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Here’s your first look at The SAMAs full list of nominees for this year’s SAMA26 #ForThaKultcha

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Marking a seismic shift in local music, a slew of new artists is claiming its place on the SAMA nominations list, while a few old favourites make their presence felt.

This is Prince Kaybee’s year to lose, with nine nominations under his belt, making him the most nominated this year.

The DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small partnership also yielded great gains that sees them score an impressive total of eight nods, while Samthing Soweto earned a total of six nominations for his album and collaboration.

Under the theme #ForThaKultcha, five adrenaline-filled but bite-size 30-minute episodes will be streamed with sub-themes #ForThaRoots, #ForThaSoul, #ForThaStreets, #ForThaCraft and culminating in #ForThaClub which will be a 45-minute-long grand finale seeing SAMA26 present a unique virtual experience.

Check out the full list of nominees below and start placing your bets now.

#ForThaRoots

Best Maskandi Album:

  1. Bawucisha ngo Paraffin by Abafana baka Mgqumeni
  2. Hlanga Lomhlabathi by Izingane Zoma
  3. Inhloko Nes’Xhanti by Khuzani
  4. Inyoka Yodumo by Sgwebo Sentambo
  5. Upopayi by Thokozani Langa

Best Traditional Music Album:

  1. Botshelo by Makopanela Pineng
  2. Richang by Tswelelang Cultural Dancers
  3. Sialala by Vha Venda Cultural Group
  4. Tshimo Ea Tlholwa by Mma Ausi
  5. Ungabanaki by Qadasi & Maqhinga

Best Collaboration:

  1. Akulaleki by Samthing Soweto featuring Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small
  2. Fetch Your Life by Prince Kaybee featuring Msaki
  3. Love You Tonight by MFR Souls featuring DJ Maphorisa, Sha Sha and Kabza De Small
  4. Say U Will by K.O featuring Nandi Madida
  5. Tender Love by Sha Sha featuring DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small

Best Traditional Faith Music Album:

  1. Re-Birth by TYGC Family
  2. Psalm 103 by Jeffrey Mkansi
  3. Praise & Repentance 2nd Offering by Muzie B
  4. OkaJehova Akanqotshwa by Deborah Fraser
  5. Calvary by Dumi Mkokstad

Newcomer of the Year:

  1. Sbu Noah for A David Kind of Psalm (Live)
  2. Ami Faku for Imali
  3. Spha Mdlalose for Indlel’eyekhaya
  4. Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble for Queen Nandi : The African Symphony
  5. Viwe Mkizwana for Tributes

Best African Indigenous Faith Album:

  1. Uyalalelwa by The General Universal Zion Church of God (Isitimela)
  2. Thobela Morena by Matsobane Maifo
  3. Themba Lami by Amagoduka
  4. Modula Sione Ore Utlwe, Mookamedi by Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo
  5. Lona Ba Ratang Ho Phela by Amadodana Ase Wesile

Best Jazz Album:

  1. Genesis of a Different World by Steve Dyer
  2. Indlel’eyekhaya by Spha Mdlalose
  3. Queen Nandi: The African Symphony by Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble
  4. Tributes by Viwe Mkizwana
  5. Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko by Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album: 

  1. Coenie 2.2 by Coenie de Villiers
  2. Boomhuis by Elandré
  3. Jou Huis by Elvis Blue
  4. Pure Plaas by Ricus Nel
  5. Sterker by Riana Nel 

Rest of Africa Award:

  1. Blossom by Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
  2. I Love Girls With Trobul by Sarz and WurlD (Nigeria)
  3. Metamorfose by Isabel Novella (Mozambique)
  4. YPSZN2 by PsychoYP (Nigeria)
  5. A Good Time by Davido (Nigeria)

 #ForThaSoul

Best Afro Pop Album:

  1. From Bongo With Love by Bongo Maffin
  2. Imali by Ami Faku
  3. Isiphithiphithi by Samthing Soweto
  4. Selimathunzi by Mthunzi
  5. Umuthi by Blaq Diamond

Best Alternative Music Album:

  1. Zeno by Muzi
  2. The Calling by James Deacon
  3. Ndim Nani by Zu.
  4. June by Manu Grace
  5. Cult Pop by Lo-Ghost

Best Reggae Album:

  1. From the Low Land by Skeleton Blazer
  2. Impilo Kantanga by Jeremiah Fyah Ises
  3. The Revealer by Botanist
  4. True Stories by Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda
  5. Vision 2020 by Fruitystar

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album:

  1. A David Kind of Psalm (Live) by Sbu Noah
  2. Friends in Praise, Vol.2 by Neyi Zimu and Omega Khunou
  3. Glory in His Presence by Benjamin Dube
  4. Project 17 Live at Carnival City by Worship House
  5. Seasons, Volume II by We Will Worship

Best R&B/Soul Album:

  1. Elements by Elaine
  2. God Decides by Tellaman
  3. My Heart to Your Soul by Lungisa Xhamela
  4. Pink Panther by Tshego
  5. Promised Land by Yanga Sobetwa

Male Artist of the Year:

  1. Benjamin Dube for Glory in His Presence
  2. Samthing Soweto for Isiphithiphithi
  3. Prince Kaybee for Re Mmino
  4. Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane for Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko
  5. Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda for True Stories

Best African Adult Contemporary Album:

  1. Toro ka Mmino by T.S
  2. S.G 2.0 by Tlale Makhene and Ziyawa Ka Zitha
  3. Power of Dreams by Judith Sephuma
  4. I Write What I Dream by Ntsika
  5. Folklore: Chapter 1 by Pilani Bubu

Best Adult Contemporary Album:

  1. Swansong by Lance James
  2. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue by the Parlotones
  3. Power by Amanda Black
  4. In a Different Light by Wouter Kellerman
  5. Africa by Ndlovu Youth Choir

 #ForThaStreets

Best Kwaito Album:

  1. Baby Boy III by Vigro Deep
  2. Ikhenani by DJ Tira
  3. Scorpion Kings by DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small
  4. The Beginning by MFR Souls
  5. The Return of the Scorpion Kings by Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa

Beste Pop Album:

  1. Elektrisiteit by Dewald Wasserfall
  2. Hou Vas by HANCO
  3. #Partytjiedier by Kurt Darren
  4. Patriot by Appel
  5. Swaeltjies by Danny Smoke

Best Pop Album:

  1. DEEP BREATH by Deep Breath
  2. Ghost by Matthew Mole
  3. Here I Am by Christian Heath
  4. Lifeline by Josh Wantie
  5. Solitude by Mike Stent

Best Hip Hop Album:

  1. 3T by YoungstaCPT
  2. Becoming a Pop Star by Yanga Chief
  3. Injayam Vol.2 by DJ Sliqe
  4. PTYunLTD by KO
  5. Ungqongqoshe Wongqongqoshe by Big Zulu 

#ForThaCraft

Best Produced Album

  1. Swansong by Matthew Fink
  2. Scorpion Kings by MFR Souls, DJ Maphorisa, Vigro Deep and  Kabza De Small
  3. Re Mmino by Prince Kaybee
  4. Isiphithiphithi by DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, MFR Souls, Howard, Mas Musiq and Samthing Soweto
  5. In a Different Light by Wouter Kellerman

Female Artist of the Year:

  1. Ami Faku for Imali
  2. Riana Nel for Sterker
  3. Lady Zamar for Monarch
  4. Manu Grace for June
  5. Spha Mdlalose for Indlel’eyekhaya

Best Live Audio Visual Recording :

  1. A David Kind of Psalm (Live) by Sbu Noah
  2. Calvary by Dumi Mkokstad
  3. Glory in His Presence by Benjamin Dube
  4. Krone 6 Live by Krone Various Artists
  5. Your Word Alibuyi Lilambatha by Kholeka

Best Engineered Album :

  1. I Write What I Dream by Robin Walsh
  2. Isiphithiphithi by Samthing Soweto, Pete Maher and Mas Musiq
  3. Promised Land by Kurt Michael
  4. The Return of the Scorpion Kings by Mas Musiq
  5. Into Dust/Waltz for Jozi by Peter Auret

Best Classical Album:

  1. Vignettes for Violin by Kristel Birkholtz
  2. Die Tale Van My Hart by Wilhelm Lichtenburg
  3. Freehand by Charl du Plessis
  4. Andaluza – Music of Spain III by James Grace
  5. Africa Celebrates by University of Limpopo Choristers and the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra

Best Produced Music Video:

  1. Akulaleki by Yolanda Hlakula and Paul Ramaema
  2. Whipped by Kyle White
  3. SMA by Kyle White
  4. Pearls to Swine featuring Tresor & Kid X by Msaki
  5. Fetch Your Life by Ofentse Mwase

#ForThaClub

Best Rock Album:

  1. Until The Last Prayer by Gunshot Blue
  2. The Bright Blue Orchids by The Plastics
  3. Sins of the Father by Black Pistol
  4. Plastic Kids by The Tazers
  5. Dagdrome in Suburbia by Francois van Coke

Duo or Group of the Year:

  1. Malumz on Decks for Find Your Way
  2. Worship House for Project 17 (Live at Carnival City)
  3. Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble for Queen Nandi: The African Symphony
  4. We Will Worship for Seasons ,Volume II
  5. Qadasi & Maqhinga for Ungabanaki

Album of the Year:

  1. Isiphithiphithi by Samthing Soweto
  2. Re Mmino by Prince Kaybee
  3. Seasons, Volume II by We Will Worship
  4. True Stories by Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda
  5. Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko by Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane

Remix of the Year:

  1. Shay’inumber (Deep Sen) by Oscar Nyathi
  2. Utatakho Remix by Yanga Chief featuring Boity, Dee Koala and Riky Rick
  3. Sad To Think (Fka Mash Glitch Dub) by SculpturedMusic
  4. Culture Vulture (Remix) by 25K
  5. When Jazz Meets House (The Squad Remix) by DJ General Slam featuring Bruno Soares Sax

Best Dance Album:

  1. Akhiwe by Oskido
  2. Find Your Way by Malumz on Decks
  3. Monarch by Lady Zamar
  4. Re Mmino by Prince Kaybee
  5. Vibez by DJ Mshega