The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) is officially commencing with rolling out the SAMAs, with a ‘special’ announcement scheduled for Tuesday, 3 October 2023, in Soweto.
2023 SAMAs ready to kick off after prolonged delays
Nhlanhla Sibisi, RiSA CEO, expressed enthusiasm for the event, emphasising the remarkable music produced by South Africa’s artists over the past year, both domestically and on the global stage.
He stated:
“We are proud to officially kick off [SAMA29] and look forward to sharing with the country some exciting new developments as the SAMAs find a new home.”
While the date for the SAMAs themselves has yet to be disclosed, this announcement follows reports of delays attributed to financial challenges.
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In July 2023, it was reported that the music awards show faced difficulties in securing a sponsor, partly due to criticism following the 28th edition in 2022.
Several musicians, including Makhadzi, Lady Du, and Zakes Bantwini, expressed grievances, accusing the organisers of mistreatment, favouritism, and delivering a subpar show compared to previous years.
This year, the SAMAs have fallen behind schedule, as they have not yet revealed the nominees, a process typically completed by June of the previous year.
Despite these challenges, RiSA spokesperson Lesley Mofokeng affirmed that the 29th edition of the SA Music Awards remains on track.
She explained that the delay is due to a restructuring process aimed at refreshing the SAMAs. The team has been diligently working behind the scenes, including committee meetings, vetting entries, and judging.
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Mofokeng concluded that RiSA is committed to delivering the awards show even under challenging financial conditions, highlighting its dedication to revitalising and improving the SAMA experience.