2023 SAMAs: Winners list, how to watch live in South Africa

Late rapper AKA posthumously clinched seven nominations for his album 'Mass Country', making him the leading nominee at the 2023 SAMAs.

By / / Local
2023 sama awards winners how to watch nominees

The 2023 South African Music Awards (SAMAs) unveiled its list of winners for its 29th annual ceremony at Jabulani’s Soweto Theatre on Saturday.

UPDATE: This article has been updated with the list of winners. See the updates below.

2023 SAMAs: Here are the ceremony dates

Known for celebrating the crème de la crème of South African music talent, the event is a two-day affair where artists vie for the coveted SAMA statuettes across various categories.

This year, the awards ceremony is slated for 17 and 18 November 2023 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), marking a departure from its usual venue in Sun City.

Additionally, it was announced that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will host the SAMAs for the upcoming three years.

Watch the 2023 SAMAs below:

2023 SAMAs: Here are the winners

In a poignant turn, late rapper AKA, whose real name is Kiernan Forbes, posthumously clinched seven nominations for his album Mass Country, making him the leading nominee at the 2023 SAMAs.

AKA’s life was tragically cut short earlier this year following a shooting incident outside a Durban restaurant, with his murder case still unsolved as no arrests have been made to date.

The Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA) CEO, Nhlanhla Sibisi, expressed pride in the nominees of the 2023 SAMAs, acknowledging their artistic prowess, resilience, and tenacity.

“We commend their artistry, resilience and tenacity that have led to them rising to the top and positioning themselves to be in line for the highest music accolade SA can bestow on an artist. We wish them well as we embark on the road to Sama29 in KwaZulu-Natal.” Sibisi said.

Here are the winners of this year’s SAMAs:

Record of the Year

  • Sengizwile – Mas Musiq
  • Sofa Silahlane – Wanitwa Mos
  • Hamba Wena – Deep London
  • Ngeke – Big Nuz
  • Fatela – Aymos and Ami Faku
  • Tanzania – Uncle Waffles
  • Healer Ntliziyo Yam – Gaba Cannibal
  • Lemons (Lemonade) – AKA
  • SETE – KO
  • Selema (Po Po) – Musa Keys
  • Paris – Q-Mark
  • Mina Nawe – Soa Mattrix
  • Soft Life – Nomfundo Moh
  • Sondela – Venom and Shishiliza
  • All In You – Senior Oat
  • Dali Nguwe – Wanitwa Mos
  • Tobetsa – Myztro
  • Stimela – 2Point1 – WINNER
  • Khusela – Kabza de Small
  • Abo Mvela – Daliwonga

Female Artist of the Year

  • Kelly Khumalo – From a God to a King
  • Ntokozo Mbambo – Lavish Worship – WINNER
  • Sincerely Anne – To Whom it May Concern
  • Hle – Take Heart
  • Thandi Ntuli – Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë

Male Artist of the Year

  • Kabza De Small – KOA II Part 1
  • AKA – Mass Country – WINNER
  • Sjava – Isibuko
  • K.O – SR3
  • Lloyiso – Seasons

Duo/Group of the Year

  • DJ Maphorisa and Visca – Ba Straata
  • Venom and Shishiliza – Love is Pain
  • Mafikizolo – Idwala
  • DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small – Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena – WINNER
  • Msaki and Tubatsi – Synthetic Hearts

Newcomer of the Year

  • Myztro – 2.0 Nkwari – WINNER
  • Blakka Yut – Unleashed
  • Sincerely Anne – To Whom it May Concern
  • Lloyiso – Seasons
  • Venom and Shishiliza – Love Is Pain

Album of the Year

  • Mass Country – AKA
  • SR3 – K.O
  • Isibuko – Sjava
  • KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small
  • Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo – WINNER

Best Engineered Album

  • To Whom it May Concern – Sincerely Anne (engineered and produced by Tjaart van der Walt and Daniel Baron)
  • Mass Country – AKA (engineered & produced by Robin Kohl and Itu) – WINNER
  • Kanniedood – Francois van Coke (engineered & produced by Taylor Soundworks)
  • Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë – Thandi Ntuli (engineered & produced by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi & Clinton)
  • Isibuko – Sjava, (engineered & produced by Ruff)

