South Africa’s homegrown urban youth genre, kwaito, proved its enduring hold on the country’s music scene at this weekend’s 17th Annual MTN South African Music Awards (SAMAs) when Professor took home a show leading four awards.
The Durban-based kwaito artist was named male artist of the year for his album “University Of Kalawa Jazmee” (Kalawa Jazmee/Universal) which also produced the public-voted MTN record of the year winner, “Imoto.” Professor’s 2010 release also won him the Best Kwaito Album award at the two-night event, which took place in Johannesburg this Friday and Saturday.
Most of the annual event’s 61 categories are voted for by an academy of 200-plus judges drawn from various sectors of the industry.
The panel also recognized urban dance duo, Liquideep which was named Duo or Group of the Year and additionally won the big category of album of the year for ‘Fabrics of the Heart’ (Universal).
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Previous multi-award winner, Thandiswa Mazwai took home the SAMA for female artist of the year for “The Forgotten Free – Live In Concert” (Gallo Record Company) whilst Locnville’s debut record ‘Sun In My Pocket’ (Just Music) saw the self-described electro-hop duo named best newcomer of the year and also take home best-selling album of the year honors.
A highlight live performance of Saturday night’s show – which was shown live on national broadcaster, SABC 1 – was the Interscope-signed Die Antwoord which performed their internet viral hit track “Enter The Ninja” with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The group was also named winners in the International Achievement Award category.
Other notable winners were Prime Circle (EMI) whose album ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ was named best rock album, Amu whose ‘The Principle’ (Buv Ground Album) won best rap album and Leanne’s ‘The Journey’ (Gallo) which earned her the SAMA for best R&B/neo soul album.
The live broadcast featured additional performances by ATO Records-signed Vusi Mahlasela alongside maskandi artist, Ihashi Elimhlope and Gospel singer, Ouche – as well as a closing performance from Afro-dance artist Zakes Bantwini.
COMPLETE LIST OF 2011 SAMA WINNERS:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Liquideep – Fabrics Of The Heart
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Locnville – Sun In My Pocket
DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Liquideep – Fabrics In The Heart
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Professor – University Of Kalawa Jazmee
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Thandiswa Mazwai – Dance of the Forgotten Free – Live In Concert
MTN RECORD OF THE YEAR
Professor – Imoto
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
The Parlotones – The Stars Fall Down
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Die Antwoord
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Lance James
Sipho Gumede
BEST MASKANDI ALBUM
Bhekumuzi Luthuli – Imali Yabelungu
BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM
Ological Studies – OS Freedome
BEST URBAN POP ALBUM
Kwela Tebza – Gauteng Made In South Africa/Mzansi
BEST POP ALBUM: AFRICAN
Theo Kgosinkwe – Grateful
BEST POP ALBUM: ENGLISH
Jax Panik – I Am Jax Panik
BEST POP ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Juanita du Plessis – Engel Van My Hart
BEST ROCK ALBUM: ENGLISH
Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde
BEST SOKKIE DANS ALBUM
Kurt Darren – Die Beste Medisyne
BEST URBAN DANCE ALBUM
DJ Kent – I Can’t Survive
BEST RAP ALBUM
Amu – The Principle
BEST KWAITO ALBUM
Professor – University Of Kalawa Jazmee
Best Traditional Jazz Album
Tutu Puoane – Mama Africa
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Wouter Kellerman – Two Voices
BEST POPULAR CLASSICAL ALBUM
Peter Martens & Luis Magalhães – Beethoven Cello Sonatas
BEST JAZZ/INSTRUMENTAL/POPULAR CLASSIC DVD
SterlingEQ – Live in Concert
BEST R&B/NEO-SOUL ALBUM
Leanne – The Journey
BEST URBAN GOSPEL ALBUM
Patrick Duncan – Worship in Colour
BEST URBAN DVD
Thandiswa – Dance of the Forgotten Free
MTN BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOAD
DJ Mzi ft. DJ Cleo – Nababantwana
BEST REGGAE ALBUM
Jah Seed – No Retreat No Surrender
BEST PRODUCER
Sipho Dlamini, Alexis Faku & Michael Manitshana for: Leanne – The Journey
BEST ENGINEER
Keith Farqharson for: Freshlyground – Radio Africa
BEST ALBUM PACKAGING
Rasheed Ferguson and Nic Smal for: Versus the Wolf – Uncovering Faces
REMIX OF THE YEAR
Black Coffee for: Stimela – Turn on the Sun
BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM AFRIKAANS
Steve Hofmeyr – Duisend en Een
BEST ROCK ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Van Coke Kartel – Skop, Skiet en Donner
BEST COUNTRY MUSIC ALBUM
Manie Jackson – Manie Jackson
BEST AFRIKAANS GOSPEL MUSIC ALBUM
Willie Joubert -Ek Wil Jubel
BEST AFRIKAANS TRADITIONAL MUSIC ALBUM
Mooiplaas Boere Orkes – Boere Lekkerky
BEST AFRIKAANS DVD
Romanz – Treffers Live
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Bittereinder – ‘n ware verhaal
BEST KIDDIES ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Alta Joubert and Minkie Burger – Lollos 2 – Bons Dat Dit Gons
BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: ENGLISH
Freshlyground – Radio Africa
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM: ENGLISH
Yoav – A Foolproof Escape Plan
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
CRC Radiation – With all My Heart
BEST GLOBAL CHART DVD
The Parlotones – Live Design
BEST KIDDIES ALBUM: ENGLISH
African Treehouse – African Numbers
BEST GLOBAL DANCE ALBUM
Goldfish – Get Busy Living
BEST MULTI-ARTIST LIVE DVD
Huisgenoot Skouspel 2010 – Huisgenoot Skouspel 2010
BEST SELLING TRUE-TONE DOWNLOAD
Nababantwana – DJ Mzi ft. DJ Cleo
RING-BACK-TONE OF THE YEAR
Nababantwana – DJ Mzi ft. DJ Cleo
FULL-TRACK DOWNLOAD OF THE YEAR
Shout – Artists for a Safer South Africa
BEST-SELLING DVD
The Parlotones – Live Design
BEST SOUTH SOTHO MUSIC ALBUM (SESOTHO)
Morusu – Morusu Vol 2
BEST TSONGO MUSIC (XITSONGA) ALBUM
Thomas Chauke – Shimatsatsa No 30
BEST VENDA MUSIC (TSHIVENDA) ALBUM
Zozo Sangere – Tshelede
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM: AFRICAN
Nomsa Mazwai – Nomisupa
BEST MBAQANGA ALBUM
Soul Brothers – Thul’ Ubheke
BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: AFRICAN
Stimela – A Lifetime
BEST AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM
Mthunzi Namba – Mercy Live in Durban
BEST TRADITIONAL AFRICAN ACAPELLA GOSPEL ALBUM
Amadodana Ase Wesile – Ke Dumetse Ho Morena
BEST TRADITIONAL/AFRICAN ADULT CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DVD
Stimela – Live in Concert 30 years