By: Natasha Archary
The 2021 SAMA awards took place virtually on Saturday, 31 July with amapiano hitmaker Kabza De Small walking away as the biggest winner with 4 SAMAs.
Pretoria-based DJ and music producer Kabza De Small’s collaboration with DJ Maphorisa as Scorpion Kings bagged them Album of the Year, Duo or Group of the Year and Best Amapiano Album for Once Upon A Time In Lockdown. His solo album I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet and Dust earned him the Male Artist of the Year gong.
The #SAMA27 Album of the Year goes to @KabzaDeSmall_ & @DjMaphorisa for “Once upon a time in Lockdown”.#REDEFINE pic.twitter.com/jsWWab1NVF
— The SA Music Awards (@TheSAMAs) July 31, 2021
The #SAMA27 Male Artist goes to @KabzaDeSmall_
for “I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust”.#REDEFINE#REDEFINE pic.twitter.com/1O4xegoXOu— The SA Music Awards (@TheSAMAs) July 31, 2021
Hip-hop duo Blaq Diamond made history as the first outfit to ever be crowned Artist of the Year at the SAMAs.
Internationally recognised SA artist Master KG took home the SAMRO Composer Highest Airplay award that he shares with Nomcebo Zikode for the hit Jerusalema.
Bad news for Azana who featured on The Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30 who was vying for the Newcomer of the Year award as that title went to gospel star Bucy Radebe who bagged two trophies, the White Star Newcomer of the Year and Best Traditional Faith Album for Spiritual Encounter.
Sho Madjozi proved scooped the Best Traditional Album and Sofn’free Female Artist of the Year.
Complete list of winners:
Artist of the Year Blaq Diamond
Record of the Year Keep it Together – Matthew Mole Music Video of the Year Price to Pay – Miss Pru featuring Blaq Diamond and Malome Vector
Album of the Year Once Upon A Time In Lockdown – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
Duo or Group of the Year Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) – Once Upon A Time In Lockdown
Sofnfree Female Artist of the Year Sho Madjozi – What A Life
Male Artist of the Year Kabza De Small – I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust
White Star Newcomer of the Year Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter
Best Rock Album Orange Sunshine – Yum Yuck
Best Pop Album Tribes & Angels – Locnville
Beste Pop Album Twentig 20 – Brendan Peyper
Best Adult Contemporary Album Rise – Ndlovu Youth Choir
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album Herverbeel – Die Heuwels Fantasties
Best African Adult Contemporary Album Amakhaya – Max Hoba
Best Alternative Album Iimini – Bongeziwe Mabandla
Best R&B/Soul Album Uhambo – Soul Kulture
Best Hip-Hop Album Zulu Man With Some Power – Nasty C
Best Kwaito Album Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa and Zuma
Best Dance Album The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion
Best Traditional Faith Album Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
Best Contemporary Faith Album Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle
Best African Indigenous Faith Album Izwi Lakho – Mandlethu Gospel Singers
Rest of Africa Songs in the Key of Love – Berita
Best Traditional Album What a Life – Sho Madjozi
Best Maskandi Album kaMakhelwane – Abafana Baka Mgqumeni
Best Jazz Album Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworld – Nduduzo Makhathini
Best Classical/Instrumental Album We’ve Known All Times – Wouter Kellerman
Best Afropop Album Ngumama – Vusi Nova
Best Live Audio Visual Recording Journey to the World and Beyond – Sun-El Musician
Best Collaboration Mali Eningi – Big Zulu feat Riky Rick and Intaba yase Dubai
Best Produced Music Video Hosh by Prince Kaybee feat Sir Trill – Ofentse
Best Produced Album of the Year Umsebenzi by Sjava – Delaydem, Ruff, Webmoms, Zadok and Vuyo Manyike
Best Engineered Album of the Year Inganekwane by Zoe Modiga – Papi Diretsi and Songo Oyama
Remix of the Year Yehla Moya – Da Capo
Best Reggae Album Persistence – Bongo Riot
Best Amapiano Album Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
Best Gqom Album Inzalo Yekwaito – Zinaro
Lifetime Achievement Award Lebo M, Dr Lindelani Mkhize, PJ Powers
International Achievement Award Master KG
Best Selling Artist Mlindo the Vocalist – Emakhaya
Most Streamed Song You’re the One – Elaine
SAMRO Composer Highest Airplay Kgaugelo Moagi (Master KG) and Nomcebo Zikode – Jerusalema
Also read: King of Afro Dance, A-Star on The Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30