Best African Adult Contemporary Album

  • Celebrating African Song – Dumza Maswana
  • Smile – Choko
  • I am Gold – S’nazo
  • Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi – WINNER
  • Ubuhle Ubuhle – Lethiwe Sithole

Best Alternative Album

  • Glitch Vol 2: The Future Is Now – uBeyond
  • Synthetic Hearts – Msaki and Tubatsi
  • Blue Lawns – The Great Yawn
  • Leaving All the Time – Bye Beneco
  • On the Romance of Being – Buyani Mcunu – WINNER

Best Amapiano Album

  • Amukelani – Kelvin Momo
  • Ba Straata – DJ Maphorisa and Visca
  • 2.0 Nkwari – Myztro
  • KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small – WINNER
  • Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena – DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small

Best Classical Album

  • Live in Europe 22 – CH2
  • Fire Beast – Vox Chamber Choir and Franco Prinsloo – WINNER
  • One Night on Earth – Derek Gripper
  • Maike – Juliet String Quartet
  • Sanctuary – Carol Thorns

Best Collaboration

  • K.O, Young Stunna featuring Blxckie – Sete
  • AKA featuring Nasty C – Lemons (Lemonade) – WINNER
  • DJ Maphorisa and Visca featuring 2woshortrsa, Stompiiey, ShaunMusiQ & Ftears & Madumane – Ba Straata
  • Mohigan Sun – Morda featuring Oscar Mbo and Murumba Pitch
  • AKA featuring Kiddominant – Company

Best Pop Album

  • Things We Don’t Talk About – Jimmy Nevis
  • Heard You Got Love – Jeremy Loops
  • Game Over – Tyler Page
  • Seasons – Lloyiso – WINNER
  • Petrichor – Amy Lilley

Best Produced Album

  • KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muziqal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa and Felo Le Tee) – WINNER
  • Things We Don’t Talk About – Jimmy Nevis (producer: Darren Petersen)
  • Amukelani – Kelvin Momo (producer: Kelvin Momo)
  • Lindokuhle – Lindokuhle (producer: Mthunzi, Howard, Herc, Tshepo Morone, DJ Maphorisa, Masiano)
  • Isibuko – Sjava (producer: Delayde, Ruff, Jah Cool)

Best Produced Music Video

  • Lemons (Lemonade) – AKA featuring Nasty C (producer: Tebogo Mabaso; director: Nate Thomas)
  • Sete – K.O featuring Young Stunna & Blxckie (producer: K.O, Tsholofelo Moremedi, Ted Magerman; director: Ted Magerman)
  • Be Free – Desire Marea (producer: Will Nicholson; director: Imraan Christian
  • Been Thinking – Tyla (producer: Jimi Adesanya; director: Meiji Alabi)
  • Shine – Elaine (producer: Shayna Gianelli; director: Jesse Ray Diamond) – WINNER

Best R&B Album

  • 4LUV (Deluxe) – Blxckie
  • But Could the Moments in Between – Manana – WINNER
  • Germander II – FLVME
  • Bad Weather – Nanette
  • Passion Fruit – KABOMO

Best Reggae Album

  • Unleashed – Blakka Yut – WINNER
  • Youth’s Cry – Botanist Mr Lamington
  • Red Carpet Live – Maximum Stylez
  • Flight More Riddim – Blackness Blue Productions
  • Healing – Lavoro Duro

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album

  • Sing, Hoop, Weerklink – Prop
  • Skree Net Sag – Alter Ego
  • Ep In F – Herman Kleinhans
  • Jagvat – Jan Rhaap
  • Toe Roep ek jou Naam – Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet – WINNER
  • Katryn – Stefan Jansen

Remix of the year

  • Ndinovalo – Morda – WINNER
  • Sete – K.O featuring Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz
  • Hayii Citizen Deep Remix – Citizen Deep X Mzux Maen ft Yasmin Levy
  • Au dede – Karyendasoul
  • Tobesta Remake – Myztro featuring Focalistic, Daliwonga, Shaunmusiq and Ftears

Rest of Africa award

  • Sad Romance – Ckay
  • Timeless – Davido
  • I’m Alive – Sha Sha
  • Worry – Lyre
  • Dynastie – Ferre Gola
  • Sounds of Peace – Moreira Chonguiça – WINNER

Best Gqom

  • Meeting with the King – DJ Lag – WINNER
  • Fikelephi – Sizwe Mdlalose
  • Love & Light – Cairo CPT
  • Nande 2.0 – DJ Sandiso
  • Ithuba – Newlandz Finest

