The prestigious South-African Music Awards, SAMA is set to hold for the 27th time– #SAMA27 and have announced the nominees ahead of the awards ceremony later in 2021.

The nominees’ list sees acts such as Amapiano maestro Kabza De Small and DJ, Sun- El Musician making a killing with multiple nominations. Nigerian megastar, Wizkid and Davido have also been nominated under the Rest of Africa catergory.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

Album of the Year

Persistence – Bongo Riot
The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion
Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small
Back to Love – Junior Taurus

Duo/Group of the Year

Reece Madlisa & Zuma – Ama Roto EP
MFR Souls – Musical Kings
Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) – Once Upon A Time in Lockdown
Mas Musiq & Aymos – Shonamalanga
Mi Casa – We Made It

Female Artist of the Year

Reign Africa – On the Frontline
Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter
Sho Madjozi – What a Life
Nomcebo Zikode – Xola Moya Wam’
Hle – Your Kingdom on Earth

Male Artist of the Year

Sun-El Musician – To The World & Beyond
Bongo Riot – Persistence
Kabza De Small – I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust
Oscar Mbo – For the Groovists
Junior Taurus – Back to Love

Newcomer of the Year

Xolly Mncwango – Jesus Is Enough
Reign Africa – On the Frontline
Africado – BandaBanda & The Crocodiles
Ingoma – Azana
Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe

Best Rock Album

Chrome Neon Jesus – Ethyl Ether
Here’s to the Now – Nathan Smith
Orange Sunshine – Yum Yuck
The Devils Cattle – Ruff Majik
Nothing’s Gonna Change – Oooth

Best Pop Album

11:11 – Rowlene
I Don’t Sleep – Jethro Tait
Tribes & Angels – Locnville
Sugar – Mark Stent
She – Amy Lilley

Beste Pop Album

2021 – Die Heuwels Fantasties
Die Toekoms is Synth – Synth Peter
Twintig20 – Brendan Peyper
Gewigloos – Juan Boucher
Gemaklik Verlore – Christa Visser

Best Adult Contemporary Album

In the Kingdom of the Aloes – amaFranx
Repaired – Jack Atlantic
Rise – Ndlovu Youth Choir
Take Me To The River – Connell Cruise
The South African Songbook – Kurt Darren & The Soweto Gospel Choir

Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album

Wandel In My Woning – Refentse
Herverbeel – Die Heuwels Fantasties
Net Geleen – Bernice West
Monumentaal – Ruhan Du Toit
Spontaan – Riaan Benadê

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

Umsebenzi – Sjava
Isambulo – 1020 Cartel Artists
Amakhaya – Max-Hoba
Bamako – Simphiwe Dana
Buhlebendalo – Chosi

Best Alternative Music Album

Mania/Post Mania – Yellow House
iimini – Bongeziwe Mabandla
Hot Mess – Evert Snyman
Filth and Wisdom – The Medicine Dolls
Ebusuku – Th&o

Best R&B/Soul Album

A Force To Be Reckoned With – Thando
LANGA – Langa Mavuso
Sindisiwe – LaSauce
Small World – Ricky Tyler
Uhambo – Soul Kulture

Best Hip Hop Album

4436 – Boity
Nadia Naked II – Nadia Nakai
Zulu With Some Power – Nasty C
Pop Star – Yanga Chief
Zakwe & Duncan – Zakwe & Duncan

Best Kwaito Album

Sgubhu OverDoze – Lvovo & Danger
Endaweni – Darkie Fiction
Don’t Lose Hope – Sukiripapa
Bhut’Madlisa – Mampintsha
Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa & Zuma

Best Dance Album

To The World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician
For The Goovists – Oscar Mbo
Xola Moya Wam’ – Nomcebo Zikode
The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion
We Made It – Mi Casa

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

Worship House Project 17, Chapter II – Worship House
Buya Nkosi – Thinah Zungu
Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
Wathi Eloyi Eloyi – Sipho Makhabane
Izulu – Sneziey

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

Devotion – Nqubeko Mbatha
Face 2 Face – Collen Maluleke
Jesus is Enough – Xolly Mncwango
Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle
The Promised Revival Part One – Tshwane Gospel Choir

Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album

Makhosi Akithi – Vuma Zion
Izwi Lakho – Mandlethu Gospel Singers
Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development – Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development
Sithembe Wena Nkosi – JTG Gospel Choir
Enyokumkhonza – Enyonini Mission Ministries

Rest of Africa Award

Unity Album – Buffalo Souljah
A Better Time – Davido
Made in Lagos – Wizkid
Midnight Train – Sauti Sol
Songs in the Key of Love – Berita

Best Traditional Album

Love and War – Henny C
What a Life – Sho Madjozi
Angeke Bakuthande Boke – Smangele
Shebeen Queen – Vusi Mahlasela
Ndavhuko – Vendaboy Poet

Best Maskandi

Amagupta – iChwane Lebhaca
Ziyangiluma Izinja – Phuzekhemisi
Iqatha Eliziqobayo – Thokozani Langa
Banathi Shaqa – Imithente
Imfene Kamakhelwane – Abafana Baka Mgqumeni

Best Jazz Album

Africado – BandaBanda & The Crocodiles
An Open Dialogue – Linda Sikhakhane
iHubo Labomdabu – Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane
Modes of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds – Nduduzo Makhathini
Thandi Ntuli (Live at Jazzwerkstatt) – Thandi Ntuli

Best Classical/Instrumental Album

Live in Cape Town – Guy Battery & Derek Gripper
Imagine – Charles du Plessis Trio
Live in Lisbon – Nibs van der Spuy & Guy Battery
Tek’o – CH2
We’ve All Known All Times – Wouter Kellerman

Best Afropop Album

Ingoma – Azana
Molimo – Manu Worldstar
Ngumama – Vusi Nova
The Voice of Africa – Kelly Khumalo
Tugela Fairy (Made of Stars) – Simmy

Best Live Audio Visual Recording of the Year

Your Kingdom on Earth – HLE
The Throne (Live Edition) – Presss
Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
My Hart Klop Refentse – Refentse
A Journey to the World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician

Best Collaboration

‘Uthando’ – Darque ft. Zakes Bantwini
‘Ek Like Hoe Jy Dans’ – Chê ft. Snotkop
‘Mali Eningi’ – Big Zulu ft. Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai
‘Senzeni’ – Mthandazo Gatya ft. Comado & DJ Manzo SA
‘Yehla Moya’ – Da Capo & Nduduzo Makhathini ft. Omagugu

Best Produced Music Video

‘Where is the DJ’ by Malumz on Decks ft. Khanyisa – Oscar Nyathi
‘Qhawe’ – Made to Create by Toya Delazy – Kyle Lewis & Vjorn Tucker
‘Mamela’ by Mi Casa – Katya Abedian
‘Lucky Star’ by K.O – Adam Zackon & Dale Fortune
‘Hosh’ by Prince Kaybee ft. Sir Trill – Ofentse

Best Produced Album of the Year

In the Beginning Was the End by Manana – Manana & Noble
Ithemba by Luyolo – Marcus MC & Andy Keys
Umsebenzi by Sjava – Delaydem, Ruff, Webmoms, Zadok & Vuyo Manyike
Tugela Fairy: Made of Stars by Simmy – Sun-El Musician, Claudio Wayde, Da Capo & Mpho Mohlolong
The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion

Best Engineered Album of the Year