The nominees for the 28th Annual South African Music Awards – Samas28 – were announced on 7 June 2022 with Amampiano dominating the nominees for the Public vote categories: Artist of the Year, Record of the Year and Music Video of the Year. The Reggae category which deserves separate Awards to cover the scope of Reggae Dancehall and its sub-genres and culture – has nominees who are making a return to the SAMAs.
Since The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) announced that the South African Music Awards will add Reggae as a standalone category known as Best Reggae Album three years ago, there has been a steady stream of artists enlisting to be contenders and repeat contenders. Reign Afrika dominated with three nominations last year at SAMA27 competing in the Best Reggae Album, Newcomer of the Year and Best Female Artist. While the multiple Award Winner Ras Canly, who has raked up quite a few awards in his short but intense musical journey, was a contender at last years SAMA27 with his album The Journey. Skeleton Blazer returns from the Low Land Album nomination of 2020 and comes back to the SAMAs with an album titled He Crowned I Emperor. Botanist Mr Lemington was set to change the game in 2019 with his Album and Nomination; He returns to SAMA28 with an independantly produced Album The Shift.
Dancehall Artist and Founder of Maximum Stylez Publishing Pepsin bagged a nomination in Best Traditional Album for his Traditional Album Glozified. Pepsin doubles up as a traditional healer Mkhanyalude. Reign Africa is also nominated in the Best Female Artist Category and Mr. Lamington got two nominations in the New Comer of The Year and Best Reggae Album categories.
The SAMA28 Best Reggae Album Nominees
SAMA28 | Skeleton Blazer – He Crowned I Emperor
Artist: Skeleton Blazer
Album: He Crowned I Emperor
Label: Front Line Productions
Year: 2022
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After more than 17 years in the Reggae business Skeleton Blazer has remained authentic, consistent and true to his sound and his message. His album, which is a roots reggae album is versitile, relatable, and caters to all.
SAMA28 | Reign Afrika – Trailblazer
Artist: Reign Africa
Album: Trailblazer
Label: Frontline Productions
Year@ 2022
Female Artist of The Year | Best Reggae Album
Reign Africa released her debut album On The Frontlines in 2021 and it earned her three nominations; Best Reggae Album, Best Female Artist at last year’s SAMAs. She released her follow-up Album Trailblazer earlier this year and held a listening session at the Mzansi Dancehall Red Carpert Concert. Her first entry in the field was with the single WAMI a collaboration with SAMA Nominee Skeleton Blazer back in 2017. She releasied a string of singles such as Nuh Ordinary Woman and featured on quite a few prominent Mzansi Riddims: Live & Joy Riddim; Supa Nova Riddim; Kings Choice Riddim; Love Drop Riddim; Sexology Riddim; Moments with You Riddim and the SAMA27 nominated Album Emphathy Riddim.
SAMA28 | Ras Canley: Hard To Believe
Artist: Ras Canly
Album: Hard To Believe
Label: Top Shattas
Year: 2021
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Ras Canly has been a consistent contender in the awards scene, he won the regional TSHIMA Song of the Year award in 2017, making it the first Reggae Song to win this highly contested award. In 2021 he was nominated in 4 categories, including Song of the Year again, and Best Reggae Album. He is proving to be the innovative front runner of the new Generation of Reggae artists. Ras Canly is not only popular in the Reggae scene, but throughout the region’s music and entertainment scene, proven by his win of the TSHIMA Male artist of Year award. This is also fueled by his many collaborations with artists from other genres, particularly in the VendaRap genre. The Destiny Riddim has many of these collabos, his recent one being with Ramzeey on a track ‘Why’.
SAMA28 | Botanist Mr Lamington: The Shift
Artist: Botanist Mr. Lamington
Album: The Shift
Label: Concrete Jungle Studios
Year: 2021
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The Artist formerly known as Botanist The Sniper is entering the SAMAs for the third time now. He bagged his first SAMA nomination in 2019 with the Album, Game Changer, followed by the Album The Revealer in 2020 released under Maximum Stylez Records. Soon after he started his own label Concrete Jungle Studios where independently produced his third nominated Dancehall Album ‘The Shift’ which got two nominations in The Best Reggae Album and New Comer of the Year categories.
