Mafikizolo, Mi Casa and Simphiwe top SAMAs nominations

The 24th edition of the awards ceremony will be held at Sun City in North West province on 2 June.

Afropop duo Mafikizolo was nominated in the Best Afro Pop Album, Best Engineered Album and Best Produced Album categories. House outfit Mi Casa received three nominations in the Best Dance Album, Best Produced Album and Best Engineered Album. Jazz and Afrosoul singer Dana is vying for top honours in the Best Live Audiovisual, Best Jazz Album and Best African Artist categories.

Following with two nominations each are gqom duo Distruction Boyz, Kwesta, Riky Rick, Rouge, Shane Eagle, Mobi Dixon, Prince Kaybee, Shekhinah, Benjamin Dube, Zoe Modiga and Nduduzo Makhathini.

Nominations for the top five categories – Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Album of the Year – will be announced early next month.

“This has been a particularly formidable year and the competition was exceedingly tight,” RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said. “We applaud those who have made the cut and wish them the best going to Sun City.

“The SAMA remains the most prestigious accolade our musicians aspire to possess and we are committed to a fair and credible process of selecting worthy winners.”

Below is the full list of nominees:

Best Rock Album

• Lost & Found – Snakes and Ladders
• Prime Circle – If You Don’t You Never Will
• Shortstraw – Those Meddling Kids (TMK)
• Willim Welsyn – Blitzkriek  
• Fokofpolisiekar – Selfmedikasie

Best Pop Album

• Craig Lucas – Restless
• Connell Cruise – Barely Breathing
• TRESOR – The Beautiful Madness
• Monark – Monark
• Shekhinah – Rose Gold

Beste Pop Album

• Ray Dylan – Uitbasuin   
• Karlien van Jaarsveld – Sing Vir Liefde
• Brendan Peyper – Hy Loop Oop
• Kurt Darren – Laat Die Dansvloer Brand
• Lianie May – Lemand Om Lief Te He

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Josie Field – Indie Soul
• Swing City – Now Listen Properly
• Wouter Kellerman – Symphonic Soweto
• Charlie Finch – Life's Journey
• Janie Bay – Miscellany

Beste Kontempoêre Musiek Album

• Saarkie – Queen van die Toorbos
• Die Heuwels Fantasties – OKAY!
• Jo Black – Skepe
• Luna Paige, Nick Turner, Jamie Jupiter – Korreltjie Kantel
• Chris Chameleon – Jy en Ek en Ek en Jy

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

• Joe Nina – Time II Time
• Siseko Pame – Ilanga
• Serame Sediti – Based on a True Story
• Siphokazi – Siphokazi
• Tribute Birdie Mboweni – Tribute Birdie Mboweni The Deluxe Edition Album

Best Alternative Music Album

• Loui Lvndn – You Princess is in Another Castle
• Jack Parow – Afrika 4 Beginners
• Francois van Coke – Hierdie is die Lewe
• Josh Kempen – The Morning Show
• Bongeziwe Mabandla – Mangaliso

Best RnB/Soul/Reggae Album

• Cici – Busisiwe
• The Nameless Band – The Greatest Hits
• Thabsie – Songs About You
• Afrotraction – Relationships
• Thami – Never Lost

Best Hip Hop Album

• Riky Rick - Stay Shining
• Rouge – The New Era Sessions
• Shane Eagle – Yellow
• Emtee – Manando
• Fresh 2 Def Productions – F2D Presents: Hall of Fame

Best Kwaito Album

• Mashabela Galane – Bona That Rural Dream
• Team Mosha – So fa Silahlane
• Chomee – Do Mo Squats
• Busiswa – Highly Flavoured
• Trendsetters – Ska Ba Hemisa

Best Dance Album

• DJ Merlon – Pure Black Album
• DJ Ganyani – Ganyani's House Grooves 10
• Lady Zamar – King Zamar
• Prince Kaybee – I Am Music
• Mi Casa – Familia

