The 18th Annual South African Music Awards Nominees

The annual MTN South African Music Awards nominees were announced on Thurdsay in Johannesburg.
Zahara is the frontrunner for the Samas with seven nominations for her album Loliwe – this includes three in the Top 5 categories and one for MTN Record of the Year.
Soul-House trio Mi Casa is close on her heels with five nominations in total. Four are for their debut album Mi Casa Music, the fifth nomination is for the MTN Record of the Year for their track These Streets.
Also earning five nominations is newcomer Kwa-Zulu Natal emcee Zakwe, who is in the running for Best Street Urban Album, Remix of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
Highest accolade
The 18th MTN Samas will be taking place on Sunday April 29 and Monday April 30 at the Sun City Resort.
The nominees were announced by Samas alumni including Loyiso Bala, HHP, Kabelo Mabalane, Solly Mahlangu, Kurt Darren, Ziyon Hamilton (Liquideep), Matshediso Mholo (Malaika), Greg Carlin (Zebra & Giraffe), Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse and Lira.
Joining the artists in announcing nominees for the Samas were MTN Sama CEO Randall Abrahams and MTN SA’s Chief Marketing Officer Serame Taukobong .
“The MTN South African Music Awards represents the highest accolade for achievement in the art of recorded music,” Abrahams said.
“The awards capture the defining spirit of music in South Africa and celebrate our finest musical talent.”
Two-day event
In announcing the 29 categories, the panel revealed another multi-nominee in the form of accomplished songwriter and versatile Afro-Soul performer, Zonke, whose 2011 record, Ina Ethe is up for three MTN South African Music Awards.
This includes a nomination for Album of the Year, where she’s up against Zahara, Zakwe, Mi Casa and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who have earned the nomination for their album Songs from the Farms.
Cape Town-based group Goodluck also earned multiple nominations including for Duo or Group of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Dance Album.
Rock also reared its head in the Best Newcomer of the Year category with Shadowclub’s debut Guns and Money up against Mi Casa, Zahara and Zakwe, as well as the Lwanda Gogwana.
Alongside winners in the 29 categories revealed on Thursday, several categories will be announced at the two-day awards event in April.
These include the Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Achievement Award and the Best-Selling Awards.
Voting is now open for the MTN Record of the Year – the only publicly voted category at the 18th Annual MTN South African Music Awards. The public can vote by sending an SMS with the letter assigned to their favourite artist to 083 123 SAMA (7262) at standard SMS rates.
The full list of nominees for the18th Annual MTN South African Music Awards:
Record Of The Year:
Amapansula Ajabulile – Kabelo Mabalane; Casanova – DJ Choice; Clap Your Hands – Zakes Bantwini Feat. Xolani Sithole;  Ex – Character;  Facebook – DJ Cleo; Get Over It – Bucie; I Wanna Love You – Lulo Café Feat. Nothende; Lengoma – DJ Sbu Feat. Zahara; Lento – Professor Feat. Speedy; Lighthouse – Elvis Blue; Loliwe – Zahara; Make It Easy – Lloyd Cele; Phakade – Lira; Settle For Less – Liquideep ; Taking It Easy – GoodLuck; These Streets – Mi Casa; Thinking About You – Theo; Kgosinkwe Feat. Zonke; Turning In My Sleep – Prime Circle; World of Mine – Loyiso Feat. Khuli Chana; You And I – Charlize Berg & Heinz Winckler
Album Of The Year:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Songs From The Farms
Mi Casa – Mi Casa Music
Zahara – Loliwe
Zakwe – Zakwe
Zonke – Ina Ethe
Duo or Group Of The Year:
Big Nuz – Pound For Pound
Goodluck – Goodluck
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Songs From The Farms
Mi Casa – Mi Casa Music
Taxi Violence – Unplugged: Long Way From Home
Female Artist Of The Year:
Charlize Berg – Charlize Berg
Josie Field – 1984
Nomhle – Ikwezi (Morning Star)
Zahara – Loliwe
Zonke – Ina Ethe
Male Artist Of The Year:
AKA – Altar Ego
Bhekumuzi Luthuli – Isipho (Gift)
Jimmy Dludlu – Tonota
Lwanda Gogwana Songbook – Chapter 1
Zakwe – Zakwe
Newcomer Of The Year:
Lwanda Gogwana Songbook – Chapter 1
Mi Casa – Mi Casa Music
Shadowclub – Guns and Money
Zahara – Loliwe
Zakwe – Zakwe
Best Traditional:
Bhekumuzi Luthuli – Isipho (Gift)
Joe Shirimani Na Va Ndoda – Banana
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Song From The Farms
Soul Brothers – Amaphutha
Zozo – Tshigotsha Nama
Best Classical and Instrumental:
Ben Schoeman – Liszt
CH2 – Ping!
