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Samas: Sho Madjozi storms Sun City

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Sho Madjozi at the Samas on Friday night in Sun City. Picture: Tebogo Letsie/City Pres
Sho Madjozi at the Samas on Friday night in Sun City. Picture: Tebogo Letsie/City Pres

The country’s biggest award show turned 25 this weekend – and a young Tsonga star cemented her fame while several legends continued to show why they’re legends

There was no outright biggest winner in the judged categories at the SA Music Awards (Samas) held at Sun City this weekend, with several artists getting two gongs – but it sure as hell was Sho Madjozi’s night.

The fashion-forward poet and queen of Tsonga pop – real name Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif – lifted the Best Newcomer and Best Female Artist awards, storming the 25th anniversary show that was characterised by a range of hosts taking viewers back in time.

It was also a big night for Sjava (Best Afro Pop Album and Album of the Year), Black Motion (Best Duo or Group and Best Dance Album), Black Coffee (Male Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration) and young Nasty C (Best Hip Hop Album and Best Produced Album of the Year).

Gospel collective Joyous Celebration was by far the country’s biggest selling act in the past year, lifting sales awards for DVD and digital downloads as well as the Best-Selling Artist trophy.

Yet again the musicians and A-listers came in numbers, dressed to the nines and ready to party.

As the evening wore on many South African households experienced a battle of the remote control as the Uefa Champions League final got under way, going head to head with Sho Madjozi’s debut album, Limpopo Champions League.

Limpopo Champion

Sho Madjozi gave an electrifying performance at the award bash, her family present to celebrate with her.

The supernova is heading to the US for the Black Entertainment Television awards later this month, where she’s nominated for Best New International Act.

On Friday she told City Press she was honoured by her four nominations and to win anything at all was just going to be a bonus.

She admitted that getting to where she is had been a pretty tough journey as a Tsonga female artist, but that she is committed to transforming the industry and its overwhelming masculinity.

The 27-year-old shared that there had been times she considered packing it in, because she felt the industry was letting her down as an independent voice.

“Sometimes you do your best by setting trends because you want to stand out,” she said, adding that she had felt at times that she was not getting the recognition she deserved.

All that changed last night as she emerged as the queen of the Samas.

She also told City Press that she has something big in store for her fans; she’s going to be surprising us with a de luxe edition of her album with some exciting new features and songs.

“Obviously that will come with visuals,” she said.

Black Motion gets legendary

Black Motion’s album Moya Wa Taola was shown big love at Sun City.

The group’s Moses Mokgoko told Press City ahead of the awards that Black Motion makes music for the people, and that winning, although unexpected, would show the effect they have had in the past decade in the industry.

Black Motion

Their latest album is dedicated to a couple called Dee and Tshego who died in a car accident two years ago.

“The award would be dedicated to them and to the fans,” he said.

Trap music pioneer and the man with the album judged to be the best of the year, Sjava, said, “It means a great deal to me, knowing that my hard work is recognised. It’s part of the reason I will keep working even more harder.” He’ll be staging a concert to thank his fans.

Singer-songwriter Tresor also cemented his influence last night. He’s won the Samas for Best Pop Album three times now.

The reigning champ of pop once worked as a car guard and now he safeguards local pop.

He told City Press that it was great to be a repeat winner at the Samas.

“Especially coming from where I have, to get this treble is a blessing.”

Tresor also touched on the significance of his win as he was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“It’s great that I can get love like that here, you know.”

Tresor

His latest album, Nostalgia, boasts a video for Electric Night that featured AKA and trended on Twitter for most of the day it dropped. It features heavyweights in the form of Mafikizolo and Kwesta.

The humble star said he didn’t want to feel as if he was competing with the other nominees in his category and that “if anything it would be nice to work with those other artists”.

Songstress Zonke Dikana was not present to accept her award for for Best R&B/Soul Album for L.O.V.E as she was busy with preparations for a concert. Dikana said: “It has been a beautiful 20 years in the industry. I am honoured.”

The Samas saw a double celebration for kwaito star Mandla Spikiri, as he walked away with the award for Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano Album and this year Kalawa Jazmee, his record label, is celebrating 25 years in the industry.

The winner of numerous lifetime achievement awards, Spikiri said he was grateful to be recognised while still alive.

The return of the preparty

The awards began on Friday night with the smaller categories, which are not broadcast live.

Guests were still trickling into the resort that could, quite frankly, use a face-lift.

Most winners were not present and awards were accepted on their behalf by the presenters.

Sho Madjozi seemed to be the only big star who attended and, as we have come to expect from her, she looked as funky and bright as ever.

After that everyone opted for AKA’s Cruz pre-party which was quite an enterprising affair.

An open bar and then the man himself gave the crowd a hyped performance and brought out veteran rapper Khuli Chana.

Nomzamo was spotted in the crowd along with rap power couple Luthando Shosha aka Lootlove and her bae, Reason, who didn’t crack any nominations this year despite dropping an album.

Naturally AKA’s baby mama, DJ Zinhle, was in attendance supporting her man and generally just letting her hair down.

The theme for the party was “all black” and organisers were strict that all in attendance adhered to the dress code. The idea was a refreshing one.

AKA saw to it that everybody at a table had their own private bottle of Cruz.

Hopefully AKA and his attempt to channel Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs with this regal beverage will generate more evenings like this, which many said brought back memories of the infamous Kalawe Shebeen pre-party that has since been done away with.

AKA

His management informs us that it was simply something that the man saw was missing and he decided to do what he could to bring those vibes back.

Best of his moves yet.

Nomzamo’s LA dream comes true

This year the glittering awards also surprised us with several hosts as they roped in broadcasting veterans Melanie Bala, Bob Mabena, Jam Alley legend and radio host Twasa Seoke and rapper Khuli Chana, as well as actress Nomzamo Mbatha and comedian Mpho Popps, with each couple representing an era in the 25-year life of the awards.

City Press chatted to Mbatha after the Saturday rehearsals for the big night at Sun City.

Nomzamo

She wasn’t willing to comment on the rumours that she was working on a big project in Los Angeles, but did confirm that she’s all but relocated to the US, splitting her time between Los Angeles and Johannesburg.

This is what she told us: “At times I have to pinch myself ... I remember as a young girl, travelling from Durban to Johannesburg for school holidays, being fascinated by the air hostesses in their uniforms. All I wanted to be at the time was a hostess and to live at the airport. Now, hopping on a plane has graduated from being second nature to being first nature. Even now, straight after Sama 25 I hop straight back to LA, as I split my life between Joburg and LA.

“LA has become a second base where I have set up shop to grow myself within all that I undertake as an actress, producer, businesswoman and humanitarian.”

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The big winners are ...

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Sjava – Umqhele

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Black Coffee – Music is King

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League

DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League

LIFETIME ACHIEVERS AWARD

TKZee

Mango Groove

HHP

BEST TRADITIONAL ALBUM

Candy – Hupenyu Unenge Viri

BEST KWAITO/GQOM/AMAPIANO ALBUM

Spikiri – King Don Father

BEST AFRO POP ALBUM

Sjava – Umqhele

BEST POP ALBUM

Tresor – Nostalgia

BEST AFRIKAANS POP ALBUM

Snotkop – Sous

BEST ROCK ALBUM

Don Patlansky – Perfection Kills

BEST HIP HOP ALBUM

Nasty C – Strings and Bling

BEST DANCE ALBUM

Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola

BEST MASKANDI ALBUM

Sgwebo Sentambo – Yekani Umona

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