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#SAMA30 night belonged to Tyla, Kabza De Small and Mthunzi

11 November 2024

#SAMA30 night belonged to Tyla, Kabza De Small and Mthunzi

Tyla, South Africa’s international singing sensation and the duo of Amapiano titans Kabza De Small and Mthunzi, swept the boards at tonight’s #SAMA30 picking up four and three trophies respectively.

Maskandi’s Mthandeni SK scooped the coveted Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year forParis featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu, and Lemons (Lemonade) by AKA and Nasty C was votedRiSA/RAV Music Video of the Year.

Taking home Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year, SANTAM Newcomer of the Year andBest Pop Album for her self-titled debut album, Tyla cemented her place in the annals of South African music history as she was also honoured with the International Achievement accolade, taking her tally to four. Already a Grammy, BET Awards and MTV Music Awards winner, Tyla adds the most prestigious South African music accolade to her cabinet of trophies.

On the other hand, Kabza De Small continues on the trajectory of winning multiple trophiesat the SAMA. This year, Isimo, his collaboration with Mthunzi have earned them SAMPRA Album of the Year, Radio 2000 Duo/Group of the Year and Motsweding FM Best Amapiano Album.

Boasting a double whammy of trophies was uGatsheni who was announced as the winner for Lesedi FM Male Artist of the Year and Best Maskandi Album awards for Uyihlo noNyoko.

It was a good day at the office for Amapiano outfits. The viral international single that shook the world iPlan by Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba scooped the Best Collaboration award.Dlala Thukzin walked away with the Best Dance Album for Permanent Music 3.

Brenda Mtambo bagged the Best African Adult Contemporary Album award for Sane; Lwah Ndlunkulu snatched the Best Afro-pop Album for Imizwa and The Soil took the Best Engineered Album for Reimagined. 

Crowd favourite and rapper Priddy Ugly won the hotly contested Umhlobo Wenene FM Best Hip Hop Album for Dust, while Sykes was awarded Best Kwaito Album for Most Wanted and Best Gqom Album went to QueDj for We Don’t Play the Same Gqom. 

Priddy Ugly #SAMA30

Gospel was well represented with big wins from Omega Khunou for Best Traditional Faith Music Album; Xolly Mncwango for Best Contemporary Faith Music Album for Unusual. 

Fokofpolisiekar took the Best Rock Album award for Dans Deur Die Donker, while Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album went to Elandre for Estetika. 

The Beste Pop Album award was claimed by Die Piesangskille for Almal Gly. Previous multiple SAMA winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo took home the Best African Indigenous Faith Album award for Soothe My Soul: Songs From Our South African Church. 

Steve Dyer’s Enhlizweni: Songs From My Heartland earned him the Best Jazz Album. 

In the spirit of 30 years of the SAMAs and the theme of Less Noise More Music, the night at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, and broadcast live on SABC 1 and SABC Plus, hosted by the sassy and charming TV personality Minnie Dlamini was filled with nostalgia, taking viewers three decades back one minute and shuttling them to the present in the next. 

The event, an explosive celebration of rhythm, beats, song and dance, colour and pyrotechnics, attracted top drawer music stars, crème de la crème of South African society from music, TV, film, the arts, culture, media, politics and business was the finest display of proudly local talent. 

The show bridged the old and new generations with a line-up of performers who gave the nation some of the biggest soundtracks of democracy and freedom. Performances by legends in the making and icons such as Ihhashi Elimhlophe, MmaAusi, Arthur Mafokate, Rebecca Malope, Skwatta Kamp, Mgarimbe, Priddy Ugly, uGatsheni and Lwah Ndlunkulu raised the roof.

The performances by Lifetime Achievement recipients Ringo Madlingozi and Sipho Makhabane reminded viewers of their staying power and irrepressible talents.

Commented Nhlanhla Sibisi, RiSA CEO: “Tonight was a fitting celebration of what makes us great as South African music industry. We wish to congratulate all the winners and nominees of this historic edition of the SAMAs. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors and partners and the music fan who continuously support us. It is with great humility that we celebrate the success of #SAMA30. Here’s to 30 more years of shining the spotlight on local music.”

Complete list of winners 

Best Adult Contemporary Album 

Stimela – Drakensberg Boys Choir 

Ikwekwezi FM Best African Adult Contemporary Album 

Sane – Brenda Mtambo Best Afro-pop Album Imizwa – Lwah Ndlunkulu

Best Afro-pop Album

Imizwa – Lwah Ndlunkulu

Best Alternative Album

I’m With the Singer – I’m With the Singer

Motsweding FM Best Amapiano Album

Isimo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi

Best Classical/Instrumental Album 

End of the Beginning – Fanie Dick

Best Collaboration 

iPlan – Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba 

Best Dance Album 

Permanent Music 3 – Dlala Thukzin 

Best Engineered Album 

Reimagined – The Soil 

Best Gqom Album 

We Don’t Play the Same Gqom – QueDj 

Best Hip Hop Album 

Dust – Priddy Ugly 

Best Jazz Album 

Enhlizweni: Song From My Heartland – Steve Dyer 

Best Kwaito Album 

Most Wanted – Sykes 

Best Maskandi Album 

Uyihlo noNyoko – uGatsheni 

Best Pop Album

Tyla – Tyla

Best Produced Album

No Other Love – David Watkyns

Best Produced Music Video

Dali by Kamo Mphela – Kudzi

Best R&B/Soul Album

Testament – Lordkez

Best Reggae Album

Give Praises – Skeleton Blazer

Best Rock Album

Dans Deur Die Donker – Fokofpolisiekar

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

Mo Roriseng – Omega Khunou

Best Traditional Music Album

Hamba Naye – Soul Brothers

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album

Estetika – Elandre

Beste Pop

Almal Gly – Die Piesangskille

Remix of the Year 

Weekend Special (Jnr SA remix) – Jnr SA 

Rest of Africa 

Son of a Tribe (Royalty Edition) – Edgar Muzah (Zimbabwe) 

Best African Indigenous Faith Album 

Soothe My Soul: Songs From Our South African Church – Ladysmith Black Mambazo 

Best Contemporary Faith Album 

Unusual – Xolly Mncwango 

Lesedi FM Male Artist of the Year 

UGatsheni – Uyihlo noNyoko 

Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year 

Tyla – Tyla 

Radio 2000 Duo/Group of the Year 

Kabza De Small and Mthunzi – Isimo

SANTAM Newcomer of the Year 

Tyla – Tyla 

RiSA Chairperson’s Award 

Oscar ‘Oskido’ Mdlongwa

Lifetime Achievement 

Ringo Madlingozi 

Lifetime Achievement 

Sipho Makhabane 

International Achievement 

Tyla 

SAMPRA Album of the Year 

Isimo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi 

CAPASSO Most Streamed Song 

Mnike – Tyler ICU and Tumelo_za featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha 808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee RiSA/RAV 

Music Video of the Year 

Lemons (Lemonade) – AKA and Nasty C 

Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year 

Paris – Mthandeni SK featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu

• SAMA30 is sponsored by Motsepe Foundation; Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation; SABC1; Santam; Department of Sport, Arts and Culture; SABC Radio; Sampra; Capasso; YouTube and Proudly South African. 

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