The 25th Annual South African Music Awards ceremony was held at the Sun City Arena in North West on June 1, 2019. It aired live on SABC 1. The show was hosted by Bob Mabena, Melanie Bala, Twasa and hip-hop star Khuli Chana.
The list of nominees was announced on April 25, 2019. HHP, TKZee & Mango Groove received the Lifetime Achievement Award at this years show.
Winners and nominees Nominees are as listed below. Winners are in bold.
Album of the Year Sjava – Umqhele Black Coffee – Music is King Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola Vusi Nova – Manyan-nyan Zonke – L.O.V.E
Female Artist of the Year Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League Busiswa – Summer Life Kelly Khumalo – Unleashed Lebo Sekgobela – Umusa Zonke - L.O.V.E
Male Artist of the Year Black Coffee – Music is King Anatii – IYEZA Nakhane – You will not die Sjava - Umqhele Thokozani Langa - Iyabuza Induna
Newcomer of the Year Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League Simmy – Tugela Fairy Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya Paxton – This is me Sun-El Musician – Africa to the World
Duo/Group of the Year Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola Tshwane Gospel Choir – The Next Revival Spirit of Praise – Spirit of Praise Vol.7 Ofeleba – Hi & Low Encore – Segarona
Best Rock Album Dan Patlansky – Perfection Kills CrashCarBurn – Headlights Hellcats – The Hex and the Healer The Black Cat Bones – Here is a Knife The Parlotones – China
Best Pop Album Tresor – Nostalgia Jarrad Ricketts – Break the Rules Paxton – This is me Majozi – Majozi Tholwana – 2.0.1.5
Beste Pop Album Snotkop – SOUS 4 Werke - 4 by 4 The Rockets - Sonskyn Brendan Peyper – Dis Nie Sonde Nie Jan Bloukaas – Lewe
Best Afro Pop Album Sjava – Umqhele Kelly Khumalo – Unleashed Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya Simmy – Tugela Fairy Vusi Nova – Manyan-Nyan
Best Jazz Album Bokani Dyer Trio – Neo Native Thandi Ntuli - Exiled Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane - Closer to Home Tune Recreation Committee - Afrika Grooves with the Tune Recreation Committee Mandisi Dyantyis - Somandla
Best R&B/Soul Album Zonke – L.O.V.E Kabomo – All Things Red Mlu – A Day For The Universe Lady X – Love.Life.Complicated Nicksoul – Therapy
Best Adult Contemporary Album Ard Matthews – IImpossible Machines Watershed - Harbour Roan Ash – Whiskey to my Soul Georgetown – The Dog Show 8 Misses Croon – ...Like never before
Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album Coenie de Villiers – Pure Coenie Almero – Maandag Douvoordag – Die Avontuur Jan Blohm – Die Liefde Album Refentse – Liefdegenerasie
Best Hip Hop Album Nasty C – Strings and Bling AKA – Touch my Blood Emtee – DIY2 Jabba X – #FGTBB Kid X – Thank Da King
Best Reggae Album Black Dillinger – Mavara is King The Meditators – Explosion Ras Vuyo - Diversion Botanist – Game Changer Bongo Riot – Next Levels
Best Adult Contemporary Album Watershed - Harbour Roan Ash - Whiskey to my Soul Georgetown - The Dog Show Ard Matthews - Impossible Machines 8 Misses Croon -...Like never before
Remix of the Year Spikiri - King Don Father Busiswa – Summer Life Distruction Boyz - It Was All A Dream DJ Maphorisa – Gqom Wave Vol.2 Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League
Best Dance Album Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola DJ Fistaz - Mixwell Summer Sun-El Musician – Africa To The World Mobi Dixon – 10 Steps Forward Black Coffee – Music is King
Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano Zakwe - Sebentin ft. Refiloe Maele Phoolo, Jabulani Tsambo; Lesego Moiloa; Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi; Ncazelo Mtolo DJ Capital – Skebe Dep Dep ft. Kwesta, Kid X, Reason, Youngsta CPT and Stogie T Prince Kaybee – Club Controller SPHEctacula and DJ Naves – Bhampa Zakes Bantwini – Bang Bang Bang
Collaboration of the year Nakhane – You will Not Die Breindy and Matt – Ruth Ave Gabi Motuba- Tefiti Goddess of Creation Jeremy Loops - Critical As Water Sannie Fox – My Soul Got Stranger
