South African Music Awards 2025: All the nominees

Singer Sjava leads the way with two nominations in Best Afro Pop Album for Isibuko (Deluxe) and Inkanyezi (Live). He is also shortlisted for Best Engineered Album with Isibuko (Deluxe), placing him among the year’s most recognised acts.

Amapiano producer Kelvin Momo also secured strong recognition, earning two nominations in Best Amapiano Album for Sewe and Ntsako. His collaboration ‘Waze Wamuhle’ has additionally been nominated in the Best Collaboration category.

Veteran singer Thandiswa Mazwai continues her influence with nominations for Best African Adult Contemporary Album (Sankofa), Best Engineered Album, and Best Produced Album, marking her as one of the standout names of this year’s awards.

Other notable multiple nominees include Black Motion, who appear in Best Dance Album, Best Collaboration, Best Engineered Album, and Best Produced Album for The Cradle Of Art. Jazz musician Zamajobe received recognition in both Best African Adult Contemporary Album and Best Produced Album with UMI.

In the highly followed genre categories, amapiano, Afro pop, hip hop and gospel dominate the lists. Nomfundo Moh is nominated in Best Afro Pop Album for Twenty Four, while Blxckie leads hip hop with nominations in Best Hip Hop Album (See U Soon Delux) and Best Produced Music Video (South). Nduduzo Makhathini heads the jazz category with uNomkhubulwane, while Khuzani and Phuzekhemisi headline the maskandi category.

In Best R&B/Soul Album, nominees include Elaine, Mikhalé Jones, Filah Lah Lah, Clxrity and The Big Hash. Meanwhile, Best Rock Album sees established group Prime Circle up against acts such as Bloumoord and The Man Motels.

The Rest of Africa Award, reserved for non-South African artists, features international stars Ayra Starr, Tems, Wizkid, Fireboy DML and Bensoul.

The main ceremony will be held in November 2025 in a hybrid format, combining a live event with a global broadcast. The winners of the Top Five categories – including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Artist of the Year – will be revealed in September.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• uKhisimusi - An African Christmas – Just 6
• Seven – Melanie Scholtz
• Room For Everyone – Tony Drake
• Nonyezi – Nue Sam Nosipho Khuzwayo
• Look At You Now – The Morning After

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• UMI – Zamajobe
• Sankofa – Thandiswa Mazwai
• Nomthandazo – Zoe Modiga
• Isibusiso Sami – Ndu Shezi
• Indumiso YabeNguni – Mthuthu

Best Afro Pop Album

• Twenty Four – Nomfundo Moh
• Malik – Malik  
• Isibuko (Deluxe) – Sjava
• Inkanyezi (Live) – Sjava
• Collaborations With Friends – Dalom Kids

Best Alternative Album

• Unyazi – Yoav & Jabulile Majola
• Perspective: Black – Zādok
• Hindsight 2020 – Francis Soal
• Emlotheni – Th&o
• Berge – Spoegwolf

Best Amapiano Album

• Your Piano Is Not My Piano – Vigro Deep
• Sewe – Kelvin Momo
• Ntsako – Kelvin Momo
• Midnight in Sunnyside – 3 Mellow & Sleazy
• Inja Ye Game – Zee Nxumalo

Best Classical/Instrumental Album

• In the morning – John Lundun
• By Alle Skone Dinge – Chris Vale, Eugene Joubert & Franco Prinsloo, Marlize Hattingh
• Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper – Derek Gripper
• A Season in Paradise – Vox Chamber Choir & Franco Prinsloo
• Awake for 22 Hours – Orecchiette

Best Collaboration

• Waze Wamuhle – Kelvin Momo
• Takala – Black Motion 
• Ematshwaleni – Kususa
• Stay With Me – Matt Davies
• Amalanga – Mas Musiq, Lawd Weezy & DJ Maphorisa ft TO Starquality, Chley & Kabza De Small

Best Dance Album

• The Cradle Of Art – Black Motion
• FINALLY FAMOUS TOO – Dlala Thukzin
• Cr4zy!!.. – MÖRDA
• Dreaming – Shimza
• Caiiro – Caiiro

Best Engineered Album

• The Cradle Of Art – Black Motion
• Sankofa – Thandiswa Mazwai
• Isibuko (Deluxe) – Sjava
• Reawakening – Keenan Meyer
• Feathers & Stone – Jeremy Loops

