The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) celebrated their 30th annual ceremony on November 2, unveiling this year’s winners. Held with the theme Less Noise, More Music, the event spotlighted artistry and creativity, honoring exceptional talent across the South African music industry. Covering genres from timeless classics to trending sounds like Amapiano, the SAMAs showcased the diversity of SA music.
Tyla, one of the most-nominated artists, took home two awards. See the full list of winners below.
Best Adult Contemporary Album
- The Misty Cliffs – The Misty Cliffs
- Stimela – Drakensberg Boys Choir (WINNER)
- The Drive – Dr Duda
- Shipwrecked – Jack Atlantic
- Isipho – Smama
Ikkwekwezi FM Best African Adult Contemporary Album
- Isicathamiya For A New Millennium – Th ee Legacy
- Amzakwa – Bongeziwe Mabandla
- Reimagined – The Soil
- Sane – Brenda Mtambo (WINNER)
- Umoya – Embracing the Human
- Spirit – Vusi Mahlasela
Best Afro Pop Album
- Umkhonto – Zuko SA
- Emotions – Lwah Ndlunkulu (WINNER)
- Ukhamba – Inkabi Zezwe
- Zulu Romance – Blaq Diamond
- Ugcobo – Nomfundo Moh
Best Alternative Album
- Layers – Carla Franco
- Enter the Grootness (Deluxe) – Van Pletzen
- Hopeless & Romantic – CHXRL
- I’m With The Singer – I’m With The Singer (WINNER)
- Don’t Forget To Howl – West Coast Wolves
Motsweding FM Best Amapiano Album
- Boroko Keng – Mellow & Sleazy
- Baba Yaga – De Mthuda
- Dali Dali – Daliwonga
- Isimo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi (WINNER)
- Kurhula – Kelvin Momo
Best Classical/Instrumental Album
- Sci-fi, Beats & Life – UBeyond
- End of the Beginning – Fanie Dick (WINNER)
- Lost Time: Bach Cello Suite No. 1 – Derek Gripper
- Lofi Chill – Tony Drake
- Relentless – Karen Devroop
Best Collaboration
- ‘Burning Bush’ – Mörda and Thakzin
- ‘iPlan’ – Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba
- ‘Sgudi Sync’ – De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh featuring Sipho Magudulela
- ‘Water’ – Tyla and Travis Scott
- ‘Ipramla’ – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush
Best Dance Album
- Asante II – Mörda and Thakzin
- Permanent Music 3 – Dlala Thukzin
- The Star Is Reborn – Zakes Bantwini
- Clickbait – DBN Gogo
- Reputation – Sculptured Music
Best Engineered Album
- Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the Shaka iLembe TV Series) – Mbuso Khoza
- Wake Up, It’s Morning – Matthew Mole
- Umoya – Embracing the Human
- Spirit – Vusi Mahlasela
- Sane – Brenda Mtambo
- Reimagined – The Soil (WINNER)
Best Gqom Album
- Dark or Durban – Funky Qla
- Gqom To Another Level Vol.1 – Bello No Gallo
- We don’t Play the same Gqom 2 – QueDJ (WINNER)
- TronicsLand Series 2 – Mr Thela
- The Young Prince Of Gqom – General C’mamane
Best Hip Hop Album
- Note To Self – FLVME
- I Love It Here – Nasty C
- People Forget To Be People (Deluxe) – Wordz
- Heartbreak Hotel – The Big Hash
- Dust – Priddy Ugly (WINNER)
Best Jazz Album
- Enhlizweni: Song Stories From My Heartland – Steve Dyer (WINNER)
- Siparia To Soweto – Hugh Masekela and Siparia Deltones
- Rainbow Revisited – Thandi Ntuli and Carlos Niño
- The Past Is Unpredictable, Only The Future Is Certain – Vuma Levin
In The Wake – Kujenga
Best Kwaito Album
- Ghetto Skomplaz – Abobhova
- Celebrating 25 Years In The Game – Sbu Malawyer
- Genesis – Taylor K
- Most Wanted – Sykes (WINNER)
- Inzalo YeKwaito 2nd Half – Zinaro
Best Maskandi Album
- National Anthem – Inkos’yamacokama
- Uber Driver – Sminofu
- Amakhothangqoko – Mthandeni SK
- Uyhilho no Yoko – Ugatsheni (WINNER)
- Open All – Ntencane
Best Pop Album
- You Need Therapy – Mila Smith
- Magic – Will Linley
- 23:23 – Paxton
- Wake Up, It’s Morning – Matthew Mole
- Tyla – Tyla (WINNER)
Best Produced Album
- I Love It Here – Nasty C
- No Other Love – David Watkyns (WINNER)
- Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the Shaka iLembe TV Series) – Mbuso Khoza
