# 22nd Annual South African Music Awards

The 22nd Annual South African Music Awards was held on 4 June 2016 at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa and was hosted by Somizi Mhlongo and Thando Thabethe. The nominees were announced on 21 April 2016 with Nathi, Emtee, Zonke Dikana, and Riky Rick topping the list with four nominations each. Nathi garnered the most awards with five while Black Coffee came closest by claiming four awards.

## Performers

* Moneoa
* Loki Rothman
* Jabu Hlongwane
* Wouter Kellerman
* AKA
* Da L.E.S
* Nasty C
* Emtee
* Fifi Cooper
* Nathi
* DJ Ganyani
* DJ Merlon
* Revolution
* Prince Kaybee
* Dreamteam
* Big Nuz
* Thee Legacy song they performed
* Raheem Kemet
* Lakota Silva
* Nakhane Toure
* 24 Skies
* Thokozani Langa
* Khuzani
* Saarkies
* The Fraternity
* Andriette
* Pierre Rossouw
* iFANi
* DJ Fortee
* DJ Sliqe
* Mobi Dixon

## Winners and nominees

Below is the list of nominees and winners for the popular music categories. Winners are highlighted in bold.
| Album of the Year Pieces of Me – Black Coffee Francois van Coke – Francois Van Coke Avery – Emtee Buyelekhaya – Nathi VII – Tresor | Duo or Group of the Year Big Nuz – For the Fans Desmond & The Tutus – Enjoy Yourself Witness The Funk – Finding Nomusa Marcus Wyatt & The ZAR Jaz Orchestra – One Night in the Sun Junior Taurus & Lady Zamar – Cotton Candy |
| Female Artist of the Year Zonke – Work of Heart Zahara – Country Girl Fifi Cooper – 20FIFI Karen Zoid – Drown Out the Noise Judith Sephuma – One Word | Male Artist of the Year Nathi – Buyelekhaya Black Coffee – Pieces of Me Emtee – Avery Francois Van Coke – Francois van Coke Riky Rick – Family Values |
| Newcomer of the Year Buyelekhaya – Nathi Avery – Emtee 20FIFI – Fifi Cooper VII – Tresor Family Values – Riky Rick | Best Rock Album Enjoy Yourself – Desmond & The Tutus Francois van Coke – Francois Van Coke Drown Out the Noise – Karen Zoid Youthless – Shortstraw Reisiger – Saarkie |
| Best Pop Album VII – Tresor Overdrive – Can Skylark Pop: The Mix Tape – Lakota Silva The Way Back – Loki Rothman Shaded Soul – Vincent Bones | Best Pop Album (Afrikaans) My Hartjie – Karlien van Jaarsveld Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie – Brendan Peyper In My Blood – Pierre Rossouw Vuurbestand – Suzanne Sit Vanaand op Herhaal – Vaughan Gardiner |
| Best Adult Contemporary Album One Word – Judith Sephuma Tigerlily – Josie Field & Laurie Levine Salt – Kahn Republiek van Zoid Afrika Vol. 2 – Karen Zoid and Friends Watch the Rain – Watershed | Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album Êrens in die Middel van Nêrens – Elvis Blue Pêrel vir ’n Kroon – Andriëtte Sing Afrikaner Sing – Bok van Blerk Hierde Hande – Neil Somers Sonde – Stiaan Reynierse |
| Best African Adult Album Ubuntu – The Common String – Dizu Plaatjies Busisiwe – Tribute to the African Heroines – Jessica Mbangeni Sekusile – Kabomo Mudzimu Washu – L’wei Netshivhale Soul Therapy – Thiwe | Best Alternative Album La Vie Est Belle/Life is Beautiful – Petite Noir Ja. Nee. Lekker (Deluxe) – Die Heuwels Fantasties Rabulapha! – Moonchild Sanelly Serpente Masjien – Sannie Fox In Threes – The Plastics |
| Best R&B / Soul / Reggae Album Buyelekhaya – Nathi Country Girl – Zahara Do What You Love – The Muffinz Imbewu – Olwethu Work of Heart – Zonke | Best Rap Album Avery – Emtee Family Values – Riky Rick Impande – Zakwe North God – Da L.E.S 3 Quarter Pace – Kid X |
