Samas set to rock SA tonight
RECORD OF YEAR: HOTLY CONTESTED BY HEAVY K, AKA, LASAUCE, KWESTA, LADY ZAMAR, DJ KENT
Somizi, Dineo and Mpho Popps to keep the stage alive and audience on their toes.
The stage is set tonight for the SA Music Awards at Sun City in Rustenburg, North West, where South Africa’s best musicians, performers and bands are up for a variety of awards.
Choreographer and media darling Somizi Mhlongo will be hosting the event for a recordbreaking third time. While the colourful Mhlongo can hold his own, he will be joined on stage by TV personality Dineo Ranaka and stand-up comedian Mpho Popps.
Recording Industry SA (RiSA) chief executive Nhlanhla Sibisi said: “We are going all out to ensure that Samas 24 is a dazzling experience. As the most credible and premier music awards show in the land, we have to keep up the standard and the hosting team is proof that we’ve secured only the finest and best our country has to offer. We believe Somizi, Dineo and Mpho will hit all the right notes and leave us entertained.”
The list of nominees is long and vast – but one of the most hotly contested category remains the Record of the Year.
The top-10 finalists in this category includes AKA, who has kept up the momentum with two berths in the final lineup, thanks to his hit songs – The World Is Yours, Don’t Forget To Pray, and Anatii.
Tied with AKA is Kwesta with Spirit and Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe featuring Thabsie. Also listed is Lady Zamar with My Baby and DJ Kent’s Love You Still.
The list also includes Heavy K with Inde. Also in the running is Distruction Boyz with Omunye, LaSauce featuring Amanda with I Do and Shekhinah with Suited By.
Top local bands Mafikizolo, Mi Casa and songbird Simphiwe Dana bagged the most nods at tonight’s ceremony.
Mafikizolo scored three nominations in Best Afro-Pop Album, Best Engineered Album and Best Produced Album for album 20. They are tied with Mi Casa in categories Best Dance Album, Best Produced Album and Best Engineered Album for Familia.
Dana is vying for top honours in the Best Live Audiovisual, Best Jazz Album and Best African Artist for her Symphony Experience.
Unveiled earlier this month, other leading nominees are Riky Rick, Rouge and Shane Eagle, DJs Mobi Dixon and Prince Kaybee, as well as vocalists Shekhinah, Zoe Modiga and Benjamin Dube.
Mashabela Galane made history by becoming the first stand-up comedian to be nominated for a Sama in the Best Kwaito Album category for his Bona That Rural Dream. He faces tough competition from Busiswa – Highly Flavoured, Chomee – Do Mo Squats, Team Mosha – So fa Silahlane and Trendsetters – Ska Ba Hemisa.
The late Robbie Malinga’s last self-titled album earned him a spot in the Best Afro-Pop Album.
Grammy Award-winner Wouter Kellerman’s Symphonic Soweto takes on Janie Bay (Miscellany), Josie Field (Indie Soul), Charlie Finch (Life’s Journey) and Swing City (Now Listen Properly) in the Best Adult Contemporary Album category.
Afrikaans artists in the running for an award includes Kurt Darren with Laat Die Dansvloer Brand, Karlien van Jaarsveld’s Sing Vir Liefde, Brendan Peyper with Hy Loop Oop, Ray Dylan’s Uitbasuin and Lianie May with his album Iemand Om Lief Te He in the Best Pop Album.
The Best Alternative Album nominees include Bongeziwe Mabandla (Mangaliso), Jack Parow (Afrika 4 Beginners), Francois van Coke (Hierdie Is Die Lewe), Josh Kempen (The Morning Show) and Louis Lvndn with Your Princess Is In Another Castle.
Sibisi said: “This has been a particularly formidable year. And the competition was tight. We ap- plaud those who have made the cut and wish them the best going to Sun City.” – Citizen reporter