Industry News

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).



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