SAMA Award Winners 2008
Sadly we couldn’t be at the SAMA‘s in Sun City last night but from what we hear – they rocked yet again! See the official press announcement below filling you in on the evening’s entertainment and the winners. Well done to the PR team behind the event… great online presence! The only award that really puzzled us was song of the year… please share the appeal of “Maputo Song” with us… we’re not getting it. Otherwise, we’re touched by the Lucky Dube tribute and that Lira and Tony Cox were recognised and of course that SA’s king of music HHP got propped yet again… Now can we please take Jabba and Lira global?
It was all that the fans had expected – and more. The Main Awards Ceremony on Saturday the 3rd of May at the 14th Annual MTN SA Music Awards was a triumph for the local music industry, an opportunity to showcase our country’s extensive talent to the audience in the Sun City Super Bowl and to the millions of fans who tuned in to watch it live on SABC 1. This was truly South African music’s biggest night, an event that has come to be considered as one of the highlights on the local entertainment calendar.
The event was hosted, for the second year running, by kwaito kingpin Kabelo, and the energetic artist proved that he’s much more than just a musician – he’s an all-round entertainer. The nominees were announced, the winners were called up, the acceptance speeches were delivered and the audience got involved in an absolutely electrifying evening of blinged-out lighting, phenomenal dancing and uplifting animation. And then there were the live acts, a selection of SAMA 14 nominees who proved how richly diverse our musical landscape is.
The show kicked off with an emotive performance by Jub Jub and Jaziel Brothers before the party really got going when dance-floor doyens DJ Sdunkero and T’zozo en Professor got a massive response to their kwaito hits. Kurt Darren showed his range with two hits – one for the feet and another for the heart – before a very moving tribute to much-loved deceased singer and Lifetime Achiever Gé Korsten. MXO and Zonke got together for a power-packed collaboration that celebrated their shared roots before The Parlotones took to the stage to entertain the exited audience with their melodic rock. Freshlyground performed next and the got together with Kwela Tebza and Lucky Dube’s band One People (the house band for all live performances) to pay a touching tribute to the late reggae legend, the evening’s second Lifetime Achiever. The party got going again when DJ Vetkuk vs Mahoota rocked out one of their huge club hits before the incomparable HHP topped off the evening with a stellar performance that set the Bowl alight. It was a climactic way to end an absolutely exhilarating evening, leaving guests charged up for the after-parties that took them into the early hours of Sunday morning.
The full list of winners of the 14th Annual MTN South African Music Awards are:
MTN Record of the Year
DJ Sdunkero – Maputo Song
Best Male Solo Artists
Hip Hop Pantsula – Acceptance Speech
Best female Solo Artist
Karen Zoid – Postmodern World
Best Duo / Group
Freshlyground – Macheri
Best Newcomer
Tasha Baxter – Colour of Me
Album of the Year
Freshlyground – Macheri
Best Traditional / African Adult Contemporary DVD
Joyous Celebration 11 – Joyous 11: Live At The Sun City Superbowl (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Global Chart DVD
Harris Tweed – Live Under The Pillows (Just Music cc)
Best Afrikaans DVD
Jan Blohm – Jan Blohm Live At The Performer (Hathor Records)
Best Music Video
Lira – Ixesha (Sony BMG Africa)
Lara Hollis FOR Ixesha BY Lira
Best Producer
Loyiso – Blow Your Mind (Sony BMG Africa)
Crighton Goodwill FOR Blow Your Mind BY Loyiso
Best Engineer
Freshlyground – Macheri (Sony BMG Africa)
David Langemann FOR MaCheri BY Freshlyground
Best Afrikaans Traditional Music Album
Valiant Swart And Ollie Viljoen – Vuur En Vlam (Rhythm Records)
Best Tsonga Music (XiTsonga) Album
Thomas Chauke – Shimatsatsa (CCP)
Best Mgxobanyawo Album
Thokozani Langa – Phuma Kimi (Bula Music)
Best Maskandi Album
Umgqumeni – I Juke Box (GRC)
Best Traditional A Capella Album
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Ilembe (GRC)
Best Instrumental Album
Tony Cox – Blue Anthem (Sheer Sounds)
Contemporary Jazz
Jimmy Dludlu – Portrait (Universal Music)
Traditional Jazz
McCoy Mrubata – Brasskap Session Vol 1 (Sheer Sounds)
Best Adult Contemporary Album: English
Freshlyground – Macheri (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Afrikaans
Danie Niehaus – Fynskrif (EMI Musiek)
Best Adult Contemporary Album: African
Kwela Tebza – King Kwela (CCP)
Best Urban Gospel
Benjamin Dube – In His Presence (Spirit Music)
African Contemporary Gospel
Hlengiwe Mhlaba – Blessings (Izibusiso) (Amanxusa Music Productions)
African Traditional Gospel
Lundi – Impilo (Bula Music)
Traditional African A Capella Gospel
Macecilia A St. Paul – Moshe Mohlanka Oa Modimo (Sony BMG Africa)
Pop/Rock Gospel
Reason (Spirit Music)
Afrikaans Gospel
Retief Burger – Luidkeels Hersien (Merchant Music)
Best Kiddies Album: Afrikaans
Lienka – In Afrikaans se Kinderliedjies (Mastermax Productions)
Best Country Music
Alan Ladd – Sing Country (Fantasia Music Distribution)
Best Rock Album: English
Seether – Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces (Musketeer Records)
Best Rock Album: Afrikaans
Kobus! – Swaar Metaal (Rhythm Records)
Best Alternative Music Album
Somerfaan – Kyk Of Sy Kyk (Roar Agencies)
Best Pop Album: English
Tasha Baxter – Colour Of Me (EMI South Africa)
Best Pop Album: Afrikaans
Nicholis Louw – Hier Naby Jou (Select Music)
Best African Pop Album
Malaika – Sekunjalo (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Urban Pop Album
Kb – My Rhythm (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Sokkie Dans Album
Kurt Darren – Voorwarts Mars (Select Music)
Best Urban Dance Album
Dj Cleo – Eskhaleni Phase 4 (Ghetto Ruff)
Q – Best R&B / Neo-Soul Album
Loyiso – Blow Your Mind (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Rap Album
Hip Hop Pantsula – Acceptance Speech (CCP)
Best Kwaito Album
Brickz – Estokfeleni (Ghetto Ruff)
Best Comedy Album: Afrikaans
Op Veiling (Thys die Bosveldklong – Op Veiling) (Fantasia Music Distribution)