- Wake Up, It’s Morning – Matthew Mole
- Ifa Lomkhono – Mbuso Khoza
Best Producted Music Video
- ‘Dali’ by Kamo Mphela – Kudzi (WINNER)
- ‘Amakhehla’ by Sjava – Tido
- ‘4am’ by Loatinover Pounds – BSV
- ‘018’ by Cassper Nyovest – Jabu
- ‘Call Me’ by Filah Lah Lah – Reabetswe Fila Ranamane
Umhlobo Wenene FM Best R&B/Soul Album
- A Tale of a Fallen Queen – Ayanda Jiya
- Love Letters – KashCPT
- Hold Me When It’s Cold: The Cuddle Pack – Una Rams
- Testament – Lordkez (WINNER)
- The Other Side (Deluxe EP) – Mia
Best Reggae Album
- Musinion – Undefynd
- Love & Unity – Ras Vuyo
- Proof of Life – Dimahr
- Love Expressions – Two Point Ow
- Give Praises – Skeleton Blazer – WINNER
Best Rock Album
- Dans Deur Die Donker – Francois van Coke
- Breakthrough – Millennium
- Hard Mode – Wonderboom
- Born & Raised – Kenny Hughes
- All-Killer-Filler – Evert Snyman
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
- Sibonga Umusa (Live) – Sneziey
- Indumiso yase Stezi – Thinah Zungu
- Worship House 20 – Worship House
- Jehova – University of Pretoria
- Mororiseng – Omega Khunou (WINNER)
Best Traditional Music Album
- Bhacasoul Experience EP – Joliza
- Mbofholowo – Makhadzi
- I’m Happy – Shabalala Rhythm
Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the - Shaka iLembe TV Series) – Shaka Ilembe
- Hamba Naye – Soul Brothers
Best Contemporary Music Album
- Driving Around, Movies And The Outdoors – Valiant Black
- Allegory for an Ascetic – Neil Sandilands
- The Valley – Joshua After the Rain
- Aesthetics – Elandré (WINNER)
- Everything – Jacob Swann
Best Pop Album
- All Gly – The Banana Peels (Winner)
- Universe – Ryno Velvet
- Braaf – Jan Jan Jan
- Because You May – Brendan Peyper
- My Mense – Ilán van Staden
Remix of the Year
- ‘Yes God Remix’ – Oscar Mbo
- ‘Dubula’ – Harrycane. Remix of the Year ‘Yes God Remix’ – Oscar Mbo ‘Dubula’ –Harrycane
- Soa Matrix – Goodbye Remixed (Official Music Video) feat Eemoh, Master KG and DJ Latinny – Goodbye Remixed (Official Music Video
Rest of Africa Award
- ‘Asake: Work of Art’ – Asake
- ‘Don’t Get Used To This’ – Wurld
- ‘Lion of Sudah’ – Bensoul
- ‘Son Of A Tribe (Royalty Edition)’ – Edgar Muzah – WINNER
- ‘Alusa Why Are You Topless?’ – Bien
Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album
- Alikho Elinye Ithemba – JTG Gospel
- Choir Alikho Elinye Ithemba – JTG Gospel Choir
- Lejwe La Motheo Masango –
Di Bruin Gospel Projects
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
- The Gift Vol.1 – Brenden Praise
- Izililo – We Will Worship
- Unusual – Xolly Mncwango (WINNER)
- We Bow Down – 3C Live
- Come To Jesus (Live In Bryanston, 2022) – The Fellowship With Pastor Namba
Lesedi FM Male Artist of the Year
- Priddy Ugly – ‘Dust’
- Kelvin Momo – ‘Kurhula’
- Ugastheni – ‘Uyhilho no Yoko’ (WINNER)
Daliwonga – ‘Dali Dali’
De Mthuda – ‘Baba Yaga’
Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year
- Tyla – Tyla (WINNER)
- Brenda Mtambo – Sane
- Lwah Ndlunkulu – Imiwa
- Lordkez – Testament
- Xolly Mncwango – Unusual
Radio 2000 Duo/Group of the Year
- Mellow & Sleazy – ‘Boroko Keng”
- FokofPolisieKar – ‘Dans Deur Die Donker’
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo – ‘Soothe My Soul: Songs from our South African Church’
- Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt – ‘Almal Gly ‘
- Kabza De Small and Mthunzi – ‘Isimo’ (WINNER)
SANTAM Newcomer of the Year
- Sykes – Most Wanted
- Lwah Ndlunkulu – Imizwa
- Tyla – Tyla
- Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt – Almal Gly
- Joliza – Bhacasoul Experience EP
SAMPRA Album of the Year
- Isimo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi (WINNER)
- Tyla – Tyla
- Dali Dali – Daliwonga
- Soothe My Soul: Songs from our South African Church – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Unusual – Xolly Mncwango
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