# 29th Annual South African Music Awards

The 29th Annual South African Music Awards is the 29th ceremony of the South African Music Awards. The ceremony was aired live on SABC 1 on November 18, 2023 hosted by DJ Sabby and Nomalanga Shozi at SunBet Arena.
Nominees were announced on October 3, 2023, live on YouTube. The late AKA leads the nominees with 7 nominations for his posthumous album Mass Country, ahead of K.O with six nominations.

## Background

29th South African Music Awards delayed due to financial difficulties, unlike other years nominations are announced on the first quarter.
Nominees were announced on October 3, 2023, live on YouTube at Soweto State Theater.
The ceremony was planned to be held at Durban ICC Arena on November 18 and broadcast live on SABC 1. Later was announced that the venue is changed to Sun Bet Arena.

## Winners and nominees

Below is the full list of nominees. Winners are listed first bold face.
| Female Artist of the Year | Male Artist of the Year |
| Ntokozo Mbambo – Lavish Worship Kelly Khumalo – From A God To A King Sincerely Anne – To Whom it May Concern Hle – Take Heart Thandi Ntuli – Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë | AKA – Mass Country Kabza De Small – KOA II Part 1 Sjava – Isibuko K.O – SR3 Lloyiso – Seasons |
| Duo or Group of the Year | Newcomer of the Year |
| DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small – Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena DJ Maphorisa and Visca – Ba Straata Venom and Shishiliza – Love Is Pain Mafikizolo – Idwala Msaki and Tubatsi – Synthetic Hearts | Myztro – 2.0 Nkwari Blakka Yut – Unleashed  Sincerely Anne – To Whom it May Concern Lloyiso – Seasons  Venom and Shishiliza – Love Is Pain |
| Album of the Year | Best Engineered Album |
| Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo Mass Country – AKA SR3 – K.O Isibuko – Sjava KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small | Mass Country– AKA (engineered & produced by Robin Kohl and Itu) To Whom it May Concern – Sincerely Anne (engineered and produced by Tjaart van der Walt and Daniel Baron) Kanniedood – Francois van Coke (engineered & produced by Taylor Soundworks) Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë – Thandi Ntuli (engineered & produced by Shane, Tshepo, Thandi & Clinton) Isibuko – Sjava, (engineered & produced by Ruff) |
| Best African Adult Contemporary Album | Best Alternative Album |
| Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi Celebrating African Song – Dumza Maswana Smile – Choko  I am Gold – S'nazo  Ubuhle Ubuhle – Lethiwe Sithole | On the Romance of Being – Desire Marea Glitch Vol 2: The Future Is Now – uBeyond Synthetic Hearts – Msaki and Tubatsi Blue Lawns – The Great Yawn Leaving All The Time – Bye Beneco |
| Best Amapiano Album | Best Classical/Instrumental Album |
| KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small Amukelani – Kelvin Momo Ba Straata – DJ Maphorisa and Visca 2.0 Nkwari – Myztro Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena – DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small | Fire Beast – Vox Chamber Choir and Franco Prinsloo Live in Europe 22 – CH2  One Night On Earth – Derek Gripper Maike – Juliet String Quartet Sanctuary – Carol Thorns |
| Best Collaboration | Best Pop Album |
| AKA featuring Nasty C – "Lemons (Lemonade)" K.O, Young Stunna featuring Blxckie – "Sete" DJ Maphorisa and Visca featuring 2woshortrsa, Stompiiey, ShaunMusiQ, Ftears and Madumane – "Ba Straata" Mörda featuring Oscar Mbo and Murumba Pitch – "Mohigan Sun" AKA featuring Kiddominant – "Company" | Seasons – Lloyiso Things We Don't Talk About – Jimmy Nevis Heard You Got Love – Jeremy Loops Game Over – Tyler Page Petrichor – Amy Lilley |
| Best Produced Album | Best Produced Music Video |
| KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound, Da Muziqal Chef, Mdu aka TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa and Felo Le Tee) Things We Don’t Talk About – Jimmy Nevis (producer: Darren Petersen) Amukelani – Kelvin Momo (producer: Kelvin Momo) Lindokuhle – Mlindo the Vocalist (producer: Mthunzi, Howard, Herc, Tshepo Morone, DJ Maphorisa, Masiano) Isibuko – Sjava (producer: Delayde, Ruff, Jah Cool) | "Shine" – Elaine (producer: Shayna Gianelli; director: Jesse Ray Diamond) "Lemons (Lemonade)" – AKA featuring Nasty C (producer: Tebogo Mabaso; director: Nate Thomas) "SETE" – K.O featuring Young Stunna & Blxckie (producer: K.O, Tsholofelo Moremedi, Ted Magerman; director: Ted Magerman) "Be Free" – Desire Marea (producer: Will Nicholson; Director: Imraan Christian "Been Thinking" – Tyla (producer: Jimi Adesanya; director: Meiji Alabi) |
