Disappointed with the SAMAS

The 24th South African Music Awards took place last Saturday. Buhle Mbonambi lists the looks he loved, and those he felt ‘meh’ about

IWAS very disappointed by the recent South African Music Awards. I’ve realised that it’s been a few years since I really enjoyed these awards.

This year’s edition was hosted by Somizi Mhlongo, Dineo Ranaka and Mpho Popps.

On paper, it should have worked. Somizi is funny (sometimes), Dineo is not afraid to tell it like it is, while Mpho is a professional comedian. It just didn’t work. There was no chemistry, the jokes were lame, they overstayed their welcome on stage, and they made it all about them, instead of the music.

It wasn’t all bad, but the bad outweighed the good and that’s always so disappointing, especially when so much money had been spent and people worked hard to try to make the SAMAS, which are the biggest awards ceremony in South Africa, a celebration of music.

What I did love was how amazing the stage was; the winners reflected what is happening in music right now, with Shekinah, Lady Zamar, Distruction Boyz, Prince Kaybee, Busiswa and Sun El Musician and Samthing Soweto winning awards.

Rapper, Rouge, had the best performance of the night and made sure she left an impression on everyone – that she has arrived!

And now, the fashion. Where to even start? It seems like our stars refuse to understand how to dress for the red carpet and even when they are told to stop wearing particular styles of clothes, they persist.

It’s so boring. And also, how is it that our celebrities are OK with wearing garments that were worn by Miss South Africa contestants a few days earlier?

In the hierarchy of celebrity, shouldn’t they be making the trends and getting the garments before beauty pageant girls? Anyway, those that did look good, really made sure they left an impression.

SLAY

These are looks that delivered. There was nothing groundbreaking, but these stars were well put together, knew where they were going and looked the part.

Nomuzi Mabena Luthando Shosha Tresor

Lady Zamar

Pearl Modiadie

NAY

It’s sad when bad fashion happens to good people. They tried to be edgy, it just didn’t work. Boity, Nadia and Khanya fell victim to the sheer trend.

Riky Rick thought wearing a look from the runway was edgy (it wasn’t), while Dash and Tira need to start trying harder. Nandi disappointed – we expect better from her.

Nadia Nakai

Riky Rick

Boity

Nandi Madida Dash

DJ TIRA

Khanya Mkangisa