Best African Indigenous faith

  • Emmanuel – JTG Gospel Choir – WINNER
  • Mantswe A Supileng – Spiritual Gospel Choir
  • Ikhoni Mfuyo – In Zion of Christ
  • Ba Ya Mo Nyatsa – Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo
  • Ntate Le Rato La Hao – Ingqayizivele Gospel Choir

Best Hip Hop Album

  • Religion – MashBeatz – WINNER
  • Mass Country – AKA
  • SR3 – K.O
  • Life is Gangsta – Thato Saul
  • Diaspora – Maglera Doe Boy

Best Jazz Album

  • In the Spirit of Ntu – Nduduzo Makhathini – WINNER
  • Isambulu – Linda Sikhakhane
  • Blk Elija & The Children of Meroe – Thandi Ntuli
  • The 1st Gospel – Mthunzi Mvubu
  • Finish the Sun – Shane Cooper and Mabuta

Best Kwaito Album:  

  • Speak n Vrostaan – Kwesta and Kabza De Small – WINNER
  • R Mashesha – Big Nuz
  • I Am Who I Am – Nkiyase
  • Jukebox – Shisaboy
  • Barabbas – Taylor K

Best Maskandi Album:

  • Umqhele Nethawula – Khuzani – WINNER
  • Ngeke Ungiphathe – Menzi
  • Is’khiye Se-Coldroom – Thokozani Langa
  • Iphakade Lami – Abafana Bakamgqumeni
  • Home Alone – Inkos’yamagcokama

Best R&B Album:  

  • But Could The Moments in Between – Ndumiso Manana – WINNER
  • Germander II – Lesego Kyle Mnyandu
  • 4LUV (Deluxe) – Sihle Sithole
  • Bad Weather – Nanette Siphesihle
  • Passion Fruit – Kabomo

Best Traditional Album:  

  • African Queen 2.0 – Makhadzi – WINNER
  • Ke Bone Molelo O Timile – MmaAusi
  • A Reyeng Bahurutshe – Oarabele France Makgore
  • Obe Happy – Molebatsi Tsotetsi
  • Inkabi Nation – Big Zulu

Best Adult Contemporary Album:

  • Dark Secrets – Louise Carver – WINNER
  • Bait For Steps Forward – Nobuhle Ashanti
  • Memories – Drakensberg Boys Choir
  • Ndikhethiwe – Vusi Nova
  • Love – Viwo Kulati

Best Dance Album:  

  • Asante – Morda – WINNER
  • Next Level – Russell Zuma
  • The Gospel According to Artwork Sounds – Grain
  • WL4OM – Bonga Ntozini
  • A New Dawn – Siyanda Makanya

Best Afro-pop Album:

  • Isibuko – Sjava – WINNER
  • From A God to A King – Kelly Khumalo
  • Idwala – Mafikizolo
  • Love is Pain – Venom
  • Ekhayakomama – Philadlozi Mfekayi

Best Rock Album:

  • Kanniedood – Francois Badenhorst – WINNER
  • Fine Thanks, and You? – Russell Coward
  • Hellcats – End of Days – Warwick Rautenbach/Alessandro Benigno
  • Fuzigish – Malcolm King
  • Testify – Basson Laubscher

Best Traditional Faith Album:  

  • The Overflow – Dumi Mkokstad – WINNER
  • Hoja Ke Sena Wena – IPCC
  • Ndiyabulela – Tsholofelo Ntuli
  • The Grace Encounter Vol.1 – Phumulani Radebe
  • Sedi Laka – Brown Mosiapoa

Best Contemporary Faith Album:

  • Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo – WINNER
  • Mhalamhala – Brenden Praise
  • Take Heart – Hle
  • Restored: The Jesus Collective – The Jesus Collective
  • Hope – Vincent Jiyane

Beste Pop:  

  • Jona – Bernice van der Westhuizen – WINNER
  • Insomnia – Brendan Peyper
  • Loufi Flippen Loufi – Ifan-Luc Carlo Handel
  • Hittegolf – Brandon EloffDie Onbekende – Renier van der Westhuizen

Lifetime Achievement:

  • Ihashi Elimhlophe
  • Gloria Bosman
  • Mandoza
  • Pops Mohamed