All the nominees for the 2016 Samas

Cape Town - Dreamy Afro-soul newcomer Nathi, house music supremo Black Coffee, rising rappers Riky Rick and Emtee, and sultry songbird Zonke Dikana share the nominations spoils at the 22nd annual South African Music Awards, grabbing an impressive four nods each.

The contenders for this year’s awards were announced amid great excitement and anticipation in Soweto on Thursday, 21 April 2016. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), the official passenger rail transport sponsor, ferried the VIP guests and media on the Metrorail Business Express to the Soweto Theatre, a landmark venue, located in Jabulani in the heart of Soweto, for the nominations "reveal".  

The shortlist of nominees for the Amstel Record of the Year will be announced on Live Amp this Friday, 22 April on SABC 1, with the public being invited to vote for their favourite song of 2015. The 22nd edition of the South African Music Awards will take place at the Durban International Convention Centre on Saturday, 4 June 2016, and will be broadcast live on SABC1.

Ticket sales for the awards show will be open to the public on Friday, 22 April at 12:00. Tickets are R350 and available from Computicket.

All the nominees for the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards:

Album of the Year
Francois van Coke - Francois van Coke    
Emtee - Avery    
Nathi - Buyelekhaya    
Tresor - VII
Black Coffee - Pieces of Me

Duo or Group of the Year
Desmond & the Tutus - Enjoy Yourself    
Witness the Funk - Finding Nomusa    
Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra - One Night in the Sun
Junior Taurus &Cotton Candy - Lady Zamar             
Big Nuz - For the Fans    

Female Artist of the Year
Judith Sephuma - One Word    
Zahara     - Country Girl    
Fifi Cooper - 20Fifi    
Karen Zoid - Drown Out the Noise    
Zonke - Work of Heart    

Male Artist of the Year    
Nathi - Buyelekhaya    
Black Coffee - Pieces of Me    
Riky Rick - Family Values    
Emtee    - Avery    
Francois van Coke - Francois van Coke

Newcomer of the Year
Riky Rick - Family Values
Emtee - Avery    
Tresor - VII    
Fifi Cooper - 20Fifi    
Nathi - Buyelekhaya    

Best Rock Album    
Desmond & the Tutus - Enjoy Yourself
Francois van Coke - Francois van Coke
Shortstraw - Youthless
Karen Zoid - Drown Out the Noise
Saarkie – Reisiger

Best Pop Album    
Tresor - VII
Lakota Silva - Pop: The Mix Tape
Loki Rothman - The Way Back
Can Skylark - Overdrive
Vincent Bones - Shaded Soul
 

Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans)    
Karlien van Jaarsveld - My Hartjie
Brendan Peyper - Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie
Vaughan Gardiner - Sit Vanaand op Herhaal
Pierre Rossouw - In my Bloed
Suzanne - Vuurbestand
            
Best Adult Contemporary Album    
Judith Sephuma - One Word
Watershed - Watch the Rain
Karen Zoid & Various - Republiek van Zoid Afrika Vol. 2
Kahn - Salt
Josie Field & Laurie Levine - Tigerlily
        
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album    
Elvis Blue - Êrens in die Middel van Nêrens
Andriëtte - Pêrel vir ’n Kroon        
Neil Somers - Hierdie Hande
Bok van Blerk - Sing Afrikaner Sing
Stiaan Reynierse - Sonde
        
Best African Adult Album    
Dizu Plaatjies & Friends - Ubuntu – The Common String
Kabomo - Sekusile
Thiwe - Soul Therapy
L’wei Netshivhale - Mudzimu washu
Jessica Mbangeni - Busisiwe – Tribute to the African Heroines
        
Best Alternative Album    
Petite Noir - La Vie Est Belle/Life is Beautiful
Sannie Fox - Serpente Masjien
The Plastics - In Threes
Moonchild Sanelly - Rabulapha!
Die Heuwels Fantasties - Ja. Nee. Lekker (Deluxe)
            
Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album    
Nathi - Buyelekhaya
Zonke - Work of Heart
Olwethu - Imbewu
Zahara  - Country Girl
The Muffinz - Do What You Love
        
Best Rap Album    
Emtee - Avery
Kid X - 3 Quarter Pace
Da L.E.S - North God
Riky Rick - Family Values
Zakwe – Impande

Best Kwaito Album    
Big Nuz - For the Fans
Dbn Nyts - Believe
Kabelo Mabalane - Immortal Vol. 3
Dj Bongz - Game Changer
Mzansi - North Coast Vibe
            
Best Dance Album    
Black Coffee - Pieces of Me
Mi Casa - Home Sweet Home
Mobi Dixon - Tribal Soul Special Edition
DJ Merlon - Original Copy
Junior Taurus & Lady Zamar - Cotton Candy
            
Best Traditional Faith Music Album    
TYGC Family - The Journey Begins
Worship House - Project 12 Praise Live
Worship House - True Worship 2015
Dumi Mkokstad - Ukhona Uthixo
Women in Praise - Various Artists
            
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album    
Ntokozo Mbambo - Spirit and Life
Mark Counihan - To the Brave Ones
Mahalia Buchanan - Redeemed to Worship
24 Skies - Endless Anthem        
Benjamin Dube - Sanctified in His Presence        
 
Best Maskandi Album
Imithente - Ichakijana
Thokozani Langa - Khuzeka Mshana
Shwi no Mtekhala - Bazali Bami
Buselaphi - Gabi Gabi
Phuzekhemisi    - Woze Durban
            
Best Jazz Album
Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra - One Night in the Sun        
Nduduzo Makhathini - Listening to the Ground
Benjamin Jephta Quintet - Homecoming        
Amandla Freedom Ensemble - Bhekisiwe
Bokani Dyer - World Music
            
Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
Wouter Kellerman - Love Language
Guy Buttery - Guy Buttery
Deep South - Heartland
Cape Consort - Christoph & Sebastian    
KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra  - Mintirho ya SJ KhosaOrchestra         
    
Best Live Audiovisual Recording
Jimmy Dludlu - Live at Emperors Palace
Krone - Krone 2
Ntokozo Mbambo - Spirit and Life
Neyi & Omega - Friends in Praise
Benjamin Dube - Sanctified in His Presence
            
Best Collaboration
Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi & Trademark - Shumaya
Shekinah x Kyle Deutsch - Back to the Beach
AKA ft. Redsan, Burna Boy & Stoneboy - All Eyes on Me         
Major League DJz ft. Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, Riky Rick & Carpo - Sylza Tsotsi
Khuli Chana ft. Patoranking - No Lie
             
Best Music Video of the Year
Jack Parow & Freshly Ground - Army of One
Riky Rick ft. Cassper    Nyovest & Anatii - Fuseg         
Al Bairre & PH Fat - Caviar Dreams
iFani - Ayadelela
Monark - Negatives Deluxe
            
Best Produced Album of the Year
Zahara - Country Girl
Mi Casa - Home Sweet Home
Sannie Fox - Serpente Masjien
Mark Counihan - To the Brave Ones
Zonke - Work of Heart

Best Engineered Album of the Year
Black Coffee - Pieces of Me
Brendan Peyper - Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie
Zonke - Work of Heart
Mi Casa - Home Sweet Home
Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra - One Night in the Sun
        
Best Remix of the Year
DJ Sliqe - Do Like I Do Remix
AKA - Baddest Remix
Mobi Dixon - My Sugar
Mobi Dixon - Never Let Me Go Remix
The Fraternity - Bheka Mina Ngedwa Amplified

Category winners to be announced at the awards ceremony:

Special Awards
International and Lifetime Achievement Awards

Best Selling Mobile Music Downloads
Best Selling Album
Best Selling DVD
Best Selling Mobile Music Download
Best Selling True-Tone
Best Selling Ring-Back Tone
Best Selling Full-Track Download

Sampra Award
Highest Airplay of the Year