And the SAMAXXI nominees are…

The SAMA Awards were announced on Thursday, March 12. This year’ awards have been branded the #SAMAXXI, XXI being the Roman numeral for 21. The Samas return to Sun City resort in the North West on April 19 with a live show on SABC 1.

Nominees for the South African Music Awards XXI are:

Best Rock Album 
aKing – Morning After 
Prime Circle – Let the Night in 
Reburn – Majestic 
Taxi Violence – Tenfold
Zebra & Giraffe – Knuckles

Best Pop Album 
Beatenberg – Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg 
Jimmy Nevis – The Masses 
Monark – Negatives 
The Kiffness – KIFF 
Toya Delazy – Ascension

Beste Pop Album 
Bobby van Jaarsveld – Maak ‘n Wens
Eden – Nooit Oud Raak Nie 
Kurt Darren – Lied Vir Die Vrou 
Nádine – Skildery 
Riana Nel – Die Regte Tyd

Best Adult Contemporary Album 
Arno Carstens – Lighting Prevails 
BlackByrd – Home 
Howie Combrink – Eat It While Its Hot 
Josie Field – S’bongile 
Niemand – Back Again

Best Kontemporêre Musiek Album 
Adam Tas – Want Jy Is Boer 
Chris Chameleon & Daniella Deysel – Posduif  
Dewald Wasserfall – ?#?EkEnJy 
Dozi – Hande Vol Genade 
Pieter Koen – Wat Die Hart Van Vol Is

Best Traditional Album  
Botlhale Boikanyo – Spoken Word & Music
Brian Finch – Living for Yesterday
Imfez’emnyama – Palesa
Impumelelo – Isiporoporo
Qadasi (David Jenkins) – Uhambo Olusha

Best Maskandi Album 
Abakamnyandu – KoMalume
Amawele Ka Mamtshawe – Mhla Uphelamandla
Ichwane Lebhaca – Ohulumeni
Maqhinga Radebe – Facebook
Thokozani Langa – Igema Lami

Best Jazz Album 
Herbie Tsoaeli – African Time Quartet in Concert
Kyle Shepherd Trio – Dream State
Marcus Wyatt & Language 12 – Maji Maji in the Land of Milk & Honey 
McCoy Mrubata – Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2
Nduduzo Makhathini – Mother Tongu

Best RnB, Soul and Reggae
Afrotraction – For The Lovers
Lulu Dikana – I Came To Love
Moneoa – Ndim Lo
The Soil – Nostalgic Moments
Vusi Nova – Did it for Love

Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
CH2 Guitar Duo – Soos In Die Ou Dae
Charl du Plessis Trio – Baroqueswing
Tony Cox – Padkos
University of Pretoria Camerata – Phoenix
Wouter Kellerman – Winds of Samsara

Best Traditional Faith Music 
Andile Ka Majola – Chapter 6 Ujehova Ungibiyele
Rebecca Malope – Ama VIP
Rofhiwa Manyanga – Victory in the Blood
S’fiso Ncwane – Bayede Baba
Worship House – Live Project 11

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album 
Khaya Mthethwa – The Uprising Limited Edition
Loyiso Bala – Power Love Sound 
Ndo Dlakadla – Rhythm of Worship
Tebello Sukwene – He’s Alive
Word and Life – Freedom

Best African Adult Album
Kelly Khumalo – Back To My Roots
Maleh – You Make My Heart Go
Max-Hoba – Traveling Man
Ringo Madlingozi – Vulani
Simphiwe Dana – Firebrand

Best Alternative Album 
Bittereinder – Skerm
Bye Beneco – Space Elephant
Dassie – Mistress
Jeremy Loops – Trading Change
Tailor – Light

Best Live DVD
Benjamin Dube – Renewal in His Presence
Krone – Krone Live
Lira – First Decade
Spirit Of Praise – Spirit Of Praise Vol. 5
Various Artists – Innibos is Groot 2014 “Live”

Music Video of the Year
Alessio Bettocchi – Yaya – DJ Dimplez ft Dream Team and Anati
Mzi Kumalo – Turn You On – Mi Casa
Ryan Kruger – Let The Night In – Prime Circle
Kyle Lewis – In Defence Of My Art – Tumi Molekane
Zakes Bantwini – Ghetto – Zakes Bantwini

Best Producer of the Year
Lulu Dikana & Powella Tiemo – I Came To Love – Lulu Dikana
Ewald Jansen van Rensburg – Negatives – Monark
Denholm George Harding – Let The Night In – Prime Circle
David Scott – KIFF – The Kiffness
Wouter Kellerman & Ricky Kej – Winds Of Samsara – Wouter Kellerman

Best Engineer of the Year
Brian O’Shea, Crighton Goodwill & Marius Brouwer – Johnny Apple – Johnny Apple
Dave Reynolds & Peter Pearlson – The Light of Day – Dave Reynolds
Peter Auret – Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 – McCoy Mrubata
Brendyn “Rusti” Rossouw – Let The Night In – Prime Circle
Jürgen von Wechmar, Rogan Kelsey, Ross Fink & Jaziel Sommers – Ascension – Toya Delazy

Remix of the Year
DJ Sbu, Robbie Malinga & Mojalefa Thebe – DJ Sbu – Indlela Yam
Select Play – Duncan – Tsiki Tsiki
Goldfish – Moonwalk Away (Goldfish Moon Landing Mix) Radio Edit
Heavy K – Personal Paradise
Riky Rick – Amantombazane

Best Rap Album
AKA – Levels
Duncan – Street Government
Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo
K.O – Skhanda Republic
Reason – Audio High Definition

Best Kwaito Album
Lvovo Derrango – The Boss
PHI and Ginger – Licence to Hustle
Professor – University of KalawaJazmee Since 1994
Thebe – The Legend
Trompies – Delicious

Best Dance Album
Black Motion – Fortune Teller
Bucie – Princess of House (Easy to Love)
Cuebur – The Brand New Me – Disc 2 Soul Candi Sessions 2015
Da Capo – Da Capo
DJ Clock – The 4th Tick – A Clockumentary

Best Collaboration
AKA and K.O – Run Jozi
Cassper Nyovest and Okmalumkoolkat – Gusheshe
Beatenberg and DJ Clock – Pluto
K.O and KidX – Caracara
The Soil and Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Hamba Uyosebenza

Best Male of the Year
AKA
Cassper Nyovest
Jimmy Nevis
K.O.
Ringo Madlingozi

Best Female of the Year
Bucie – Princess Of House
Moneoa – Ndim Lo
Maleh – You Make My Heart Go
Lulu Dikana – I Came To Love
Simphiwe Dana – Firebrand

Best Duo or Group of the Year
Beatenberg
Bittereinde
Blackbyrd
Mccroy Mrubata
The Soil

Best Newcomer of the Year
Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo
Duncan Skuva – Street Government
Howie Combrink – Eat It While It’s Hot
Jeremy Loops – Trading Change

Best Album of the Year
Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens Of Beatenberg
Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo
K.O. – Shkanda Republic
Ringo Madlingozi – Vulani
The Soil – Nostalgic Moments