THE wait is over!
The South African Music Awards (Samas) have officially unveiled the nominees for their 32nd edition, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the biggest nights in Mzansi music.
The nominees were announced on Thursday, 25 June in Bryanston, Joburg, with artists from various genres earning recognition for their work over the past year.
Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said this year’s nominees showcase the incredible depth of local talent.
“The nominees announced today form a breathtaking symphony of South African sound,” he said.
Sibisi said the list reflects a meeting point between music legends and emerging artists, while highlighting the continued growth of genres such as amapiano, gospel, hip hop, jazz, Afro-pop, maskandi and lekompo.
Among the nominees are some of the country’s biggest names.
In the Best Amapiano Album category, heavyweights Kabza De Small, Kelvin Momo, De Mthuda and Babalwa M will battle it out for top honours.
The Best Afro Pop Album category features Lwah Ndlunkulu, CiCi, Sjava, Nomfundo Moh and Samthing Soweto.
Hip hop fans will be watching closely as Nasty C, FLVME, MashBeatz, Danya Devs and the late Riky Rick compete for Best Hip Hop Album.
The competition is equally fierce in the Best Dance Album category, where MaWhoo, MÖRDA, Da Capo and Dlala Thukzin are among the nominees.
Sibisi said the awards are about much more than trophies.
“The SAMAs are our industry’s annual love letter to music and the people who create it,” he said.
This year’s theme is “Less Noise. More Music.”
The coveted Top Five categories have not yet been announced. They are set to be announced on 2 July.
This year’s awards will take place on 15 August at the iconic Sun City Superbowl in North West, marking what organisers have dubbed the “SAMA32 Homecoming Edition”.
