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Afro pop sensation Nathi Mankanyi – thanks to his platinum selling album Buyelekhaya – emerged as the king of The South African Music Awards which were hosted in Durban for the first time.
Nathi walked away with five awards at #SAMA22 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre – for Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album, Best Newcomer, Best Male Artist, Bestselling Full-Track Music Download (for his monster hit Nomvula) and Bestselling Album of the Year.
It’s been an incredible year for the Eastern Cape-born performer, and his big night at the Samas follows his great night at the 2016 Metro FM Awards, which also took place in Durban.
There, Mankayi took one of the biggest awards of the evening – Song of the Year for Nomvula, as well as Best African Pop Album for Buyelekhaya, along with R230 000 in prize money. He was overwhelmed at his clean sweep at the Samas and thanked his fans for their support since he released his album.
Superstar DJ Black Coffee was another big winner last night. He walked away with four #Sama22 trophies on the night – for Best Dance Album, Best Engineered Album and Album of the Year for Pieces Of Me (which features the hit Dance Again with Nakhane Touré). He also won an International Achievement Award for his great run on various international stages, which includes the famous Coachella festival and a recognition by Black Entertainment Television (BET) through a nomination in the BET Awards’ Best International Act: Africa Awards.
Rapper Emtee, who also had a great year, scooped the coveted Rap Album of the Year for his debut album Avery.
The music celebration was hosted by popular choreographer, actor, reality TV star and Idols judge Somizi Somgaga Mhlongo, and actress and radio presenter Thando Thabethe.
In true Durban style, hundreds of fans showed up and lined the streets outside the big convention venue, hoping to see their favourite acts and shouting for them when they did. The beautiful Bonang Matheba was one of the red carpet hosts, alongside Lunga Shabalala and her Metro FM co-worker Pearl Modiadie.
Other big winners on the night were gospel star Sfiso Ncwane, who won three Samas (with his smash hit single Bayede Baba) in the Bestselling Music Download, Bestselling Ringback Tone, and the Capasso Composers’ Award for Bestselling Digital Download. This followed his Best Traditional Faith Music Album category win at last year’s awards.
Newcomers Dbn Nyts took home three awards for their monster single Shumaya. They won in the Best Collaboration, Sampra Highest Radio Airplay Award and Samro Composers’ Award for Highest Radio Airplay categories.
Durban favourites Big Nuz represented their city and province by winning the Best Kwaito Album and Best Duo/Group of the Year awards for their album For The Fans. Emtee converted one of his four #Sama22 nominations into a win in another fiercely fought category: Best Rap Album.
Zonke took home the prestigious Best Female Artist award, while two of her fellow nominees in that category, Judith Sephuma and Zahara (Robbie Malinga, producer), took home one award each for Best Adult Contemporary Album and Best Produced Album, respectively.
Were the awards a true reflection of the best of SA’s music talent this year?
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