The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. The nominations are typically announced at the end of March. The winners receive a gold-plated statuette called a SAMA.
The show has mostly been held at the Super Bowl in Sun City, with the exception of three years, and broadcast live on national broadcaster, SABC. The ceremony features live performances as once-off collaborations by a selection of nominees.
Awards
As of the 26th SAMAs, in 2020, there are a total of 30 categories awarded. These categories change from year to year to accommodate changes in music styles and changes in popularity of already existing genres. These genres include adult contemporary, Afrikaans, classical, dance, faith, jazz, Kwaito, Maskandi, pop, rap, reggae, RnB, rock, soul, and traditional.
At times genres are grouped together into a single category based on their popularity amongst a certain demographic (e.g. Best Urban Artist nominees are often Hip Hop, African pop and Kwaito artists grouped together since these genres are popular amongst South Africans living in urban areas).
As of the 27th South African Music Awards, artists working in the Gqom and Amapiano genres will be considered in separate categories.
Top five awards These are the top five award categories of the SAMAs. They were first introduced at the ceremony in 1995, with exception of Album of the Year that was introduced in 2007.
Album of the Year Best Newcomer of the Year Best Female Artist of the Year Best Male Artist of the Year Best Duo or Group of the Year
Audience awards The winners of the following SAMAs are not chosen by a panel of judges: Record of the Year: Determined by a public vote, traditionally by SMS
Mobile download awards 2008 - Lira - "Feel Good"
2009 - DJ Cleo - "Hands Up"
2010 - DJ Cleo - "Hands Up"
2011 - DJ Mzi (feat. DJ Cleo) - "Nababantwana"
2012 - DJ Cleo - "Facebook"
2013 - Zahara - "Loliwe"
2014 - Mafikizolo - "Khona"
2015 - Beatenberg and DJ Clock - "Pluto"
2016 - Nathi - "Nomvula"
2017 - Kwesta - "Ngud"
2018 - Timothy Bambelela Myeni - Joyous Celebration Volume 21: Heal Our Land
2019 - Lindelani Mkhize, Mnqobi Nxumalo, Siphiwe Ngcobo, and Thobeka Mahlangu - "Joyous Celebration 22 - All for You"
2020 - Mlindo the Vocalist - "Emakhaya"
Eligibility and entry As per the committee guidelines, only citizens and permanent residents of South Africa are eligible for a nomination.
Adjudication process At the beginning of the adjudication process a Supervisory Committee is set up, it consists of two members from each of five "super genre" categories, which are Global Charts, Urban, Traditional, Technical and Jazz or Classical. This committee oversees the entire SAMA ceremony production process, along with the Steering, General Rules, and Vetting Committees. These committees are composed of unpaid volunteers from record companies and industry stakeholders. The judges are drawn from a wide spectrum to include journalists, critics, musicians, producers, and academics. There are five judges per genre category, based on the judge's field of expertise. The judge's anonymity is protected by the Steering committee, who ensure the judge's do not influence each other. The entire adjudication process takes place between September and February, with the nominees announced in March.
Phase one The first phase takes place between late-September and December. The Steering Committee first determine the award categories, rules, and judging criteria for the entries. A panel of judges is elected and a call for entries takes place in November. The entries are vetted to comply with the committee rules, and genre guidelines.
Phase two In this genre category phase, the judges receive a copy of the entries (either an album and DVD) by the end of December. The entries are scored against the criteria set by the Steering Committee. The score cards are submitted online, along with recommendations for the Top Five category nominees. The Top Five categories are nominated from the same pool of entries. An electronic judging system calculates the results, which are then audited by an independent firm at the end of January.
Phase three This final phase of adjudication evaluates the Top Five categories. One judge from each genre category is selected to be part of the first round of voting. These judges select their top three entries, in their respective genres, taking into account the recommendations from other judges. The independent auditing firm ensures that a finalist in the Top Five has qualified for a nomination in their respective genre. Once the auditors have confirmed the Top Five finalist list, the last round of voting begins. All the judges participate in this round to determine the winners of each Top Five categories.
Ceremonies The first awards ceremony was in 1995, there have been 32 editions to date.