Best Gqom Album

• Tronics Land 3 – Mr Thela SIMPHIWE LEONARD SIHAWU
• The Rebellion – DJ Lag
• Play At Your Own Risk – Goldmax
• NANDE 3.0 – DJ Sandiso
• Next Level – Lelowhatsgood

Best Hip Hop Album

• See U Soon Delux – Blxckie
• Red October: Induction Tony Dayimane
• Pray 4 Pitori Loatinover Pounds
• Audio 2D; Dear Darkie – Sizwe Alakine
• Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times of Don Kilograms – 25K

Best Jazz Album

• uNomkhubulwane – NDUDUZO MAKHATHINI
• Terra Solus – Nick Ford
• Ndilapha – Nomfundo Xaluva
• Hope Dies – Last
• Apho Kungenje – Ncesh Nonxishi

Best Maskandi Album

• Ngathi Nguye – Umafikizolo
• iPolotiki – Phuzekhemisi
• Angidlali Nezingane – Khuzani
• Alingeni – Ntencane
• Amathambo Kagogo – Imithente

Best Produced Album

• UMI Zamajobe – Zamajobe
• The Cradle Of Art – Black Motion
• Sankofa – Thandiswa Mazwai
• Reprise on 2nd Avenue – Qü
• iLadi – Linda Sikhakhane

Best Produced Music Video

• Umbuzo – Soa Mattrix
• Gucci (official music video) ft. MaWhoo – Mthandeni SK
• Tshwala Bam (Remix) – TitoM and Yuppe
• South – Blxckie
• Shekhinah ft Moliy – Risk Shekhinah

Best R&B/Soul Album

• Too Many Promises – Mikhalé Jones
• Stone Cold Heart – Elaine Ndivhuwo
• On Air – Filah Lah Lah
• It’s Clear To See – Clxrity
• Heartbreak Hotel (deluxe) – The Big Hash

Best Reggae Album

• Mekwei – Dread Lloyd
• The Rise – Anela Jahmena
• Flaws in Frame – Dimahr
• After All – LUWE DA LION
• Area Code – Botanist

Best Rock Album

• VIR MEKAAR – Bloumoord
• These Blues Might Get You Too – MaxX & Love
• The World We Know – Prime Circle
• OLD WOUNDS – The Man Motels
• Look At You Now – The Morning After

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Uyinqaba Yam (Jehovah Nissi) – Betusile
• The Journey (Part 1) Tebs – David Tebogo
• The Full Circle Revival – Malusi Mbokazi
• Rofhiwa Dzina – Rofhiwa Manyaga
• According to Grace, A One Man Show – Ayanda Ntanzi

Best Traditional Music Album

• moleele – Keitumetse Mangate Production

• Mmakgodu – MmaAusi
• Miracle Child (Deluxe) – Makhadzi Entertainment
• Kwanomthandazo – Sabu Jiyana
• Bakokota (EP) – Pleasure Tsa Manyalo

Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album

• Vaalsand – Pietman Geldenhuys
• Niemandsland – Ampie
• Eindbestemming – Spoegwolf
• Land & Sand – Neil Sandilands
• Geraamtes – Majo

Remix of the Year

• Tshwala Bam – TitoM
• Skuta Baba Woodblock DJs Sicelo Belly Nkomo
• Mngani – Jnr SA
• Iza Mawala – Tycoon
• Hlala – Mpho.Wav

Rest of Africa Award (SOUTH AFRICANS EXCLUDED)

• The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
• The Party & After Party – Bensoul
• Morayo – Wizkid
• Born In The Wild – Tems
• adedamola – Fireboy DML

Best African Indigenous Faith Album

• Re Kgoeletsa Magodimong – Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo
• Morena Re Ya Leboga – JTG Gospel Choir
• Busa Jeso – House Of Mercy
• Ikutana – Barongoa Ba Morena
• Nkapese Ka Maatla – Di Bruin Gospel Projects

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

• Heavenly Psalms – Level 2 (Live at Goshen City Church 2023) SbuNoah
• Lindiwe – Nontokozo Mkhize
• Living Word – Mmangaliso
• Crosspower Experience 4 – Jabu Hlongwane
• The Glory – Takie Ndou