The 18th Annual MTN South African Music Awards

 

Aka The One Where Zahara Scoops All the Statues.

Even though I wasn’t able to be in South Africa to see this year’s SA Music Awards (SAMAs) take place under the new hand of Randall Abrahams, I was still keeping an eye on this year’s winners. Being a fan, first and foremost of local music, and a former judge of the awards, I am always keen to see who has made a mark in the public’s eye, and this year, it was undoubtedly Zahara’s year to shine. In South Africa’s version of the Grammys, she is Adele. Only she’s done even better than Adele. The 24-year-old Xhosa singer from East London garnered a record-breaking 8 SAMAs.

Here’s the title track from her award-winning album, Loliwe, which went double platinum in SA, less than 20 days after its release last year:

 
And here are the rest of the big winners:

Best Alternative Album – The Dirty Skirts for Lost In The Fall

Best Kiddies Album – Wendy Oldfield for Singalong Kidz Volume 2

Best Smooth Urban Music Album – Zahara, Loliwe

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album – The Plain Truth, We Are The Shining Ones

Best Classical and Instrumental Album – CH2, Ping

Best Collaboration – Zahara featuring Georgy, Incwad’Encane

Best Jazz Album – Jimmy Dludlu, Tonota

Best Pop Album – Lloyd Cele, One

Best African Adult Album – Zonke, Ina Ethe

Best Rock Album – Shadowclub, Guns and Money

Best Traditional Music Album – Soul Brothers, Amaphutha

Best Traditional Faith Music Album – Solly Mahlangu, Mwamba Mwamba

 
Best Street Urban Music Album – AKA, Altar Ego

Best Sokkie Dans Album – Snotkop, Ek Laaik Van Jol

Best Adult Contemporary Album – Elvis Blue, Elvis Blue (2CD Special Edition)

Best Maskandi Album – Thokozani Langa, I-Protection Order

Best Kwaito Album – Big Nuz, Pound for Pound

Best Dance Album – Mi Casa, Mi Casa Music

Special Award: Best Selling Album – Loliwe by Zahara

 
Special Award: MTN Best Selling Mobile Music Download – Facebook by DJ Cleo

Newcomer of the Year – Zahara for Loliwe

Duo/Group of the Year – Mi Casa, Mi Casa Music

Male Artist of the Year – AKA, Altar Ego

Female Artist of the Year – Zahara, Loliwe

MTN Record of the Year – Mi Casa, These Streets

Album of the Year – Loliwe, Loliwe

For more on the SAMAs, go here.