SAMA 2009: All the Winners

Smooth 'n soulful songbird Lira was unanimously declared Queen of the 2009 SAMAs, picking up four awards including Best Album of the Year, Best Female Artist, Best Adult Contemporary English. While many category wins were predictable - urban dub subversives 340ml won Best Alternative Album, Afrikaans progressive rockers Foto na Dans nabbed Best Alternative: Afrikaans and Van Coke Cartel cruised away with Best Afrikaans Rock - there were some real surprises. For starters, Afrikaans country pop princess Lianie May lifted the Best Selling Album Award proving once and for all that Afrikaans rocks. Next, Teargas's Wafa Wafa outclassed more fancied offerings from audience favourite, Zuluboy's Inqolobane to take the hotly-contested Best Rap category. Finally, indie-dance rockers Zebra & Giraffe beat off more fancied oppossiiton from Prime Circle and Paul. E Flynn to win the Best Rock: English award for Collected Memories.

Kudos also went to Andile Mseleku. While the African adult contemporary songbird may not be a household name just yet, she outclassed Zebra & Giraffe, Jody and Babu to take the prestigious Newcomer of the Year nod. 2009 wasn't just about celebrating new talent though, with Best Traditional Jazz and Best Male Artist awards for master saxophonist Zim Ngqawana and pianist Abdullah Ibrahim respectively adding some welcome musical substance to the celebrations. And then let's not forget about those much anticipated public votes. Future Mzansi House crew Rhythmic Elemenst slam dunked the MTN Record of the Year for "2 By 2". And DJ Cleo's "Hand's Up" was voted Best Selling Download of the Year.

Gallery: Backstage and highlights


ALBUM OF THE YEAR
FEMALE
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: ENGLISH
Lira Soul In Mind
We said: ""Feel Good" soul jazz favourite returns with another slick, chic set of Afropolitan ballads about femininity, faith and falling in love. "
Read more: CD review or  Listen to clips
BEST REMIX
Lira – Feel Good (Jazzworx Remix)

MTN RECORD OF THE YEAR
Rhythmic Elements - 2 By 2

BEST-SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Lianie May
Watch live video.

BEST POP: AFRICAN
Theo Kgsoinkwe I Am
We said: "Theo 'Mafikizolo' Kgosinkwe's solo debut is an assured and well-produced release that mixes the old with the new in a soulful combination of house, jazz, gospel, and marabi."
Read review
Read interview
Watch interview video.

DUO OR GROUP
Soweto Gospel choir

SOLO MALE
Abdullah Ibrahim

NEWCOMER
Andile Mseleku

ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: AFRICAN
Thembisile

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Foto Na Dans Pantomime op Herwinbare Klanke 
Pantomime Op Herwinbare Klanke

ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Coenie De Villiers Werig Oor die See

POP ALBUM AFRIKAANS
Eden Kniee Lam

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM: ENGLISH
340ml Sorry for the Delay
We said: "Jazzy reggae rubs shoulders with subversive lounge dub on this deceptively chilled inner city critique off the Mozambican quartet's stunning new CD". Read the review: Sorry for the Delay or Listen to clips

URBAN POP

Gang of Instrumentals 3rd Round
Read more: Interview

POP ALBUM: ENGLISH
Jamali 3rd Base
We said: "The thing about Jamali that jumps out at you and makes you pay attention are those elastic vocal harmonies of theirs."
Read more: CD review

RAP ALBUM
Teargas Wafa Wafa

KWAITO
Bricks Stop Nonsense

DANCE ALBUM
Goldfish Perceptions of Pacha
We said" "They wowed South Africans with their unique blend of deep house, jazz and live instruments. Now they’re ready to take over the world!".

ROCK ALBUM: ENGLISH
Zebra & Giraffe Collected Memories
Read more: CD review

ROCK ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Van Coke Kartel Waaksaam en Wakker
Read more: CD review

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ
The Moreira Project Vol.2: Citizen of the World
Read more: CD review

ALBUM PACKAGING
The Moreira Project Vol. 2: Citizen of the World
Read more: CD review


TRADITIONAL JAZZ
Zim Ngqawana In Concert
We said: "A mesmerising live primer into the visionary South African saxophonist and composer's ongoing quest to decolonise music from 'ethnic cubicles'".
Read more: CD review or Listen to clips. Plus: Watch interview video.

BEST DUO OR GROUP
Soweto Gospel Choir Live at the Nelson Mandela Theatre

BEST SELLING DOWNLOAD
DJ Cleo Hand’s Up

BEST SOKKIE DANCE
Kurt Darren Uit Die Diepte van My Hart
Read interview
Watch live video.

BEST URBAN DANCE
DJ Kent Mixing Business with Pleasure

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Claudio Pavin and Arri Resschke for Parlotones Overexposed
Read review

BEST ALTERNATIVE: AFRICAN
The Dizu Plaatjies Iyambo Ensemble African Kings

BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY: AFRICAN
Thembisile My Journey

BEST INSTRUMENTAL
Tonik Visitor’s Book

BEST R&B/NEO-SOUL
Bryce Anderson Undescribable

BEST MASKANDI
Imithente Simqonda Ngqo

BEST AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL
Joyous Celebration Joyous Celebration 12

BEST AFRICAN TRADITIONAL GOSPEL
Rebecca Malope – Ujehova Ungu’ Madida

BEST POP/ROCK CONTEMPORARY: GOSPEL
Tira – Speak to Me

BEST AFRIKAANS GOSPEL
Vertikaal – Stil

BEST KIDDIES ALBUM: ENGLISH
Wendy Oldfield – Singlaong Kidz

BEST KIDDIES ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Nedine Blom – Supercool

BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: AFRIKAANS
Coenie Devilliers – Weerlig Oor die See

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Bobby Angel – Somebody Like You

BEST PRODUCER
Leeroy Croft and Tebogo Moloto for 340ml Sorry for the Delay

BEST ENGINEER
David Poole and Dominic Peters for Goldfish Perceptions of Pacha

BEST DVD: AFRIKAANS
Kurt Darren Treffers Live

BEST GLOBAL CHART DVD
Freshlyground Live! South African Tour

BEST MULTI-ARTIST LIVE DVD
Huisgenoot Skouspel 2008 Various

BEST SELLING DVD: AFRIKAANS
Theuns Jordaan and Juanita Du Plessis – Bring Jou Hart

BEST AFRIKAANS TRADITIONAL MUSIC ALBUM
Deon Van der Merwe

BEST VENDA MUSIC ALBUM
Zozo & Sangere Superbeat Vol. 10 Mudi Wagoswi

BEST TSONGA MUSIC ALBUM
George Maluleke Na’VanWanati Sisters No.24

BEST CLASSICAL CROSSOVER
Voice of Angels – Vol. 1