27th South African Music Awards

27th South African Music Awards
27th South African Music Awards
	Official poster
Date	July 31, 2021
Location	Virtual event, multiple venues
Country	South Africa
Hosted by	Bontle Modiselle ; Lawrence Maleka
Motto	Redefine, Invent, Imagine
Most awards	Kabza De Small (4)
Most nominations	Kabza De Small (6)
Television/radio coverage
Network	SABC 1
	← 26th; SAMAs; →;

The 27th Annual South African Music Awards were the 27th edition of the South African Music Awards. The award show was broadcast live on SABC 1 on July 31, 2021 and was held virtually due to the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns^[1]^[2]

The nominees were announced on 19 May 2021.^[3] Kabza De Small received the most nominations with six, ahead of Sun-El Musician with five nominations.^[4] The 27th annual SAMAs introduced new categories, introducing best amapiano, gqom and kwaito albums as their own categories.^[5]

On 17 July 2021, it was announced that television personalities Bontle Modiselle and Lawrence Maleka were to be the hosts of the ceremony.^[6]

Performers[]

The list of performers was announced on July 28.^[7]^[8]

Artist(s)	Song(s)
Sjava
Boity
Big Zulu (featuring Riky Rick and Intaba Yase Dubai)	"Mali Eningi"
Bucy Radebe
Azana
Langa Mavuso
Buhlebendalo
Blaq Diamond

Winners and nominees[]

Nominees are as listed below. Winners are in bold.^[9]

Record Of The Year (fan-voted)	Album of the year	Female Artist of the Year	Male Artist of the Year
Matthew Mole Music - Keep it Together Aubrey Qwana - Molo Kelly Khumalo - Empini Sun-El Musician featuring Msaki - Ubomi Abumanga Prince Kaybee, Black Motion, Shimza & Ami Faku - Uwrongo MFR Souls featuring Major Leagues DJZ, Kamo Mphela & Bontle Smith - Amanikiniki	Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) Persistence – Bongo Riot The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small Back to Love – Junior Taurus	Sho Madjozi – What a Life Reign Africa – On the Frontline Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter Nomcebo Zikode – Xola Moya Wam’ HLE – Your Kingdom on Earth	Kabza De Small – I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust Sun-El Musician – To The World & Beyond Bongo Riot – Persistence Oscar Mbo – For the Groovists Junior Taurus – Back to Love
Newcomer of the Year	Duo/Group of the Year	Best Rock Album	Best Pop Album
Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter Xolly Mncwango – Jesus is Enough Reign Africa – On the Frontline BandaBanda & The Crocodiles – Africado Azana – Ingoma	Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) – Once Upon A Time in Lockdown Reece Madlisa & Zuma – Ama Roto EP MFR Souls – Musical Kings Musiq & Aymos – Shonamalanga Mi Casa – We Made It	Orange Sunshine – Yum Yuck Chrome Neon Jesus – Ethyl Ether Here’s to the Now – Nathan Smith The Devils Cattle – Ruff Majik Nothing’s Gonna Change – Oooth	Tribes & Angels – Locnville 11:11 – Rowlene I Don’t Sleep – Jethro Tait Sugar – Mark Stent She – Amy Lilley
Beste Pop Album	Best Afro Pop Album	Best R&B/Soul Album	Best Adult Contemporary Album
Twintig20 – Brendan Peyper 2021 – Die Heuwels Fantasties Die Toekoms is Synth – Synth Peter Gewigloos – Juan Boucher Gemaklik Verlore – Christa Visser	Ngumama – Vusi Nova Ingoma – Azana Molimo – Manu Worldstar The Voice of Africa – Kelly Khumalo Tugela Fairy: Made of Stars – Simmy	Uhambo – Soul Kulture A Force To Be Reckoned With – Thando LANGA – Langa Mavuso Sindisiwe – LaSauce Small World – Ricky Tyler	Amakhaya – Max – Hoba Umsebenzi – Sjava Isambulo – 1020 Cartel Artists Bamako – Simphiwe Dana Buhlebendalo – Chosi
Best Classical Album/Instrumental Album	Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album	Best Hip Hop Album	Best Reggae Album
We’ve All Known The Times – Wouter Kellerman Live in Cape Town – Guy Buttery & Derek Gripper Imagine – Charles du Plessis Trio Live in Lisbon – Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery Tek’o – CH2	Herverbeel – Die Heuwels Fantasties Wandel in my Woning – Refentse Net Geleen – Bernice West Monumentaal – Ruhan Du Toit Spontaan – Riaan Benadê	Zulu Man With Some Power – Nasty C 4436 – Boity Nadia Naked II – Nadia Nakai POPSTAR – Yanga Chief Zakwe & Duncan – Zakwe & Duncan	Persistence – Bongo Riot The Journey – Ras Canly My Music – Freeky On the Frontline – Reign Africa Empathy Riddim – Lavoro Duro
Remix of the Year	Best Collaboration	Best Dance Album	Best Kwaito
"Yehla Moya" – Da Capo "Jerusalema" – Kid Fonque "Ndanele" – Dwson "Sala Nabani" – Sun-El Musician, Claudio & Kenza "Speak Lord" – Sculptured Music	"Mali Eningi" – Big Zulu featuring Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai "Uthando" – Darque featuring Zakes Bantwini "Ek Like Hoe Jy Dans" – Chê featuring Snotkop "Senzeni" – Mthandazo Gatya featuring Comado & DJ Manzo SA "Yehla Moya" – Da Capo & Nduduzo Makhathini featuring Omagugu	The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion To The World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician For The Goovists – Oscar Mbo Xola Moya Wam’ – Nomcebo Zikode We Made It – Mi Casa	Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa & Zuma Sgubhu OverDoze – Lvovo & Danger Endaweni – Darkie Fiction Don’t Lose Hope – Sukiri Papa Bhut’Madlisa – Mampintsha
Best Amapiano Album	Best Gqom Album	Best Engineered Album of the Year	Best Produced Music Video
Once Upon A Time In Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings) Musical Kings – MFR Souls Back to Love – Junior Taurus I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small Shonamalanga – Mas Musiq & Aymos	InzaloYekwaito – Zinaro We Don’t Play the Same Gqom – Que Make Cape Town Great Again – Mshayi & Mr Thela Isiqalo – DragerNation Idando Kazi – Babes Wodumo	Inganekwane by Zoe Modiga – Papi Diretsi & Songo Oyama Swingle Bells by Jonathan Roxmouth – Adam Howard Goodluck Upclose by Goodluck – Murray Anderson & Andrew Rawborn Isambulo by 1020 Cartel Artists – Mfanafuthi Ruff The Second Coming by Kid Tini – James Smals, Kitie, Ron Epidemic & Tweezy	"Hosh" by Prince Kaybee featuring Sir Trill – Ofentse "Where is the DJ" by Malumz on Decks featuring Khanyisa – Oscar Nyathi "Qhawe – Made to Create" by Toya Delazy – Kyle Lewis & Vjorn Tucker "Mamela" by Mi Casa – Katya Abedian "Lucky Star" by K.O – Adam Zackon & Dale Fortune
Best Live Audio Visual Recording	Best Alternative Music Album	Best African Indigenous Faith Album	Best Traditional Faith Music Album
A Journey to the World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician Your Kingdom on Earth – HLE The Throne (Live Edition) – Presss Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe My Hart Klop Refentse – Refentse	iimini – Bongeziwe Mabandla Mania/Post Mania – Yellow House Hot Mess – Evert Snyman Filth and Wisdom – The Medicine Dolls Ebusuku – Th&o	Izwi Lakho – Mandlethu Gospel Singers Makhosi Akithi – Vuma Zion Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development – Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development Sithembe Wena Nkosi – JTG Gospel Choir Enyokumkhonza – Enyonini Mission Ministries	Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe Project 17 – Chapter 2 – Worship House Buya Nkosi – Thinah Zungu Wathi Eloyi Eloyi – Sipho Makhabane Izulu – Sneziey
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album	Best Maskandi Album	Rest of Africa Artist	Best Traditional Album
Your Kingdom on Earth – HLE Devotion – Nqubeko Mbatha Face 2 Face – Collen Maluleke Jesus is Enough – Xolly Mncwango The Promised Revival Part One – Tshwane Gospel Choir	Imfene Kamakhelwane – Abafana Baka Mgqumeni Amagupta – iChwane Lebhaca Ziyangiluma Izinja – Phuzekhemisi Iqatha Eliziqobayo – Thokozani Langa Banathi Shaqa – Imithente	Songs in the Key of Love – Berita Unity Album – Buffalo Souljah A Better Time – Davido Made in Lagos – Wizkid Midnight Train – Sauti Sol	What a Life – Sho Madjozi Love and War – Henny C Angeke Bakuthande Boke – Smangele Shebeen Queen – Vusi Mahlasela Ndavhuko – Vendaboy Poe

Special Awards[]

International Achievement Award

Master KG

Lifetime Achievement Award

Lebo M.
Dr Lindelani Mkhize
PJ Powers

Best singer in intertainment industry[]

Sir trill

Best Selling Artist

Mlindo the Vocalist - Emakhaya

SAMRO/CAPASSO HIGHEST AIRPLAY AWARD

Kgaugelo Moagi (Master KG) and Nomcebo Zikode – Jerusalema

References[]

^ "Sama27: Amapiano star Kabza De Small leads with six nominations". thesouthafrican.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
^ "27th Samas set for virtual experience on July 31". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
^ "Samas 27: Nominations are out and men are leading the nods". The Citizen. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
^ "Amapiano star Kabza De Small tops SAMA27 nominations". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
^ "The 2021 SAMAs will recognise Gqom and Amapiano as separate categories". News24. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
^ Birjalal, Alyssia (July 19, 2021). "Bontle Modiselle Moloi and Lawrence Maleka announced as Sama27 hosts". iol.co.za.
^ Jabulani, John (28 July 2021). "SA Rappers Scheduled To Perform At #SAMA27". Ubetoo.
^ "Sama27 announces performers and presenters". Biz Community. July 28, 2021.
^ Dayile, Qhama (31 July 2021). "Here's the full list of the SAMA winners | Drum". News24. South Africa.

[1] "Sama27: Amapiano star Kabza De Small leads with six nominations". thesouthafrican.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

[2] "27th Samas set for virtual experience on July 31". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 8 July 2021.

[:1-3] "Samas 27: Nominations are out and men are leading the nods". The Citizen. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

[4] "Amapiano star Kabza De Small tops SAMA27 nominations". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

[5] "The 2021 SAMAs will recognise Gqom and Amapiano as separate categories". News24. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

[6] Birjalal, Alyssia (July 19, 2021). "Bontle Modiselle Moloi and Lawrence Maleka announced as Sama27 hosts". iol.co.za.

[7] Jabulani, John (28 July 2021). "SA Rappers Scheduled To Perform At #SAMA27". Ubetoo.

[8] "Sama27 announces performers and presenters". Biz Community. July 28, 2021.

[SAMA-9] Dayile, Qhama (31 July 2021). "Here's the full list of the SAMA winners | Drum". News24. South Africa.

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Ceremony year	1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Categories	Album of the Year Duo or Group of the Year Newcomer of the Year
Sponsors	MTN Group Recording Industry of South Africa
Venues	Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Montecasino Sun City Superbowl
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