The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) returned to Sun City to celebrate the best achievements in music over two packed evenings. These prestigious music awards were held in the North West Province in 2022, and now they have once again gathered the musical elite at the Sun City resort.
Holding the SAMAs in Sun City allows for a two-day event: an industry awards ceremony and the main event. The first night was hosted by rapper, actress, and presenter Anelle Zondo, who was also joined by host Basadi at the Music Awards and the presentation of spiritual leader Gert Johan Coetzee.
Langa Mavuso won the 'Best Produced Album' award for his work 'Therapy: The Other Side'. This album was created three years after the death of his partner. Despite the difficulty of creating the project, the support of his entire team allowed Langa Mavuso to create something meaningful to him.
He shared his thoughts on working on the album: 'It was about hope, it was about truth, and for the first time in my life I allowed people to join me in this process.' During the production of the album, Langa Mavuso collaborated with a diverse group of producers, young and old, for which he expressed gratitude. Nevertheless, he admitted that involving collaborators was difficult but noted that 'beautiful things come from a state of discomfort.'
Lordkez's successful run continued as she received the 'Best R&B' award for her album 'You, Me & The 90’s'. After her debut album, Lordkez aimed to create music she listened to in childhood, considering she was born in 1999 and considers herself a representative of the 90s generation, and R&B is one of her earliest musical memories.
The hitmaker 'Aweh' reflected on the changes in her career, moving from a feeling of being unnoticed to a period where she is constantly invited. She urged another young person who might be experiencing similar feelings to stay true to themselves.
Among the most notable winners of the evening were Simphive Dana, Jazzworld, and Tukuthela, as well as Francois van Coke, who could not attend. It seems some things have not changed yet, as artists continue to be absent.
Winners were announced in categories such as 'Best Classical/Instrumental Album', 'Best Contemporary Faith Album', 'Best Rock Album', 'Best Produced Album', 'Best Reggae', 'Best Gqom', and 'Best Produced Album.'