CeremonyDateMost AwardsAlbum of the YearBest NewcomerBest Female ArtistBest Male ArtistBest Duo or GroupHost(s)Venue 1st SAMA 1995 rowspan=12 Soweto String Quartet Brenda Fassie Jabu Khanyile rowspan=2 Alberton City Hall 2nd SAMA 1996 Qkumba Zoo Vicky Sampson Lebo M 3rd SAMA 1997 Revolution Sibongile Khumalo Johannes Kerkorrel Ladysmith Black Mambazo 4th SAMA 1998 Jimmy Dludlu Yvonne Chaka Chaka Vusi Mahlasela The Usual 5th SAMA 18 May 1999 Tasché Brenda Fassie Ringo Madlingozi TKZee 6th SAMA 30 March 2000 Gloria Bosman Busi Mhlongo Jimmy Dludlu Ladysmith Black Mambazo Martin Jonas Sun City Super Bowl 7th SAMA 5 April 2001 Selaelo Selota Miriam Makeba Don Laka Bayete and Jabu Khanyile Sandton Convention Centre 8th SAMA 13 April 2002 Ernie Smith Judith Sephuma Jimmy Dludlu Bongo Maffin Vusi TwalaUnathi MankayiSun City Super Bowl 9th SAMA 6 April 2003 Moses Khumalo Sibongile Khumalo Hugh Masekelafor album Time Mafikizolo 10th SAMA 29 May 2004 Adilah Swazi Dlamini Themba Mkhize Mafikizolo Unathi Nkayi Tshepo Maseko 11th SAMA 19 April 2005 Simphiwe Dana Thandiswa Mazwai Themba Mkhize Revolution 12th SAMA 6 May 2006 Judith Sephuma (3) Brickz Judith Sephuma Jimmy Dludlu Bongo Maffin Tumisho Masha 13th SAMA 14 April 2007 Simphiwe Dana (4) The One Love Movement On Bantu Biko Street Siphokazi Simphiwe Dana Vusi Mahlasela Mafikizolo Kabelo Mabalane 14th SAMA 3 May 2008 Freshlyground (4) Ma' Cheri Tasha Baxter Karen Zoid HHP Freshlyground 15th SAMA 2 May 2009 Lira (4) Soul In Mind Andile Mseleku Lira Abdullah Ibrahim Soweto Gospel Choir Trevor Noah 16th SAMA 16 April 2010 Undisputed Tshepo Mngoma Lira Black Coffee Jaziel Brothers Trevor Noah 17th SAMA 21 May 2011 Professor (4) Fabrics Of The Heart Locnville Thandiswa Mazwai Professor Liquideep Loyiso Bala Montecasino 18th SAMA 29 April 2012 Zahara (8) Loliwe Zahara Zahara AKA Mi Casa Sun City Super Bowl 19th SAMA 11 May 2013 Khuli Chana (3) Lost in Time Toya Delazy Kelly Khumalo Khuli Chana Freshlyground 20th SAMA 28 April 2014 Mafikizolo (12) Reunited Naima Kay Zahara Kabomo Mafikizolo [Iminam Tatiya] SAMA XXI 19 April 2015 Beatenberg (7) The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Cassper Nyovest Bucie AKA Beatenberg HHP SAMA22 4 June 2016 Nathi (6) Pieces of Me Nathi Zonke Nathi Big Nuz Somizi Mhlongo Thando Thabethe Durban International Convention Centre SAMA2327 May 2017Kwesta (6)AmaZuluAmanda BlackAmanda BlacksKwestaBlack MotionSomizi Mhlongo Tumi MorakeSun City Super BowlSAMA 242 June
2018Mafikizolo (6)Rose GoldShekhinahShekhinahPrince KaybeeMafikizoloSomizi Mhlongo Dineo Ranaka Mpho PoppsSAMA 251 June
2019Black Coffee (5)UmqheleSho MadjoziSho MadjoziBlack CoffeeBlack MotionBob Mabena Twasa Seoke
Melanie Bala
Khuli Chana
Mpho Popps
Nomzamo MbathaSAMA 263 August -
7 August 2020 Scorpion kings Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble Ami Faku Prince Kaybee Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble Dineo Langa and Donovan GoliathSAMA 2731 July 2021 Kabza De Small (4)Once Upon A Time in LockdownBucy RadebeSho Madjozi Kabza De Small Kabza De Small & DJ MaphorisaBontle Modiselle Lawrence MalekaSAMA 2828 August 2022 Chymamusique (3) Musique Khanyisile Mthethwa Msaki Chymamusique Reece Madlisa & Zuma Mpho Popps Robot Boii SAMA 29 16, 17 November 2023 Kabza De Small (4)Lavish Worship - Nontokozo Mbambo Myztro Nontokozo Mbambo AKA Scorpion Kings DJ Sabby Nomalanga Shozi SunBet Arena SAMA 30 2 November 2024 Tyla (4) Isimo - Kabza De Small, Mthunzi Tyla Tyla uGatsheni Kabza De Small and Mthunzi Minnie Dlamini Gallagher Convention Center SAMA31 14 December 2025 Thandiswa Mazwai (4) Play at Your Own Risk Nontokozo Mkhize Goldmax – Play at Your Own Risk Black Motion - "Takala" Scoop Makhathini Pamela Mtanga SAMA3215 August 2026Kabza De Small (4)The Ground We're On SibalukhuluHLEMzukuluAmadodana Ase WesileCassper Nyovest Zanele Potelwa Sun City Superbowl
Notable moments
Arthur Mafokate on-stage defiance (1995) At the 1st South African Music Awards, kwaito artist Arthur Mafokate performed a simulation of anal sex on a dancer. This was done as an act of defiance to the organisers, as he felt there was a need for a Kwaito Award. The following year the organiser introduced the award category.
Funky national anthem (1997) It had been three years since the first democratic elections in South Africa and a new national anthem had been introduced at the beginning of the 1997. At the 3rd South African Music Awards, popular kwaito-group Boom Shaka decided to re-create the anthem in a "funky" on-stage performance, that later caused a "public blacklash".
Brenda Fassie demanding her award (2001) Towards the end of the five-hour-long 7th South African Music Awards, Brenda Fassie accused a prominent journalist of being a homosexual - using the derogatory slang word Moffie. She went on to further accuse him of destroying her with the articles he published. At an after-party, she was seen fighting with Mandoza and demanding that he hand over his award as it was "her award".
First virtual reality live broadcast (2016) The SAMA22 was the first awards show to be broadcast live in its entirety in 360° video, with virtual reality made possible by Unreal Industries.
Discrimination Accusation (2019) Before the SAMA25, Simon Makgatholela, Kenny Makweng, and Ronee Sathekge, members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), launched a campaign criticising the SAMA for discrimination. The group claimed the SAMA had "snubbed" them for 25 years over the fact the SAMA have never recognised "veterans" in the gospel genre, such as Oleseng Shuping, Nkosana Kodi, and Mojeremane Xale. In response to the accusation, Recording Industry of South Africa CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi stated, "The Samas are open to all music and do not discriminate against any genre. We have invited them to explain why they feel we are discriminating against ZCC music."
See also List of South African Music Award categories Metro FM Music Awards
References
External links