The 25th Annual South African Music Awards ceremony was held at the Sun City Arena in North West on June 1, 2019. It aired live on SABC 1 . The show was hosted by Bob Mabena , Melanie Bala, Twasa Seoke and hip-hop star Khuli Chana .[ 1]
The list of nominees was announced on April 25, 2019.[ 2] HHP , TKZee & Mango Groove received the Lifetime Achievement Award at this years show.[ 3]
Winners and nominees [ edit ]
Nominees are as listed below. Winners are in bold .[ 4]
Album of the Year
Sjava – Umqhele
Black Coffee – Music is King
Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola
Vusi Nova – Manyan-nyan
Zonke – L.O.V.E
Female Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Newcomer of the Year
Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League
Simmy – Tugela Fairy
Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya
Paxton – This is me
Sun-El Musician – Africa to the World
Duo/Group of the Year
Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola
Tshwane Gospel Choir – The Next Revival
Spirit of Praise – Spirit of Praise Vol.7
Ofeleba – Hi & Low
Encore – Segarona
Best Rock Album
Best Pop Album
Beste Pop Album
Best Afro Pop Album
Sjava – Umqhele
Kelly Khumalo – Unleashed
Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya
Simmy – Tugela Fairy
Vusi Nova – Manyan-Nyan
Best Jazz Album
Bokani Dyer Trio – Neo Native
Thandi Ntuli - Exiled
Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane - Closer to Home
Tune Recreation Committee - Afrika Grooves with the Tune Recreation Committee
Mandisi Dyantyis - Somandla
Best R&B/Soul Album
Zonke – L.O.V.E
Kabomo – All Things Red
Mlu – A Day For The Universe
Lady X – Love.Life.Complicated
Nicksoul – Therapy
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Ard Matthews – IImpossible Machines
Watershed - Harbour
Roan Ash – Whiskey to my Soul
Georgetown – The Dog Show
8 Misses Croon – ...Like never before
Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album
Coenie de Villiers – Pure Coenie
Almero – Maandag
Douvoordag – Die Avontuur
Jan Blohm – Die Liefde Album
Refentse – Liefdegenerasie
Best Hip Hop Album
Nasty C – Strings and Bling
AKA – Touch my Blood
Emtee – DIY2
Jabba X – #FGTBB
Kid X – Thank Da King
Best Reggae Album
Black Dillinger – Mavara is King
The Meditators – Explosion
Ras Vuyo - Diversion
Botanist – Game Changer
Bongo Riot – Next Levels
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Watershed - Harbour
Roan Ash - Whiskey to my Soul
Georgetown - The Dog Show
Ard Matthews - Impossible Machines
8 Misses Croon -...Like never before
Remix of the Year
Spikiri - King Don Father
Best Dance Album
Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola
DJ Fistaz - Mixwell Summer
Sun-El Musician – Africa To The World
Mobi Dixon – 10 Steps Forward
Black Coffee – Music is King
Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano
Zakwe - Sebentin ft. Refiloe Maele Phoolo, Jabulani Tsambo; Lesego Moiloa; Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi; Ncazelo Mtolo
DJ Capital – Skebe Dep Dep ft. Kwesta, Kid X, Reason, Youngsta CPT and Stogie T
Prince Kaybee – Club Controller
SPHEctacula and DJ Naves – Bhampa
Zakes Bantwini – Bang Bang Bang
Collaboration of the year
Nakhane – You will Not Die
Breindy and Matt – Ruth Ave
Gabi Motuba- Tefiti Goddess of Creation
Jeremy Loops - Critical As Water
Sannie Fox – My Soul Got Stranger
Best Live Audio Visual Recording
Cassper Nyovest – Fill up Orlando Stadium
Neyi Zimu – Another Level of Worship
Krone Various Artists – Krone 5
Jabu Hlongwane – Crosspower Experience 3
Spirit of Praise Vol 7 - Spirit of Praise 7
Best Alternative Album
Best African Indigenous Faith Album
Ithimba Le-Africa – Sesiphunyukile
Trust in Christ Ministries – Elami Igama
The General Isitimela – Amen Ezulwini
In Zion of Christ - Izinyembezi
Christ Worshippers Mass Choir – Nkosi Ngiyakuthanda
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Spirit of Praise 7 – Spirit of Praise Vol.7
Lebo Sekgobela – Umusa
Paul K – Time of God Manifest
Sipho Ngwenya – Intimate Worship Season 3
Kholeka – ‘’’Your Word - Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
We Will Worship – Seasons Volume 1
Tshwane Gospel Choir – The Next Revival
Khaya Mthethwa – All About Jesus
Neyi Zimu – Another Level of Worship
Ntokozo Mbambo – Moments in Time
Best Maskandi Album
Sgwebo Sentambo – Yekani Umona
Thokozani Langa – Iyabuza Induna
Ofeleba – Hi & Low
Mbuzeni – Ungishiyelani
Ichwane Lebhaca – Imali Yesoso
Rest of Africa Artist
Diamond Platnumz – A Boy From Tandale
Kommanda Obbs – Kommanda Obbs
Mr Eazi – Lagos to London
Nixon – Who We Are
Oliver Mtukudzi – Hany'ga
Best Traditional Album
Candy – Hupenyu Unenge Viri
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
Best Engineered Album
Vusi Nova – Manyan-nyan
CH2 – Starstruck
Nasty C – Strings and Bling
Sjava – Umqhele
Hellcats – The Hex and the Healer
Best Produced Album
Nasty C – String and Bling
AKA – Touch my Blood
Kholeka - Your Word - Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho
Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya
Zonke – L.O.V.E
Music Video of the Year
Jeremy Loops – Gold
Bongeziwe Mabandla ft. Spoek Mathambo – Bawo Wam
Mafikizolo ft. Jah Prayzah - Mazuva Akanaka
Sho Madjozi - Huku
The Parlotones - Beautiful Life
Record of the Year ( fan Voted)
Multiple wins and nominations [ edit ]
Artists that received multiple nominations
Nominations
Artist
5
Black Coffee
4
Zonke
Sjava
Sun-El Musician
Sho Madjozi
2
Busiswa
AKA
Paxton
Black Motion
Nakhane
Vusi Nova
Cassper Nyovest
Kholeka
Nasty C
Jan Bloukaas
International Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sales and Downloads Awards [ edit ]
Best DVD Selling Album
Joyous Celebration 22 All for You
Best Selling Digital Artist
'SAMRO/CAPASSO HIGHEST AIRPLAY COMPOSER’S AWARD'
SAMRO/CAPASSO BEST DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AWARD'
Joyous Celebration 22 All for You
In 2019, When the nominations came out the "Kwaito" category was combined into the kwaito/gqom/amapiano category, this change sparked a backlash from fan and kwaito artists who were unhappy with the combination of this genre, kwaito artist Israel Matseke led the complaints committee with the hashtag #DeathOf Kwaito, saying "that combining the three "different" genres was a deliberate attempt to kill the original kwaito sound". Responding to the backlash, Nhlanhla Sibisi,the CEO of the Recording Industry of South Africa (Risa), explained their reasons behind adding gqom and amapiano to the kwaito category.
Gqom and amapiano are both sub-genres of kwaito. Record labels felt it was important to mention them and recognise the growth kwaito has birthed into the music industry. Adding the names to title of the category was our way of recognising the power of kwaito. To say that kwaito is the reason why gqom and amapiano exist and it is important.[ 1]
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