark Secrets - Louise Carver Bait For Steps Forward - Nobuhle Ashanti Memories - Drakensberg Boys Choir Ndikhethiwe - Vusi Nova Love - Viwo Kulati Best Dance Album:   Asante - Morda Next Level - Russell Zuma The Gospel According to Artwork Sounds - Grain WL4OM - Bonga Ntozini A New Dawn - Siyanda Makanya Best Afro-pop Album: Isibuko - Sjava From A God to A King - Kelly Khumalo Idwala - Mafikizolo Love is Pain - Venom Ekhayakomama - Philadlozi Mfekayi Best Rock Album: Kanniedood - Francois Badenhorst Fine Thanks, and You? - Russell Coward Hellcats - End of Days - Warwick Rautenbach/Alessandro Benigno Fuzigish - Malcolm King Testify - Basson Laubscher Best Traditional Faith Album:   The Overflow - Dumi Mkokstad Hoja Ke Sena Wena - IPCC Ndiyabulela - Tsholofelo Ntuli The Grace Encounter Vol.1 - Phumulani Radebe Sedi Laka - Brown Mosiapoa Best Contemporary Faith Album: Lavish Worship - Ntokozo Mbambo Mhalamhala - Brenden Praise Take Heart - Hle Restored: The Jesus Collective - The Jesus Collective Hope - Vincent Jiyane Beste Pop:  Jona - Bernice van der Westhuizen Insomnia - Brendan Peyper Loufi Flippen Loufi - Ifan-Luc Carlo Handel Hittegolf - Brandon Eloff Die Onbekende - Renier van der Westhuizen