# 21st South African Music Awards

The 21st Annual South African Music Awards were announced during a gala event at Sun City's Super Bowl arena in the North West province on Sunday night, 19 April 2015. It was branded as #SAMAXXI, where XXI represents the Roman numerals for 21.

## Winners and nominees

Cassper Nyovest had five nominations for SAMA awards but only walked away with Newcomer of the Year. K.O. beat him to the Best Rap Album of the Year and AKA took Male Artist of the Year. Beatenberg secured 3 SAMAs out of 5 nominations. The group went to win four Special Awards during the pre-show for their collaboration with DJ Clock.

### Awards

| Album of the Year The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg – Beatenberg Tsholofelo – Cassper Nyovest Skhanda Republic – K.O. Vulani – Ringo Madlingozi Nostalgic Moments – The Soil | Duo or Group of the Year Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Bittereinder – Skerm BlackByrd – Home McCoy Mrubata – Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 The Soil – Nostalgic Moments |
| Female Artist of the Year Bucie – Princess of House (Easy to Love) Lulu Dikana – I Came To Love Maleh – You Make My Heart Go Moneoa – Ndim Lo Simphiwe Dana – Firebrand | Male Artist of the Year AKA – Levels Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo Jimmy Nevis – The Masses K.O. – Skhanda Republic Ringo Madlingozi – Vulani |
| Newcomer of the Year Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Duncan – Street Government Howie Combrink – Eat It While It's Hot Jeremy Loops – Trading Change | Best Rock Album Morning After – aKING Let The Night In – Prime Circle Majestic – Reburn Tenfold – Taxi Violence Knuckles – Zebra & Giraffe |
| Best Pop Album The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg – Beatenberg The Masses – Jimmy Nevis Home – Monark Kiff – The Kiffness Ascension – Toya Delazy | Best Pop Album (Afrikaans) Die Regte Tyd – Riana Nel Skildery – Nádine Lied Vir Die Vrou – Kurt Darren Nooit Oud Raak Nie – Eden Maak ‘n Wens – Bobby van Jaarsveld |
| Best Adult Contemporary Album Back Again – Joe Niemand Lightning Prevails – Arno Carstens Home – BlackByrd Eat It While It's Hot – Howie Combrink S'bongile – Josie Field | Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album Ek en Jy – Dewald Wasserfal Want Jy Is Boer – Adam Tas Posduif – Chris Chameleon and Daniella Deysel Hande Vol Genade – Dozi Wat Die Hart Van Vol Is – Pieter Koen |
| Best Traditional Music Album Spoken Word & Music – Botlhale Boikanyo Living For Yesterday – Brian Finch Palesa – Imfez'emnyama Isiporoporo – Impumelelo Uhambo Olusha – Qadasi | Best Maskandi Album Igema Lami – Thokozani Langa KoMalume – Abakamnyandu Mhla Uphelamandla – Amawele Ka Mamtshawe Ohulumeni – Ichwane Lebhaca I Facebook – Maqhinga Radebe |
| Best Jazz Album Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 – McCoy Mrubata African Time Quartet in Concert – Herbie Tsoaeli Dream State – Kyle Shepherd Trio Maji in the Land of Milk & Honey – Marcus Wyatt Mother Tongue – Nduduzo Makhathini | Best R&B / Soul / Reggae Album For The Lovers – Afrotraction I Came To Love – Lulu Dikana Ndim Lo – MoNeOa Nostalgic Moments – The Soil Did It For Love – Vusi Nova |
| Best Rap Album Skhanda Republic – K.O. Levels – AKA Tsholofelo – Cassper Nyovest Street Government – Duncan Audio High Definition – Reason | Best Kwaito Album University of Kalawa Jazmee Since 1994 – Professor The Boss – L’vovo Derrango Licence to Hustle – Phi & Ginger Legend – Mojalefa Thebe Delicious – Trompies |
