It’s Tyla vs Tyler ICU in the high stakes for #SAMA30 Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RiSA Audio Visual (RAV) Music Video of the Year awards. Tyla, already a Grammy winner, claims her stake with the global hit Water. While Tyler ICU counts on the chart-topping Mnike, that sent the world into a frenzy with its dance challenge.
Not to be outdone, the Amapiano star Lowsheen, snatched two nominations in the Music Video of the Year category for Thula with Master KG and Nkosazana Daughter, as well as Uthando Lwakho with Master KG and Basetsana. Lowsheen features in another nominated hit, Ngiyamthanda by MaWhoo and Master KG.
The #SAMA30 Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year will be a battle royale of Amapiano anthems, the likes of IPlan by Zaba, Sykes and Dlala Thukzin; Imithandazo by Mthunzi and Kabza De Small; and Sgudi Snyc by De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh.
The RiSA Audio Visual Music Video of the Year is a mixed-bag of genres, as scorchers from hip hop, dance and new age Maskandi such as Lemons (Lemonade) by AKA and Nasty C; Mohigan Sun by Mörda and Oscar Mbo featuring Murumba Pitch; Ronda by Blxckie; and Ngiyeza by Lwah Ndlunkulu vie for the top honours.
The public voting for the two categories is officially open. To vote for your favourite to win, SMS the artist code to 33485. See details of voting below.
As the South African Music Awards (SAMA) celebrate 30 years, this year’s edition promises to bring new flavours and experiences. It’s a celebration of South African music excellence and the list of nominees is no surprise, as it showcases the exceptional quality of music that local artists have produced.
The nominees for the Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RAV Music Video of the Year, were chosen from singles released between 15 April 2023 and 14 April 2024.
Nhlanhla Sibisi, CEO of RiSA congratulated the nominees: “It is with great pride that I salute all the artists who have been shortlisted as nominees for Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RAV Music Video of the Year awards. Artist recognition is an important and significant pat on the back, and we continue this tradition in our 30th year of existence. It is beautiful to see how music and artists have evolved over the years.
“I would like to encourage music lovers to play their part by voting for their favourites – what good is an award ceremony without the input of the fans?”
“We look forward to a memorable SAMA as we mark 30 years of existence and so the journey has begun towards the celebration.”
- SMS Artist code to 33485. Each SMS costs R1.50. No free SMSes apply. Terms and conditions apply. For more information visit www.samusicawards.co.za
Below is the full list of Nominees:
Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year
| Nominee | Voting Code |
| Mnike-TylerICU and Tumelo.za, featuring Dj Maphorisa, Nandipha808,Ceeka RSA & Tyrone Dee | RY01 |
| IPlan- Dlala Thukzin featuring Zaba and Sykes | RY02 |
| Imithandazo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush | RY03 |
| Awukhuzeki – DJ Stokie featuring Omit ST, Sobzeen and Zeenhle | RY04 |
| Sgudi Snyc – De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef, Eemoh & Sipho Magudulela | RY05 |
| Water -Tyla | RY06 |
| Izenzo – Bassie and Aymos featuring T-Man SA | RY07 |
| Imnandi lento – Mellow and Sleazy x SjavasDaDeejay and TitoM featuring Tman Xpress | RY08 |
| Hamba Juba – Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici & Murumba Pitch | RY09 |
| Paris – Mthandeni SK featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu | RY10 |
| Isgubhu – Sam Deep, Njelic and Aymos | RY11 |
| Masithokoze – DJ Stokie and Eemoh | RY12 |
| iMpumelelo – Sam Deep, Eemoh, Da Muziqal Chef | RY13 |
| Umbayimbayi – Inkabi Zezwe, Sjava and Big Zulu | RY14 |
| Dubula – Harrycane, Master KG and DJ LaTimmy | RY15 |
| Nhliziyo Yami eKhala Kakhulu – Thabza Tee featuring Tman Xpress | RY16 |
| Gangnam Style – Mas Musiq and Daliwonga featuring DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small | RY17 |
| Horns in the Sun – DJ Kent featuring Brendan Praise, Morda, Mo-T | RY18 |
| Funk 55 – Shakes and Les, DBN Gogo and Zee Nxumalo featuring Ceeka RSA & Chley | RY19 |
| Nana Thula – Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa featuring Njelic | RY20 |
RAV Music Video of the Year
| Nominee | Voting Code |
| Ngixolele – Busta 929 featuring Boohle | MVY01 |
| Water – Tyla | MVY02 |
| Mnike -Tyler ICU and Tumelo.za featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee | MVY03 |
| Awukhuzeki – DJ Stokie featuring Omit ST, Sobzeen and Zeenhle | MVY04 |
| Kulula – MaWhoo, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small | MVY05 |
| Hamba Juba – Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici and Murumba Pitch | MVY06 |
| Iplan – Dlala Thukzin, Zaba and Sykes | MVY07 |
| Sengizwile – Mas Musiq featuring Aymos and Young Stunna | MVY08 |
| Impumelelo – Sam Deep and Eemoh featuring Da Muziqal Chef | MVY09 |
| Last Call – Will Linley | MVY10 |
| Mina Nawe – Soa Mattrix and Mashudu featuring Happy Jazzman and Emotionz DJ | MVY11 |
| Sgudi Snyc – De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh featuring Sipho Magudulela | MVY12 |
| Sosh Plata (Remix) – Loatinover Pounds featuring 25K and Thapelo Ghutra | MVY13 |
| Mohigan Sun – Mörda and Oscar Mbo featuring Murumba Pitch | MVY14 |
| Lemons (Lemonade) – AKA and Nasty C | MVY15 |
| Ronda – Blxckie | MVY16 |
| Ngiyamthanda – MaWhoo and Master KG featuring Lowsheen | MVY17 |
| Thula – Lowsheen, Master KG and Nkosazana Daughter | MVY18 |
| Ngiyeza – Lwah Ndlunkulu | MVY19 |
| Uthando Lwakho – Lowsheen, Master KG and Basetsana | MVY20 |