From spectacular collaborations and performances to emotional acceptance speeches and moments of victory, the first night of the #SAMA28 weekend held at Sun City on Saturday 27 August 2022, was nothing short of amazing.
SAMA28 Night 1 Recap
Among some of the most popular winners was sultry vocalist Nomfundo Moh. She scooped the Best Afro Pop Album award for Amagama which spawned crowd favourites Phakade Lami and Soft Life.
Chymamusique claimed his first SAMA when he was awarded the Best Dance Album for Musique. Msaki clinched the Best Adult Contemporary Album for Platinumb Heart Open. Dladla Mshunqisi’s Umshunqo Reloaded earned him the Best Gqom Album award, while Amarato claimed the Best Kwaito Album for Ama Roto Vol.2. Sun-El Musician and Azana walked away with the Remix of the Year for Uhuru.
Mandisi Dyantyis triumphed in the Best African Adult Contemporary Album for Cwaka. Thokozani Langa took the Best Maskandi Album Award for Idayimani while Young Stunna bagged the Best Selling Artist gong for Notumato. Ahead of being bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award tomorrow, Jimmy Dludlu won the Best Jazz Album.
Princess of Africa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, was honoured with the inaugural Chairman’s Award for her unique and outstanding contribution to the growth, success and sustainability of the music industry. Her tireless work to support the industry’s efforts in combating the negative elements of the proposed Copyright Amendment Bill and her charitable service to The Angel Foundation were also recognised with this award.
The proudly South African award ceremony was presented by the energetic duo of comedian Mpho Popps and musician Robot Boii who kept audiences engaged and entertained in a show that was streamed on TikTok and YouTube.
Performances varied from the sublime to high energy swashbuckling moves from the likes of Master KG, Khuli Chana, Brian Temba, Puleng March, Ncebakazi Msomi, Reign Afrika, Mobi Dixon and Joda Kgosi. Wouter Kellerman and Mandisi Dyantyis were ethereal in the In Memoriam tribute. Joe Nina was part of the performances.
RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi commented on Night 1
“We are immensely proud of the recipients of these technical excellence awards. Their hard work and dedication to their craft has been acknowledge. We are incredibly excited about the main awards set for 28 August 2022 and look forward to celebrating with South African music lovers.”
SAMA28 Night 2 Recap
Deep house maestro Chymamusique emerged victorious at Night 2 of #SAMA28. He picked up gongs in the hotly contested categories of Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Musique. This brings his tally to three after he also won Best Dance Album in last night’s event.
Zakes Bantwini and Kasango went into the night with multiple nominations and left with two trophies for SAMRO Highest Radio Airplay Composers Award for Osama and Best Collaboration for the same hit.
In the public voted categories, Haksul Muziq stunned viewers when he was announced as SAMPRA Artist of the Year, beating formidable competition in that category. Makhadzi’s Ghanama featuring Prince Benza won the TECNO Music Video of the Year award, while Vula Mlomo by Musa Keys was voted TECNO Record of the Year.
In the inaugural TikTok Viral Song of the Year award, uMlando by 9umba, Mdoovar and Toss clinched a win.
Other notable winners were Khanyisile Mthetwa for White Star Newcomer of the Year for African Bird. Blxckie won Best Hip Hop Album for B4Now and Reece Madlisa and Zuma’s Ama Roto Vol.2 which scored the Duo/Group of the Year gong. Mthetwa’s album also took home the Best Classical/Instrumental Album on Night 1 while Reece Madlisa and Zuma triumphed on Night 1 win in the Best Kwaito Album category.
Jimmy Dludlu, Joe Nina and McCoy Mrubata were presented with Lifetime Achievement awards in honour of their exceptional bodies of work throughout their careers and contribution to the industry as a whole. International superstar Black Coffee was honoured with the International Achiever Award for his musical contributions which have extended far beyond South African borders.
Night 2 of #SAMA28 proved to be an eclectic evening of moving tributes, adrenalin fuelled performances and glorious wins. The proudly South African evening was hosted by Nandi Madida and Lawrence Maleka who did an exceptional job keeping audiences engaged and introducing performers like Stogie T, A Reece and Tshego who performed an emotive tribute to the late Riky Rick. Other performers to deliver incredibly performances include Makhadzi, Takie Ndou, Shekinah, Musa Keys, Konke, Da Capo and Lloyiso.