SAMA28 | Red Is Scorch – Ngatanngwe
Artist: Red I Scorch
Album: Ngatanngwe
Year: 2022
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‘NGATANNGWE is the Setswana word for togetherness. The musical composition is inspired by the need to unite and come together in all aspects of life as Africans. From building strong families and communities to artists uniting towards a common cause as well as good international relations amongst countries in the continent in light of the mandate of the African Union.’ – Red I Scorch.
SAMA28 | Best Reggae Albums 2022
Complete List of SAMA28 Nominees
BEST REGGAE ALBUM
Skeleton Blazer: He Crowned I Emperor
Reign Afrika – Trailblazer
Ras Canley: Hard To Believe
Botanist Mr Lamington: The Shift
Red Is Scorch – Ngatanngwe
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sun-El Musician: African Electronic Dance Music
Zakes Bantwini: Ghetto King
Brian Temba: It’s All You
CymaMusique: Musique
Mobi Dixon: When House Was House
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Msaki: Platinum Heart Open
Khanyisile Mthethwa: African Bird
Kamo Mphela: Nkulunkulu
Reign Afrika: Trailblazer
Shekhinah: Trouble In Paradise
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sun-El Musician: African Electronic Dance Album
Zakes Bantwini: Ghetto King
Brian Temba: It’s All You
ChymaMusique: Musique
Mobi Dixon: When House Was House
DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
Reece Madlisa & Zuma: Ama Roto Vol. 2
Watershed: Elephant In The Room
Franco Prinsloo & Vox Chamber Choir: Franco: Kruis Van Liefde
Wouter Kellerman & David Arkenstone: Pangaea
Shwi Nimtekhala: Wangikhulisa uMama
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Thapelo Lekoane: Tapestry
Khanyisile Mthetwa: African Bird
25K: Pheli Makaveli
Ncebakazi Msomi: The 34th Psalm
Botanist Mr Lemington: The Shift
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Steve Louw: Headlight Dreams
Springbok Nude Girls: Partypocalypse
Tim Parr: Revolution
Deity’s Muse: Ennui
Albert Frost: Sacred Sound
BEST POP ALBUM
Jeremy Loops: Souvenirs
Tresor: Motion
Shekhinah: Trouble In Paradise
Bonji: A Journal
Jacky Carpede: Don’t Let Go
BESTE KONTEMPORÊRE MUSIEK ALBUM
Jan Jan Jan: Al Die Oysters
Neil Sandilands: Sangona Sandilands & Jou Pa Se Posse Maanskyn
Jennifer Zamuido: Twintigeentwintig
Die Heuwels Fantasties:Volume
Jodi Jantjies: Woorde
BESTE POP ALBUM
Juan Boucher: Hier Waar Ek Nou Is
Janie Bay: Prisma
Elandre: Rugsak
Posduif: Nkis Vergely
Rite Li: Roekeloos
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Daniel Baron: City of God & The Jungle Below
Lo-Ghost: Night Speak
Alice Phoebe Lou: Glow
Anna Wolf: Romance Was Born
Alice Phoebe Lou: Child’s Play
BEST R&B/SOUL ALBUM
P.Postman: Real Talk
Melleng: The Arrival
Joda Kgosi: Sour Milk
Brian Temba: It’s All You
Mikhale Jones – It Is What It Is
HIP HOP ALBUM
Kid X: Father of Zen
25K: Pheli Makaveli
A-Reece: Today’s Tragedy, Tomorrow’s Memory: Mixtape
Emtee: Logan
Blxckie: B4Now
BEST KWAITO ALBUM
Sukiri Papa : Don’t Lose Focus
Simply Eugene: Let Dogs Lie Low
ShisaBoy: Kwaito Pallet
Reece Madlisa & Zuma: Ama Roto Vol. 2
King Razo: Trip To Jozi
BEST DANCE ALBUM
Miza: Muzika
Zakes Bantwini: Ghetto King
ChymaMusique: Musique
Mobi Dixon: When House Was House
Sun-El Musician: African Electronic Dance Music
BEST TRADITIONAL FAITH MUSIC ALBUM
Puleng March: Heaven’s Scroll
Paul K: In The Beginning