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Women In Praise – Live In Johannesburg
• Sipho Makhabane – Sinekhaya
• Dumi Mkokstad – Egameni LikaJesu
• Omega Khunou – Worship In Spirit & in Truth with Omega Khunou
• Andile KaMajola – Andile KaMajola Chapter 8 Sekwanele

 Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

• Bongani Nchang – Wonders of Mercy
• Benjamin Dube – Victorious In His Presence with Benjamin Dube
• Swazi – The Alabaster
• Sicelo Moya – Solid Rock
• Nqubeko Mbatha – Heaven’s  Ways

 Best African Indigenous Gospel Album

• Believers in Christ – Yala Nkosi
• Vuma Zion – Samson Aphi Amandla Akho
• Futhi Shongwe – Bonke Abamethembayo
• Amadodana Ase Wesile – Soloko Intliziyo Yam
• Barorisi Ba Morena – Ntjhafatso

Best African Artist Album

• NINIOLA – This is Me
• Wizkid – Sounds from the Other Side
• Zoë Modiga – Yellow The Novel
• Moreira Chonguica and Manu Dibango – M&M
• Simphiwe Dana – The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience

Best Traditional Music Album

• Dinonyane Cultural Group – Pitsi
• Bomshell – Uthando
• Complete – Isiqalo The Beginning
• Jessica Mbangeni – Jessica Mbangeni Sings IGoli Live @Lyric Theatre Johannesburg
• University of Pretoria Camerata – Indodana

Best Maskandi Album

• Uqhosha Ngokwenzakwakhe – Miss South Africa
• Shwi noMtekhala – Emkhathini
• Khuzani – Isixaxa Samaxoki
• Abafana Baka Mgqumeni – 6 to 6
• Mbuzeni – Wavuma

Best Jazz Album

• Simphiwe Dana – The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience
• The Blue Notes Tribute Orkestra – Live at the Bird's Eye
• Zoë Modiga – Yellow The Novel
• Tune Recreation Committee – Voices of our Vision
• Nduduzo Makhathini – Ikhambi

Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album

• CH2 – Insomnia  
• James Grace – Chilled
• Uni of Limpopo Choristers & the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra – Matimba Ya Vuyimbeleri
• Kinsmen – Window to the Ashram
• Charl du Plessis Trio – Baroqueswing Vol. III

Best Afro Pop Album

• Blaq Diamond – Inqola
• Ntando – Mayibuye
• Mafikizolo –  20
• Zahara – Mgodi
• Robbie Malinga – Robbie Malinga

Best Live Audio Visual Recording/DVD

• Krone – Krone 4 Live
• Benjamin Dube – Victorious In His Presence with Benjamin Dube
• Simphiwe Dana – The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience
• The Parlotones – The Parlotones Orchestrated
• Donald – Red Mic Experience

Best Collaboration

• Distruction Boyz ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi – 'Omunye'
• Kwesta ft Wale – 'Spirit'
• Heavy K ft Busi & Nokwazi – 'Inde'
• Sun_EL Musician ft Samthing Soweto – 'Akanamali'
• Sjava ft Howard & DJ Maphorisa – 'Ngempela'

Music Video of the Year

• Shane Eagle – 'Let It Flow'
• Nadia Nakai – 'Naaa Meaan'
• Kwesta ft Wale – 'Spirit'
• Nasty C – 'Don't do it'
• Rouge – 'Arumtumtum'

Best Produced Album

• Shekhinah – Rose Gold
• Mi Casa – Familia
• Mafikizolo – 20
• Goldfish – Late Night People
• Prince Kaybee – I Am Music

Best Engineered Album

• Kahn – A Noise in the Void
• Mi Casa – Familia
• Mafikizolo – 20
• Nduduzo Makhathini – Ikhambi
• Distruction Boyz – Gqom  Is The Future

 Remix of the Year

• King Bayaa – 'Faith Alive'
• Mobi Dixon – 'I Got You'
• Household Funk – 'Free'
• Riky Rick feat. Youngsta CPT, KLY, Da Les, others – 'Buy  It Out'
• Mobi Dixon – 'Lake By The Ocean'