| Best Dance Album Fortune Teller – Black Motion Princess of House (Easy to Love) – Bucie The Brand New Me: Soul Candi Sessions 2015 (Disc 2) – Cuebur Da Capo – Da Capo The 4th Tick: A Clockumentary – DJ Clock | Best Classical / Instrumental Album Winds Of Samsara – Wouter Kellerman Soos in die Ou Dae – CH2 Guitar Duo Baroqueswing – Charl du Plessis Trio Padkos – Tony Cox Phoenix Camerata – University of Pretoria |
| Best Traditional Faith Album Bayede Baba – Sfiso Ncwane Chapter 6 Ujehova Ungibiyele – Andile Kamajola Ama VIP – Rebecca Malope Victory In The Blood – Rofhiwa Manyaga Live Project 11 – Worship House | Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Power Love Sound – Loyiso The Uprising – Khaya Mthethwa Rhythm of Worship – Ndo Dlakadla He’s Alive – Tybelo Freedom – Word & Life Worship |
| Best African Adult Album You Make My Heart Go – Maleh Back To My Roots – Kelly Khumalo Traveling Man – MaxHoba Vulani – Ringo Madlingozi Firebrand – Simphiwe Dana | Best Alternative Album Skerm – Bittereinder Space Elephant – Bye Beneco Mistress – David Moffatt Trading Change – Jeremy Loops Light – Tailor |
| Best Live DVD First Decade by Lira – Robin Kohl Renewal in His Presence by Benjamin Dube – Aubrey Peacock and Benjamin Dube Krone Live by Krone – Ben Heyns Spirit Of Praise Vol. 5 by Spirit Of Praise – Aubrey Peacock, Benjamin Dube and Oupa Montshiwaga Innibos is Groot 2014 by Various Artists – Barry Pretorius | Best Music Video of the Year "Let The Night In" by Prime Circle – Ryan Kruger "Yaya" by DJ Dimplez featuring Dream Team and ANATII – Studio Space "Turn You On" by Micasa – Izm Works "In Defense Of My Art" by Tumi Molekane – Kyle Lewis "Ghetto" by Zakes Bantwini – Zakes Bantwini |
| Best Producer of the Year Wouter Kellerman and Ricky Kej – Winds Of Samsara by Wouter Kellerman Denholm Harding – Let The Night In by Prime Circle Ewald Jansen Van Rensburg – Negatives by Monark Holidave – Home by BlackByrd Lulu Dikana and Powella Tiemo – I Came To Love by Lulu Dikana | Best Engineer of the Year Brian O'Shea, Crighton Goodwill and Maruispopplanet – Johnny Apple by Johnny Apple Dave Reynolds and Peter Pearlson – The Light of Day by Dave Reynolds Peter Auret – Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 by McCoy Mrubata Heritage Sound – Let The Night In by Prime Circle Jürgen von Wechmar, Rogan Kelsey, Ross Fink and Jaziel Sommers – Ascension by Toya Delazy |
| Best Collaboration K.O. featuring Kid X – "Caracara" AKA featuring K.O. – "Run Jozi" Cassper Nyovest featuring Gusheshe – "OkMalumkoolkat" DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg – "Pluto" The Soil featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo – "Hamba Uyosebenza" | Remix of the Year "Indlela Yam" – DJ Sbu and Robbie Malinga "Tsiki Tsiki" – Select Play "Goldfish Moonwalk Away" – Goldfish "Personal Paradise" – Heavy K "Amantombazane" – Riky Rick |

### Special Awards
#### International Achievement Award

* Wouter Kellerman – The world-renowned flautist received the award for his Grammy-winning album, Winds of Samsara.

#### Lifetime Achievement Awards

* M'du Masilela
* Mandla Mofokeng
* Zim Ngqawana

#### SAMPRA Award (Highest Airplay of the Year)

* "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg

### Mobile Music Awards
#### Best Selling Album

* Die Regte Tyd – Riana Nel

#### Best Selling DVD

* Vol. 18 One Purpose – Joyous SA

#### Best Selling Mobile Music Download

* "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg

#### Best Selling Ring-Back Tone

* "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg

#### Best Selling Full-Track Download

* "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg