MTN SAMA AWARDS - THE NOMINEES

South Africa’s biggest musical event i.e. the SAMA awards, is upon us. The full nomination list was released earlier this week to the usual ooohs and aaahs from various quarters of the music industry.

As you read this, there are probably a fair number of artists who are throwing tantrums in their managers’ offices lamenting the fact that the SAMA committee has snubbed them once again. Fuck the SAMAs they’ll say, I don’t need them anyway! Yeah right.

There are not too many surprises this year; hard-working artists such as Hip Hop Pantsula, Freshlyground, DJ Cleo and Jimmy Dludlu have walked away with two or more nominations. TS Records artists are however conspicuous in their absence. Aside from a single nomination by Pro in the Best Rap category, the former mainstay of the prestigious awards has come up short, big time.

It should be interesting to see who will walk away with the biggest award of the evening, Album of the Year. The serious contenders in my opinion are HHP, Jimmy Dludlu and Freshlyground with “Acceptance Speech”, “Portrait” and “Macheri” respectively. But if I was a betting man, I’ll put my hard-earned rands on …… drum roll please…… Freshlyground. They are simply a dope band and they have consistently released riveting albums that are a reflection of SA's urban space. Their latest no less.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

Best R&B / Neo-Soul Album
Gift Gwe – Back To You (Sony BMG Africa)
Loyiso – Blow Your Mind (Sony BMG Africa)
Seed – Germinating (GRC)
Tony B – Thanku (Universal Music)
Tumi – No Guarantee (J2 Records (Pty) Ltd)

Best Rap Album
Hip Hop Pantsula – Acceptance Speech (CCP)
Jub Jub – My Shine (Bonzo Music)
Molemi – Amantsi (CCP)
Prokid – Dankie San (TS Records)
Slikour – Ventilation Mixtape Volume 2 (Buttabing Entertainment)

Best Kwaito Album
Alaska – Kasieology (Universal Music)
Brickz – Estokfeleni (Ghetto Ruff)
Howza – Cut To The Chase (Faith Records ex Groove Luv)
Mandoza – Champion
Tzozo En Professor – Togetherness (GRC)

Best Male Solo Artists
Black Coffee – Have Another One
Chris Chameleon – Ek Vir Jou
Hip Hop Pantsula – Acceptance Speech
Jimmy Dludlu – Portrait
Mccoy Mrubata – Brasskap Session Vol 1

Best female Solo Artist
Karen Zoid – Postmodern World
Kb – My Rhythm
Louise Carver – Saved by The Moonlight
Tasha Baxter – Colour of Me
Zonke – Life, love N Music

Best Duo / Group
Freshlyground – Macheri
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Ilembe
Malaika – Sekunjalo
Seether – Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces
Soul Brothers – Amacala

Best Newcomer
Camagwini – Zivile
Molemi – Amantsi
Mpumi Dhlamini – Combined Elements
Tasha Baxter – Colour of Me
Tumi – No Guarantee

Album of the Year
Dj Cleo – Eskhaleni Phase 4
Freshlyground – Macheri
Hip Hop Pantsula – Acceptance Speech
Jimmy Dludlu – Portrait
Zonke – Life, Love N Music

Best Music Video
Freshlyground – Pot Belly (Sony BMG Africa)
Koldproduk – Hush (Uproot Records (Pty) Ltd)
Lira – Ixesha (Sony BMG Africa)
Loyiso – I Want You Feat. Obita (Sony BMG Africa)
Vusi Mahlasela – River Jordan (Sony BMG Africa)

Contemporary Jazz
Jimmy Dludlu – Portrait (Universal Music)
Julian Bahula – Live Again (GRC)
Mpumi Dhlamini – Combined Elements (Sony BMG Africa)
Schalk Joubert – Kayamandi (Lee Throp Ent.)
Steve Dyer – Native Art (Sony BMG Africa)

Best Adult Contemporary Album: African
Camagwini – Zivile (CCP)
Jeff Maluleka – A Twist Of Jeff (Sheer Sounds)
Kwela Tebza – King Kwela (CCP)
Palesa – Phantasy (Bokone Music)
Phinda Mtya – Yithi Paha (Sheer Sounds)

Best African Pop Album
Jaziel Brothers – The Beginning (Sheer Sounds)
Malaika – Sekunjalo (Sony BMG Africa)
Martin Phike (Faith Records ex Groove Luv)
Ntando – Uhambo Lwam (CCP)
Speedy – Going Live (999 Music)

So who do y'all think should walk away with an award?