Durban’s award-winning show
The city has once again played host to a major event, this time the South African Music Awards. was there
also walked away with multiple awards, scoring three for his album Bayede Baba. Durban kwaito group DBN Nyts surprised many people when they also scooped three awards for their hit song, Shumaya.
Other winners at the awards included Zonke, Emtee, Big Nuz, Petite Noir, Zahara, Tresor, Elvis Blue, Ntokozo Mbambo and the Grammy award-winning Wouter Kellerman, who walked away with his second Sama for best classical and instrumental album.
A number of politicians were at the ceremony, including Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, with some of them presenting awards.
The hosts for the evening were an inspired choice, with Mhlongo and Thabethe taking no prisoners when it came to taking the mickey out of the celebrities at the event.
Wouter Kellerman opened the show with his flute and, after performing some music off last year’s album, Love Language, he went on to perform Back to the Beach by Kyle Deustch and Shekhinah and Juice Back by rising hip hop star, Nasty C.
Rapper Kid X then came on to perform and was followed by Lady Zamar and Junior Taurus with their hit song, Mamelodi. Rappers AKA and Da Les then closed the opening performance.
One of the highlights of the show was the Lebo Mathosa tribute given by Nakhane Touré and Moneoa. It’s been ten years since the songstress died in a car accident.
Another performance that raised the roof was the collaboration of The Muffinz, Petite Noir and Desmond and the Tutus.
The ceremony was true to its theme “The Future is Hear” with many futuristic elements used in the show.
From virtual reality headsets to the use of graphics, it was a high-tech show. Creative director Malcolm Ché revealed that it was the first time in awards history that a show would be streamed in 360º video.
People could also use their virtual reality headsets during the show, whether in the audience or at home. The show was also streamed live on YouTube and on the Samas app for people to watch the proceedings anywhere in the world.
The Samas is the biggest entertainment event on the South African calendar and the live broadcast on SABC1 was expected to have more than 6 million viewers.