South African Music Awards

The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) is an annual celebration of the best of South Africa's eclectic music industry. It is run by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA). An award statuette is called a SAMA. The event was instituted in 1995, and 2008 will thus be the 14th SAMA awards. The awards for a year occur early in that year, and are judged on performances made in the previous year. The show is held each year, since X at the Superbowl in Sun City and are typically broadcast on national television, with performances given by some of the nominees.

Awards

SAMAs are awarded in a number of categories. Most awards are decided by a panel of judges.

AMAs not decided by a panel of judges

* Best-selling Album (Judged purely on sales, i.e. the South African album with the highest number of sales)
* Lifetime Achievement Award (Chosen by the executive committee of RiSA).
* Song of the Year (As determined by a public vote, by SMS

Top 5

The Top 5 are considered to be the most prestigious of the SAMAs.

* Album of the year
* Best Newcomer
* Best Female Artist
* Best Male Artist
* Best Duo or Group

Other Awards

A slew of other awards are also given out, typically about 50 in total, with many changing from year to year. They include awards for specific genres of music, such as Mbaqanga, Rock, and Kwaito; specific languages, e.g. Afrikaans, Tsonga; as well as for things such as production and music videos.

Judges

Judges are members of RiSa. Specifically they are chosen from members in the genres of "Urban", "Traditional/AC African", "Global Chart", "Afrikaans", "Jazz and Instrumental"

10th South African Music Awards

The award ceremony took place on the 29th of May 2004 at the Sun City Superbowl. Special, "of the decade" categories were introduced once off to mark the tenth anniversary of the SAMAs.The winners were:SAMA 2004 winners in major categories:
*Song of the Decade - Brenda Fassie "Vulindlela" (Voted by the public)
*Best-selling Release of the Decade - Brenda Fassie "Memeza" (based purely on sales)
*Best Female Artist - Swazi Dlamini ("My First Love")
*Best Male Artist - Zim Ngqawana ("Vadzimu")
*Best Duo or Group - Mafikizolo ("Kwela")
*Best Newcomer - Adilah ("S'esfikile")
*Artist of the Year (decided by public vote) - Mzekezeke
*Song of the Year (decided by public vote) - Mzekezeke for ""Akekh' uGogo"
*Lifetime Achievement Winners: Chicco, Big Voice Lerole, Juluka

11th South African Music Awards

The award ceremony took place on the 16th of April 2005 at the Sun City Superbowl.SAMA 2005 winners in major categories:
*Best Female Artist - Thandiswa Mazwai ("Zabalaza")
*Best Male Artist - Themba Mkhize ("Hands On")
*Best Duo or Group - Revolution ("Another Level")
*Best Newcomer - Simphiwe Dana ("Zandisile")
*Artist of the Year (decided by public vote) - Zola ("Bhambatha")
*Song of the Year (decided by public vote) - Brown Dash for "Phans' Komthunz' Welanga"
*Lifetime Achievement Winners: Sipho Mabuse, Brenda Fassie, Margaret Singana, Dorothy Masuku

12th South African Music Awards

The award ceremony took place on the 6th of May 2006 at the Sun City Superbowl.SAMA 2006 winners in major categories:
*Best Female Artist - Judith Sephuma ("New Beginnings")
*Best Male Artist - Jimmy Dludlu ("Corners Of My Soul")
*Best Duo or Group - Bongo Maffin ("New Construction")
*Best Newcomer - Brickz ("Face-Brick")
*Song of the year (decided by public vote) - Ntando for "Dali Wam"
*Artist of the Year (decided by public vote) - NtandoLifetime Achievement Winners: Piet Botha, Joe Correira, Al Debbo, Thandi Klaasen, Rex Rabanye

13th South African Music Awards

The award ceremony took place on the 14th of April 2007 at the Sun City Superbowl.SAMA 2007 winners in major categories:
*Best Female Artist - Simphiwe Dana - ("The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street")
*Best Male Artist - Vusi Mahlasela - ("Naledi Ya Tsela")
*Best Duo/Group - Mafikizolo - ("Six Mabone")
*Best Newcomer - Siphokazi - ("Ubuntu Bam")
*Album of the Year - Simphiwe Dana ("The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street")
*Song of the year (decided by public vote) - DJ Sbu for "Remember When It Rained"
*Lifetime Achievement Winners: Boet Pretorius, Abdullah Ibrahim, the Soul Brothers

14th South African Music Awards

The award ceremony took place on the 3rd of May 2008 at the Sun City Superbowl. SAMA 2008 winners in major categories:
*Best Female Artist - Karen Zoid - ("Postmodern World")
*Best Male Artist - Hip Hop Pantsula - ("Acceptance Speech")
*Best Duo/Group - Freshlyground - ("Macheri")
*Best Newcomer - Tasha Baxter - ("Colour Me")
*Best Rock: English - Seether - (Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces)
*Album of the Year - Freshlyground - ("Macheri")
*Song of the year (decided by public vote) - DJ Sdunkero for "Maputo Song"
*Lifetime Achievement Winners: Ge Korsten, Lucky Dube

External links

* [http://www.samusicawards.co.za/ South African Music Awards website]
* [http://0-www.southafrica.info.innopac.up.ac.za:80/what_happening/arts_entertainment/sama2004.htm Report on the 2004 SAMAs]
* [http://0-www.southafrica.info.innopac.up.ac.za:80/what_happening/arts_entertainment/sama2005.htm Report on the 2005 SAMAs]
* [http://www.mio.co.za/newsitem.php?id=1571 Report on the 2006 SAMAs]
* [http://moshito.co.za/article.php?a_id=132 Report on the 2007 SAMAs]