Best Live Audio Visual Recording Cassper Nyovest – Fill up Orlando Stadium Neyi Zimu – Another Level of Worship Krone Various Artists – Krone 5 Jabu Hlongwane – Crosspower Experience 3 Spirit of Praise Vol 7 - Spirit of Praise 7
Best Alternative Album Black Coffee – Drive ft. David Guetta and Delilah Montagu Sun-El Musician – Sonini ft. Simmy and Lelo Kamao Sun-El Musician – Ntaba Ezikude ft. Simmy Dj Sumbody – Monate Mpolaye ft. Cassper Nyovest, Thebe and Vettis Black Coffee – Wish You Were Here featuring Msaki
Best African Indigenous Faith Album Ithimba Le-Africa – Sesiphunyukile Trust in Christ Ministries – Elami Igama The General Isitimela – Amen Ezulwini In Zion of Christ - Izinyembezi Christ Worshippers Mass Choir – Nkosi Ngiyakuthanda
Best Traditional Faith Music Album Spirit of Praise 7 – Spirit of Praise Vol.7 Lebo Sekgobela – Umusa Paul K – Time of God Manifest Sipho Ngwenya – Intimate Worship Season 3 Kholeka – ‘’’Your Word - Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album We Will Worship – Seasons Volume 1 Tshwane Gospel Choir – The Next Revival Khaya Mthethwa – All About Jesus Neyi Zimu – Another Level of Worship Ntokozo Mbambo – Moments in Time
Best Maskandi Album Sgwebo Sentambo – Yekani Umona Thokozani Langa – Iyabuza Induna Ofeleba – Hi & Low Mbuzeni – Ungishiyelani Ichwane Lebhaca – Imali Yesoso
Rest of Africa Artist Diamond Platnumz – A Boy From Tandale Kommanda Obbs – Kommanda Obbs Mr Eazi – Lagos to London Nixon – Who We Are Oliver Mtukudzi – Hany'ga
Best Traditional Album Candy – Hupenyu Unenge Viri Vhavhenda Cultural Group – Tshianda Nguvhoni University of Limpopo Choristers & Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra - Africa Tivule Tswelelang Cultural Dancers – Motho Wa Me Mzimkhulu Happy Boys – Nqoba izitha
Best Engineered Album Vusi Nova – Manyan-nyan CH2 – Starstruck Nasty C – Strings and Bling Sjava – Umqhele Hellcats – The Hex and the Healer
Best Produced Album Nasty C – String and Bling AKA – Touch my Blood Kholeka - Your Word - Alibuyi Lilambatha Izwi Lakho Mlindo The Vocalist – Emakhaya Zonke – L.O.V.E
Music Video of the Year Jeremy Loops – Gold Bongeziwe Mabandla ft. Spoek Mathambo – Bawo Wam Mafikizolo ft. Jah Prayzah - Mazuva Akanaka Sho Madjozi - Huku The Parlotones - Beautiful Life
Record of the Year (fan Voted) Holly Rey - Deeper AKA and Kiddominant - Fela in Versace Sun-El Musician featuring Simmy and Lelo Kamau - Sonini Sjava featuring Emtee - Abangani Mlindo the Vocalist featuring Kwesta and Thabsie - Macala Vusi Nova and Jessica Mbangeni - Asphelelanga DJ Ganyani featuring Nomcebo - Emazulwini
Multiple wins and nominations
+ Artists that received multiple nominationsNominationsArtist5 Black Coffee4 Zonke Sjava Sun-El Musician Sho Madjozi2 Busiswa AKA PaxtonBlack Motion Nakhane Vusi Nova Cassper Nyovest Kholeka Nasty C Jan Bloukaas
Special awards International Achievement Award
None
Lifetime Achievement Award
HHP TKZee Mango Groove
Sales and Downloads Awards
Best DVD Selling Album
Joyous Celebration 22 All for You
Best Selling Digital Artist
Joyous Celebration 22
'SAMRO/CAPASSO HIGHEST AIRPLAY COMPOSER’S AWARD'
Lady Zamar -Collide
SAMRO/CAPASSO BEST DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AWARD' Joyous Celebration 22 All for You
Change In 2019, When the nominations came out the "Kwaito" category was combined into the kwaito/gqom/amapiano category, this change sparked a backlash from fan and kwaito artists who were unhappy with the combination of this genre, kwaito artist Israel Matseke led the complaints committee with the hashtag #DeathOf Kwaito, saying "that combining the three "different" genres was a deliberate attempt to kill the original kwaito sound". Responding to the backlash, Nhlanhla Sibisi, the CEO of the Recording Industry of South Africa (Risa), explained their reasons behind adding gqom and amapiano to the kwaito category.
References