South African Music Awards 2025: All the winners

Goldmax claimed Album of the Year for Play At Your Own Risk, which also won Best Gqom Album. The release further underpinned his success on the night as he was named Male Artist of the Year, marking one of the strongest showings at the ceremony.

Thandiswa Mazwai was another standout, receiving Female Artist of the Year for Sankofa. The album also earned Best African Adult Contemporary Album, Best Engineered Album, and Best Produced Album, consolidating her position as one of the evening’s most decorated artists.

In the group categories, Black Motion took Duo or Group of the Year for Takala, which also won Best Collaboration. The award highlighted the duo’s continued influence in collaborative and cross-genre projects.

The Newcomer of the Year award went to Nontokozo Mkhize for Lindiwe, which was also recognised as Best Contemporary Faith Music Album, signalling a strong debut on the national stage.

Beyond the headline awards, the ceremony recognised achievement across a wide range of genres. Sjava won Best Afro Pop Album for Isibuko (Deluxe), while Kelvin Momo received Best Amapiano Album for Ntsako. Dlala Thukzin was awarded Best Dance Album for Finally Famous Too, and 25K secured Best Hip Hop Album for Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times of Don Kilograms.

Other genre winners included Khuzani (Best Maskandi Album) for Angidlali Nezngane, Elaine (Best R&B/Soul Album) for Stone Cold Heart, and Luwe Da Lion (Best Reggae Album) for After All. Spoegwolf won Best Contemporary Music Album for Eindbestemming, while Francis Soul claimed Best Alternative Album for Hindsight 2020.

In the technical categories, Shekhinah won Best Produced Music Video for Risk, and Mpho.Wav received Remix of the Year for Hlala. Derek Gripper was recognised in the Best Classical/Instrumental Album category for Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper.

Faith and traditional music were also represented, with Ayanda Ntanzi winning Best Traditional Faith Music Album for According to Grace, A One Man Show, Takie Ndou taking Best Contemporary Faith Music Album for The Glory, and JTG Gospel Choir winning Best African Indigenous Faith Album for Morena Re Ya Leboga. Makhadzi Entertainment received Best Traditional Music Album for Miracle Child (Deluxe).

Special Category Winners

Male Artist of the Year

• Goldmax — Play At Your Own Risk

Female Artist of the Year

• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa

Duo or Group of the Year

• Black Motion — Takala

Album of the Year

• Goldmax — Play At Your Own Risk

Newcomer of the Year

• Nontokozo Mkhize — Lindiwe

Genre & Technical Category Winners

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Melanie Scholtz — Seven

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa

Best Afro Pop Album

• Sjava — Isibuko (Deluxe)

Best Alternative Album

• Francis Soul — Hindsight 2020

Best Amapiano Album

• Kelvin Momo — Ntsako

Best Classical/Instrumental Album

• Derek Gripper — Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper

Best Collaboration

• Black Motion — Takala

Best Dance Album

• Dlala Thukzin — Finally Famous Too

Best Engineered Album

• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa

Best Gqom Album

• Goldmax — Play At Your Own Risk

Best Hip Hop Album

• 25K — Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times of Don Kilograms

Best Jazz Album

• Peter Auret — Hope Dies Last

Best Maskandi Album

• Khuzani — Angidlali Nezngane

Best Produced Album

• Thandiswa Mazwai — Sankofa

Best Produced Music Video

• Shekhinah — Risk

Best R&B / Soul Album

• Elaine — Stone Cold Heart

Best Reggae Album

• Luwe Da Lion — After All

Best Rock Album

• MaxX & Love — These Blues Might Get You Too

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Ayanda Ntanzi — According to Grace, A One Man Show

Best Traditional Music Album

• Makhadzi Entertainment — Miracle Child (Deluxe)

Best Contemporary Music Album

• Spoegwolf — Eindbestemming

Remix of the Year

• Mpho.Wav — Hlala

Rest of Africa Award (South Africans Excluded)

• Ayra Starr — The Year I Turned 21

Best African Indigenous Faith Album

• JTG Gospel Choir — Morena Re Ya Leboga

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

• Takie Ndou — The Glory