Record entries for awards

One of the Kardashian ‘Grandpa robbers’ tells all in his book

At a total of 1 163, the number of entries received for Sama27, has set a new record in the history of the South African Awards (Samas).

The industry responded positively to the call for entries by the Samas that started in November 2020 and ended at midnight on 31 January 2021.

The rallying call was that the Samas are inclusive and fair, and that music is judged on its merits by reputable music industry experts.

Musicians from all genres, persuasions and influences have thrown their names in the hat to be considered for the much sought-after trophy.

Even in a challenging year that will be remembered for the devastation the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked across the world, the number of entries set a record for the Samas since they were first staged in 1994.

The Best Collaboration category received the biggest number of entries at 170. The newly added Best Amapiano Album earned an impressive 63 entries, and kwaito proved its vitality attracting 19 entries in the Best Kwaito Album category.

Gqom held its own with 14 entries for Best Gqom Album.

For the last five years, the numbers have been incresing. At Samas22 entries clocked in at 400, Samas23 earned 740, Samas24 had 778, Samas25 saw 752 while Samas26 attracted 802 entries.

The event has grown almost threefold in just five years. “We are greatly encouraged by this huge number of entries despite the Covid-19 challenges we faced as a nation to economic woes and loss of income, especially in the creative sector,” The Recording Industry of South Africa CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi.

“We are humbled that the industry believe the Samas has a place in their careers and the industry they operate in. This has been an incredible and successful drive. Congratulations to the team at the Samas and best wishes to the musicians who have brought their names forward.”

The next step in the process is the vetting of entries by a special independent committee of industry practitioners. This will be followed by a judging process by independent panellists. The list of nominees will be announced in April.

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“Everything went smoothly”

... a 67-year-old man awaiting trial for robbing reality star Kim Kardashian in Paris four years ago has come clean in a new book, laying out the history that led to his involvement in the heist. Yunice Abbas, who calls himself a “part-time crook”, was one of 12 people arrested for nabbing a small fortune in jewels after surprising Kardashian in the luxury residence she rented to attend Fashion Week. As his book’s title makes clear – I

Kidnapped Kim Kardashian – Abbas has no plans to contest the charges.

It was the biggest robbery of an individual in France in two decades, with the thieves making off with a combined haul worth about €9 million (about R160 million).

Most of the pieces were never found.

“The jurors will have to decide, and in theory they’ll do it based only on what’s presented to them in court, but 50 stories have already been told about all this – I wanted to tell my truth, the one I’ve lived,” Abbas said.

He was one of five men aged 60 to 72 – dubbed the “Grandpa robbers” in the press – who entered Kardashian’s apartment at around 2.30 am on the night of 3 October, 2016.

The star later told police the men, at least one of whom was wearing a jacket with a police insignia, tied her up with plastic cables and adhesive tape, and placed her in the bathtub.

“It went fast, maybe five, six, seven minutes, from entry to exit, because everything went smoothly. Nobody interfered, the victim handed over the jewels without resistance,” he said.

But as he entered the street alone – he says he was last to leave – he found himself face to face with a police patrol.

“I was shutting the door and they looked at me, so I gave a little sign, like a salute.

“They were just on one of their rounds, but obviously I was nervous. I looked calm, or at least I tried to, and it worked.”

Abbas was one of 12 suspects arrested three months later.

He had spent his life in and out of jail – 21 years in total – but had been “clean” for nine years before being offered the Kardashian heist “at a time when I needed the money”, he said.

After 22 months behind bars, a judge released him on health grounds, and Abbas now hopes a jury will be lenient after he underwent heart surgery.

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