SA Music Awards: Amapiano star Kabza De Small leads the nominations

Finally – the nominees for the 2021 South African Music Awards have been announced and Amapiano star Kabza De Small has received the most nods, with six nominations.

The nominees for the SAMAs were announced on SABC 1 on Wednesday evening, 19 May 2021.

Kabza De Small’s album I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust has done quite well, earning him nods in the following categories: Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Best Amapiano Album.

Once Upon A Time in Lockdown, his collaboration with DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) also secured nods in Duo / Group of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Amapiano Album.

Sun-El Musician managed to score five nods in the Male artist of the year, Best Dance – both thanks to his album To the world and beyond. He was also nominated for Best Live Audio Visual of the Year, Best Produced Album of the Year, and Remix of the Year (Sala Nabani).

The 2021 SAMAs take place during a difficult time for the music industry – like other sectors, it has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to some of the lockdown restrictions, including on crowds, musicians have been unable to make ends meet and are forced to look to government, which has already been criticised for how its handled the crisis facing the arts community.

It isn’t clear when exactly the SAMAs will take place, as they are yet to announce a date. They will, however, air on an SABC platform.

 Who else has been nominated for the SAMAs?

This year’s nominees for the SAMAs also includes Babes Wodumo, Que, Mshayi & Mr Thela, DragerNation and Zinaro – they have all been nominated for Best Gqom Album.

Best Hip Hop Album: Boity (4436), Nasty C (Zulu With Some Power), Yanga Chief (Popstar), Nadia Nakai (Nadia Naked II) and Zakwe & Duncan (Zakwe & Duncan).

Best Dance Album: Nomcebo Zikode (Xola Moya Wam’), Sun-El Musician (To The World & Beyond), Oscar Mbo (For The Goovists); Black Motion (The Healers: The Last Chapter); and Mi Casa (We Made It).

You can find the full list of nominees here.

RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi has congratulated the nominees.

“We are delighted with the calibre of nominees for SAMA27. This is a reflection of the music industry and the movers and shakers who made an impact in 2020/21, a very difficult period in which the industry had to deal with a crippling global pandemic. It was through music that life became bearable and for that we thank our artists who continue to redefine, reinvent and reimagine their business,” Sibisi said.