| Best Reggae Album | Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album |
| Unleashed – Blakka Yut Youth's Cry – Botanist Mr Lamington Red Carpet Live – Maximum Stylez Flight More Riddim – Blackness Blue Productions Healing – Lavoro Duro | Toe Roep Ek Jou Naam – Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet Sing, Hoop, Weerklink – Prop Skree Net Sag – Alter Ego Ep In F – Herman Kleinhans Jagvat – Jan Rhaap |
| Remix of the Year | Best Gqom Album |
| "Ndinovalo" – Mörda, Yallunder "SETE" – K.O featuring Young Stunna, Oxlade & Diamond Platnumz "Hayii" (Citizen Deep Remix) – Citizen Deep X Mzux Maen ft Yasmin Levy "Au Dede" – Karyendasoul "Tobesta Remake" – Myztro featuring Focalistic, Daliwonga, Shaunmusiq and Ftears | Meeting with the King – DJ Lag Fikelephi – Sizwe Mdlalose Love & Light – Cairo CPT Nande 2.0 – DJ Sandiso Ithuba – Newlandz Finest |
| Best African Indigenous Faith Album | Best Hip Hop Album |
| Emmanuel – JTG Gospel Choir Mantswe A Supileng – Spiritual Gospel Choir Ikhoni Mfuyo – In Zion of Christ Ba Ya Mo Nyatsa – Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo Ntate Le Rato La Hao – Ingqayizivele Gospel Choir | Religion– MashBeatz Mass Country – AKA SR3 – K.O Life is Gangsta – Thato Saul Diaspora – Maglera Doe Boy |
| Best Jazz Album | Best Kwaito Album |
| In the Spirit of Ntu – Nduduzo Makhathini Isambulu – Linda Sikhakhane Blk Elija & The Children of Meroe – Thandi Ntuli The 1st Gospel – Mthunzi Mvubu Finish the Sun – Shane Cooper and Mabuta | Speak n Vrostaan – Kwesta and Kabza De Small R Mashesha – Big Nuz I Am Who I Am – Nkiyase Jukebox – Shisaboy Barabbas – Taylor K |
| Best Maskandi Album | Best R&B Album |
| Umqhele Nethawula – Khuzani Ngeke Ungiphathe – Menzi Is' khiye Se-Coldroom – Thokozani Langa Iphakade Lami – Abafana Bakamgqumeni Home Alone – Inkos'yamagcokama | But Could The Moments in Between – Ndumiso Manana Germander II – Lesego Kyle Mnyandu 4LUV (Deluxe) – Sihle Sithole Bad Weather – Nanette Siphesihle Passion Fruit – Kabomo |
| Best Traditional Album | Best Adult Contemporary Album |
| African Queen 2.0–Makhadzi Ke Bone Molelo O Timile – MmaAusi A Reyeng Bahurutshe – Oarabele France Makgore Obe Happy – Molebatsi Tsotetsi Inkabi Nation – Big Zulu, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Xowla, Siya Ntuli | Dark Secrets – Louise Carver Bait For Steps Forward – Nobuhle Ashanti Memories – Drakensberg Boys Choir Ndikhethiwe – Vusi Nova Love – Viwo Kulati |
| Best Dance Album | Best Afro-pop Album |
| Asante – Mörda Next Level – Russell Zuma The Gospel According to Artwork Sounds – Grain WL4OM – Karyendasoul A New Dawn – Siyanda Makanya | Isibuko – Sjava From A God to A King – Kelly Khumalo Idwala – Mafikizolo Love is Pain – Venom Ekhayakomama – Philadlozi Mfekayi |
| Best Rock Album | Best Traditional Faith Album |
| Kanniedood – Francois Badenhorst Fine Thanks, and You? – Russell Coward Hellcats – End of Days – Warwick Rautenbach/Alessandro Benigno Fuzigish – Malcolm King Testify – Basson Laubscher | The Overflow – Dumi Mkokstad Hoja Ke Sena Wena – IPCC Ndiyabulela – Tsholofelo Ntuli The Grace Encounter Vol. 1 – Phumulani Radebe Sedi Laka – Brown Mosiapoa |
| Best Contemporary Faith Album | Beste Pop |
| Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo Mhalamhala – Brenden Praise Take Heart – Hle Restored: The Jesus Collective – The Jesus Collective Hope – Vincent Jiyane | Jona – Bernice van der Westhuizen Insomnia – Brendan Peyper Loufi Flippen Loufi – Ifan-Luc Carlo Handel Hittegolf – Brandon Eloff Die Onbekende – Renier van der Westhuizen |

## Special Awards
### Rest of Africa Award

* Sad Romance – CKay
* Timeless – Davido
* Worry – Lyre
* Dynastie – Ferre Gola
* Sounds of Peace – Moreira Chonguiça

### International Achievement Awards

* Zakes Bantwini
* Wouter Kellerman
* Nomcebo Zikode

### Lifetime Achievement Awards

* Pops Mohmmed
* Gloria Bosman
* Mandoza
* Ihhashi Elimhlophe

### SAMRO Highest AirPlay Composer

* "SETE" - K.O (featuring Young Stunna, Blxckie)

### Capasso Most Streamed Song

* "SETE" - K.O (featuring Young Stunna, Blxckie)