Vela Nkosi: Jumbo
Takie Ndou: The Gret Revival
Zaza: Shrubs of Chronicle (Live)
BEST CONTEMPORARY FAITH MUSIC ALBUM
Thabelo: My Heart To Him
KingDMusic: Denga
Pulane Maphari: Sacrificial Worship (Live
Lauren Cullen: Find Me Singing
Ncebakazi Msomi: The 34th Psalm
BEST TRADITIONAL ALBUM
Mkhanyalude: Dlozified
Vha Venda Cultural Group: Dziya Fhirana
Dr Mercy Masakona Mazivhandila: Tshihwilili
Tau Sebata: Mathotse
Klipwef: Hantam Kersfees
BEST AFRICAN INDIGENOUS FAITH MUSIC ALBUM
Isaac & The Mighty Messengers: Ba Bosiu
JTG Gospel Choir: Re Kopa Go Wena Ramasedi
NUZ Voices Of Joy: Similapha Nkosi
The Harmony Singers Artists Development: Ore Etele Mohloeki
Zion Iskhalanga Academy: Swi Lava Yeso
BEST MASKANDI
Makhamnandi: Ziyashisa
Shwi Nimtekhala: Wangikgulisa Umama
Thokozani Langa : Idayimani
Udumakahle: Phakati Komhlane
Mzukulu: Ivila Laselawini
BEST JAZZ ALBUM
Herbie Tsoaeli: At This Point In Time Voices In Volumes
Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane: Music From My People
Jimmy Dludlu: History In A Frame
Steve Dyer: Revision
McCoy Mrubata: Quiet Please
BEST CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Wouter Kellerman & Davi Arkenstone: Pangaea
Khanyisile Mthethwa: African Bird
Charl Du Plessis Trio: It Takes Three
Scheppel: Afrikaans
Franco Prinsloo: Vox Chamber Choir
BEST AFRO POP ALBUM
Mnqobi Yazo: iStiff
Bonga Kwana: New Faces To Old Problema
Cici: Sukulila
Aubrey Qwana: Amalobolo
Nomfundo Moh: Amagama
REST OF AFRICA AWARD
Edgar Muzah: Son Of A Tribe
Malome Vector: Karabo
CKay: Boyfriend
Tems: If Orange Was A Place
Tay Iwar: Love & Isolation
BEST COLLABORATION
Karyendasoul & Zakes Bantwini featuring Nana Atta: Imali
Zakes Bantwini & Kasango: Osama
Njelic & Boohle featuring De Mthuda and Da Muziqal Chef: Wamuhle
Makhadzi featuring Joe Belinger: Zwivhuya
Msaki featuring Da Capo: No Rainbow
BEST PRODUCED MUSIC VIDEO
Edward (Gobi Beast) & Ofentse Mwase: Big Zulu – Inhlupheko
Ted Magerman: K.O – Playback
Dale Fortune: Mafikizolo featuring Simmy – Mamezala
Mabi Ntuli & Shona: Mobi Dixon featuring Mariechan and Jnr SA – When House Was House
Mninzo Sitho & Nhlanhla – AKA: Finessin
BEST PRODUCED ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Bokang & Ndumiso: Malome Vector- Karabo
Neo Muyanga & Asanda: Msaki – Platinum Heart Open
Howard Bradley: Vaughn Prangley – Destination Unknown
Seak, Keanan Leroy & Arthur: The One Who Sings – Thetha Mama
Jacques Du Plesis High: Khan Morbee – A World At Suicide
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Greg Abrahams, Mike Zietsman & Vincente: Moonga K- Candid
Zakes Bantwini: Zakes Bantwini – Ghetto King
Sibabalwa Andile Fiphaza: 25K – Pheli Makaveli
Daniel Baron & Darryn Muller: Daniel Baron: City of God & The Jungle Bow
Peter Auret: Charl Du Plessis Trio – It Takes Three
REMIX OF THE YEAR
Manyelo Dafro Bassekou Kouyate & Da Capo: Ladon – Manyelo featuring Bassekou Kouyate
Lira & DJ Maphorisa: Feel Good
Sun-El Musician, Azana & Da Capo: Uhuru by Sun-El Musician & Azana
Da Capo: Mama by Josiah De Disciple & Boohle
DJ Cleo: Gcina Impilo Yam by Bucy Radebe
BEST AMAPIANO ALBUM
Kamo Mphela: Nkulunkulu
Mas Musiq: Authi e’Sharp
Mellow & Sleazy: Kwa Kwa
Young Stunna: Notumato
Focalistic: President Ya Strata
BEST GQOM ALBUM
Bello No Gallo: Khula
Dlala Thukzin: Summer Banger
T-Man: Best of the Best
Slenda Da Dancing DJ: The Journey
Dladla Mshunqisi: Umshunqo Reloaded