South African super group Mafikizolo is right behind them with four nominations as well as the fresh new female artist, Naima Kay, also with four nominations.
Mafikizolo’s
Reunited and Naima Kay’s
Umsebenzi were both nominated for the prestigious
Album of the Year Award. Mafikizolo was also honoured with a Duo/Group of the year alongside Gangs of Ballet, while Gangs of Ballet share a Newcomer of the Year nomination with Naima Kay.
Three out of the five ladies nominated for Female Artist of the Year are from Universal Music’s repertoire; legend Rebecca Malope for her album
Bayos'Khomba, Naima Kay for
Umsebenzi and Zahara for her latest album,
Pendula. Kabomo received a nomination for Male Artist of the Year for
Memory Remains. Mafikizolo is the only Universal Music artist nominated in the Best Pop Album, while Gangs of Ballet will be representing Universal Music in the Best Rock Album category.
Michael Lowman’s
Crayon Boxes awarded him a Best Adult Contemporary Album nomination and Elvis Blue’s
Afrikaans was recognised in the Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album category. Naima May’s fourth nomination is for Best African Adult Album, while both Kabomo and Zahara were honoured with Best RnB, Soul & Reggae Album nominations.
Artists nominated for the Best Kwaito Album awards are Alaska for
The Revival, Character for
Self-Control and Tzozo for
Amabills. AB Crazy was recognised in the Best Rap Album category for
Home Coming and multi-award winning group Uhuru received a Best Dance Album nomination for their album,
Our Father, while Phuzekhemisi’s
Kungakho Nilwa Nodwa granted him a Best Maskandi Album nomination.
The Best Traditional Faith Music Album category is dominated by Universal Music artists, as Deborah’s
Umqhele, Lusanda Spiritual Group’s
Uhambo Lwam and Rebecca’s
Bayos'Khomba were all nominated for awards. Both Hennie de Bruyn en die Kitaarkêrels’
Kitaar Kwêla as well as Dr. Thomas Chauke Na Shinyori Sisters’
Shimatsatsa No 32 were recognised in the Best Traditional Album category.
Nominations for Best Contemporary Faith Music Album went to Nqubeko Mbatha for
Sentiments of a Worshiper and internationally renowned Soweto Gospel Choir and Friends for Divine Decade. Both Unathi’s
An Intimate Night with Unathi and
Skouspel 2013 were nominated for Best Live DVD. The Best Collaboration category was also ruled by Universal Music artist with three nominations; Mafikizolo for
Happiness feat. May D, Uhuru for
Y-tjukutja feat. Oskido, Professor and DJ Bucks, and DJ Kent for
Spin my World Around feat. The Arrows.
Darryl Torr was honoured in the Best Producer of the Year as well as the Best Engineer of the Year categories for his work on Gangs of Ballet’s
Yes/No/Grey album. Last but not least - in the Remix of the Year category both Oskido’s
Tsa Ma Ndebele and Uhuru’s
Thath'isghubu wre nominated.
“We at Universal Music are pleased and very honoured by all the nominations received by our wonderful artists, every single one of them deserves the recognition and we wish them all the best,” said Pino Di Benedetto, marketing director of Universal Music South Africa.
For more information, visit
www.samusicawards.co.za.