Night 1 hosts Mpho Popps and RobotBoii made cameo appearances throughout the show. Some leading South Africans from various fields such as TV personalities LootLove, Zola Nombona, Linda Mtoba; radio presenter Lethabo Lejoy Mathato; fashion designer David Tlale, North West premier Bushy Maape and minister of transport Fikile Mbalula were guest presenters.
RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi commented on Night 2
“Our 28th instalment has certainly set the highest standard for live awards shows. We are grateful to our hosts Nandi Madida and Lawrence Maleka, all the guest presenters and performers for making this a memorable night. We are proud of all the #SAMA28 winners. We had an unforgettable experience in Sun City and look forward to SAMA29 and the milestone SAMA30.”
Here’s the full list of SAMA28 Winners
Samro Highest Radio Airplay Composers Award: “Osama” by Zakes Bantwini
White Star Newcomer of the Year: African Bird by Khanyisile Mthetwa
Capasso Most Streamed Song Of The Year: “Abalele” by Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku
Best Collaboration: “Osama” by Zakes Bantwini
Best Duo/Group of the Year: Ama Roto Vol.2 by Reece Madlisa and Zuma
Best Hip Hop Album: B4Now by Blxckie
International Achiever Award: Black Coffee
Lifetime Achiever Award: Joe Nina, Jimmy Dludlu and McCoy Mrubata
Best Amapiano Album: Notumato by Young Stunna
TECNO Music Video of the Year: “Ghanama” by Makhadzi featuring Prince Benza
TikTok Most Viral Song: “uMlando” by 9umba, Mdoovar and Toss
SAMPRA Artist of the Year: Haksul Muziq
Male Artist of the Year: Musique by Chymamusique
Female Artist of the Year: Platinumb Heart Open by Msaki
Album of the Year: Musique by Chymamusique
TECNO Record of the Year: “Vula Mlomo” by Musa Keys featuring Sir Trill and Nobantu Vilakazi
Best Classical/Instrumental Album: African Bird by Khanyisile Mthetwa
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Platinumb Heart Open by Msaki
Best African Adult Contemporary Album: Cwaka by Mandisi Dyantyis
Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album: Volume by Die Heuwels Fantasties
Best Traditional Album: Tshihwilili Tshanga by Dr Mercy Masekona Madzivhandila
Best Reggae Album: Trailblazer by Reign Africa
Best Jazz Album: History in a Frame by Jimmy Dludlu
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album: Sacrificial Worship (Live) by Pulane Maphari
Best Traditional Faith Music Album: Vela Nkosi by Jumbo
Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album: Siilapha Nkosi by NUZ Voices of Joy
Best Maskandi Album: Idayimani by Thokozani Langa
Best Alternative Album: Glow by Alice Phoebe Lou
Best Rock Album: Partypocalpypse by Springbok Nude Girls
Best R&B/Soul Album: It’s All You by Brian Temba
Best Pop Album: Trouble in Paradise by Shekhinah
Beste Pop Album: Niks Vergelyk by Posduif
Best Produced Album of the year: Thetha Mama By The One Who Sings -Sean, Keanan Leroy & Arthur
Best Afropop Album: Amagama by Nomfundo Moh
Best Produced Music Video: “When House was House” by Mobi Dixon feat. Mariechan and Jnr SA
Best Engineered Album of The Year: It Takes Three by Charl du Plessis Trio
Best Selling Artist: Notumato by Young Stunna
Rest Of Africa Award: If Orange Was a Place by Tems
Chairman’s Award: “Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Remix Of the Year: “Uhuru” by Sun-El Musician and Azana
Best Kwaito Album: Ama Roto Vol.2 by Amaroto
Best Gqom Album: Umshunqo Reloaded by Dladla Mshunqisi
Best Dance Album: Musique by Chymamusique
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the SAMA28 winners! The SAMAs are organised by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), sponsored by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture; Coke Studio, African Bank, SAMPRA; CAPASSO; White Star; TECNO, SAMRO; RAV; SABC Radio; TikTok; Proudly SA DRIP. SABC1 is the official broadcast partner.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
To stay in the loop with all things SA Music, Subscribe to our newsletter.
Looking for something to do? Check out our Upcoming Events section or the SA Gig Guide.
Want to explore the SA Music Scene? Check out our Artist/Band/Group Profiles section.
Want to discover fresh music? Follow our editor's 2025 playlist on Spotify.