Charl Du Plessis Trio – Shanghai Brunch
Derek Gripper – The Sound Of Water
Zoë Beyers – Mendelssohn
Best Jazz:
Adam Glasser – Mzansi
Jimmy Dludlu – Tonota
Lwanda Gogwana Songbook – Chapter 1
Marcus Wyatt – ZAR
Vusi Khumalo – Reasons For Seasons
Best Adult Contemporary Album:
Chris Chameleon – As Jy Weer Skryf
Coenie De Villiers – Hart Van Glas
Elvis Blue – Elvis Blue (2CD Special Edition)
Josie Field – 1984
Judith Sephuma – I Am A Living Testimony
Best Africa Adult:
Moreira Chonguica And Various – Khanimambo: Tributes To Legends Of Mozambique
Nomhle – Ikwezi(Morning Star)
Somizi – 9 Lives – My Genesis
Unathi – With Love
Zonke – Ina Ethe
Best Contemporary Faith Music:
Joe Niemand – Ek Sal Nie Bang Wees Nie
Martin PK – Man On A Mission
Swazi Dlamini – Gospel Meets Jazz Live In Durban
The Plain Truth – We Are The Shining Ones
We Will Worship – The MoveMEANT Begins
Best Traditional Faith Music:
Kgotso – New Dawn
Nqubeko Mbatha – Forever I’ll Worship
Sfiso Ncwane – Kulungile Baba
Solly Mahlangu – Mwamba Mwamba
Soweto Spiritual Singers – Open Heaven
Best Kiddies Album:
Carike Keuzenkamp – Carike & Ghoempie Kuier Saam Met Ghoeghoe In Kinderland 8
Helena Smith – Luidkiz 2 – U Naam Is Ons Kreet
Minki Burger & Alta Joubert – Lollos 3 Boem Boem, Ons Gaan Groen!
Riku Lätti – Janneman In Die Diereryk
Wendy Oldfield – Singalong Kidz Volume 2
Best Rock:
aKING – The Red Blooded Years
Shadowclub – Guns And Money
Taxi Violence – Unplugged: Long Way From Home
The Graeme Watkins Project – Corridors Of The Mind
Van Coke Kartel – Wies Bang
Best Alternative:
Ashtray Electric – Measured In Falls
Dear Reader – Idealistic Animals
Die Heuwels Fantasties – Wilder As Die Wildtuin
The Dirty Skirts – Lost In The Fall
Wrestlerish – Towns
Best Pop:
Brandon October – Brandon October
Charlize Berg – Charlize Berg
Hulle – Hulle
Jozi – Moving The City
Lloyd Cele – One
Best Dance:
G.Family – Deep House Chronicles 6
Ganyani Entertainment Family Presents The Family – 1st Gathering
Goodluck – Goodluck
Mi Casa – Mi Casa Music
Pascal & Pearce – Passport
Best Street Urban:
AKA – Altar Ego
HHP – Motswafrika
Jack Parow – Eksie Ou
L-Tido – All Or Nothing
Zakwe – Zakwe
Best Smooth Urban:
Afro’traction – Soulfully Yours
Kabomo – All Things Grey
Lira – Return To Love (Deluxe Edition)
Mckenzie – Poetic Genesis
Zahara – Loliwe
Best Maskandi:
Imithente – Mbibi
Mfiliseni Magubane – Amandla Ami
Phuzekhemisi – Amapasi
Sakhile Mfuphi – Ngikhanyisele
Thokozani Langa – I-Protection Order
Best Sokkie Dans:
Donovan Vallance – Rock My Wêreld
Gerrie Pretorius – Gister En Vandag
Izak Davel – Vreesloos
MarulaBoom – Dijam
Snotkop – Ek Laaik Van Jol
Best Kwaito:
Big Nuz – Pound For Pound
Brickz – Ruffcast
Character – Marathon
Kabelo Mabalane – Immortal Vol.1
Spikiri – King Don Father 2.5
Best Collaboration:
Character – The Marathon
Kabomo – All Things Grey
Lloyd Cele ft Loyiso Bala – Uthando
Spikiri – King Don Father 2.5
Zahara – Loliwe
Best Live DVD:
Concord – Live in Joburg
Simphiwe Dana – An Evening With Simphiwe Dana (Live In Concert)
Solly Mahlangu – Mwamba Mwamba
Various – Skouspel 2011
Various – Spirit Of Praise Vol.3
Best Video of the Year:
Goldfish – We Come Together
Locnville – Stars Above You
The Graeme Watkins Project – Music Affair
The Parlotones – Its Magic
Toby – My Dad
Best Producer:
Josie Field – 1984
Laurie Levine – Six Winters
Lira – Return To Love (Delux Edition)
Lloyd Cele – One
Nkulee Dube – My Way
Best Engineer:
Jimmy Dludlu – Tonota
Lira – Return To Love (Delux Edition)
Moreira Chonguica And Various – Khanimambo: A Tribute To The Legends Of Mozambique
Mpho-za – Dream To Reality
Zahara – Loliwe
Remix of the Year:
DJ Sbu ft Zahara – Lengoma
Lira ft Tebogo Moloto – Call Me
Merissa Guzzman / Black Coffee Mix – Time To Go
MXO – Zandiy’bone
Zakwe ft Zulu Boy & Danger – Bathi Ng’yachoma