| Best Kwaito Album For The Fans – Big Nuz North Coast Vibe – Mzansi Believe – Dbn Nyts Immortal Vol. 3 – Kabelo Mabalane Game Changer – DJ Bongz | Best Dance Album Pieces of Me – Black Coffee Home Sweet Home – Mi Casa Original Copy – DJ Merlon Cotton Candy – Junior Taurus & Lady Zamar Tribal Soul Special Edition – Mobi Dixon |
| Best Traditional Faith Album The Journey Begins – TYGC Family True Worship 2015 – Worship House Project 12 Praise Live – Worship House Various Artists – Women in Praise Ukhona Uthixo – Dumi Mkokstad | Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Spirit and Life – Ntokozo Mbambo To the Brave Ones – Mark Counihan Redeemed to Worship – Mahalia Buchanan Endless Anthem – 24 Skies Santified in His Presence – Benjamin Dube |
| Best Maskandi Album Ichakijana – Imithente Gabi Gabi – Buselaphi Bazali Bami – Shwi Nomtekhala Khuzeka Mshana – Thokozani Langa Woze Durban – Phuzekhemisi | Best Jazz Album One Night in the Sun (Jazz Orchestra) – Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR World Music – Bokani Dyer Listening to the Ground – Nduduzo Makhathini Homecoming – Benjamin Jephta Quintet Bhekiwise – Amandla Freedom Ensemble |
| Best Classical / Instrumental Album Love Language – Wouter Kellerman Mintirho ya SJ KhosaOrchestra – KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra Guy Buttery – Guy Buttery Christoph & Sebastian – Cape Consort Heartland – Deep South | Best Live Audio Visual Recording Live at Emperor's Palace – Jimmy Dludlu Santified in His Presence – Benjamin Dube Spirit and Life – Ntokozo Mbambo Krone 2 – Krone Friends in Praise – Neyi & Omega |
| Best Collaboration "Shumaya & Trademark" – Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi "All Eyes on Me" – AKA ft. Redsan, Burna Boy & Stonebwoy "No Lie" – Khuli Chana ft. Patoranking "Back to the Beach" – Shekinah ft. Kyle Deutsch "Sylza Tsotsi" – Major League DJz ft. Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, Riky Rick & Carpo | Best Music Video of the Year "Army of One" – Jack Parow & freshly Ground "Ayadelela" – iFani "Fuseg" – Riky Rick ft. Cassper Nyovest & Anatii "Caviar Dreams" – Al Bairre & PH Fat "HUSH" – Monark |
| Best Produced Album of the Year Country Girl – Zahara To The Brave Ones – Mark Counihan Home Sweet Home – Mi Casa Work of Heart – Zonke Serpente Masjien – Sannie Fox | Best Engineered Album of the Year Pieces of Me – Black Coffee Home Sweet Home – Mi Casa Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie – Brendan Peyper Work of Heart – Zonke One Night in the Sun – Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra |
| Best Remix of the Year "Do Like I Do (Remix)" – DJ Sliqe "Baddest Remix" – AKA "Bheka Mina Ngedwa Amplified" – The Fraternity "My Sugar" – Mobi Dixon "Never Let Me Go (Remix)" – Mobi Dixon ||

### Special Awards
#### Amstel Record of the Year (Public Vote)

* "Roll Up" – Emtee

#### International Achievement Award

* Black Coffee

#### Lifetime Achievement Awards

* Nana Coyote (posthumous award)
* Roger Lucey
* Bhekumuzi Luthuli (posthumous award)

### Sales and Downloads Awards
#### Best Selling Album

* Buyelekhaya – Nathi

#### Best Selling DVD

* Volume 19: Back to the Cross – Joyous Celebration

#### Best Overall Music Download

* "Bayede Baba" – Sfiso Ncwane

#### Best Selling Ring-Back Tone

* "Bayede Baba" – Sfiso Ncwane

#### Best Selling Full-Track Download

* "Nomvula" – Nathi

### Sponsored Awards
#### Highest Radio Airplay of the Year (SAMPRA)

* "Shumaya" – DBN Nyts

#### Highest Radio Airplay Composers’ Award (SAMRO)

* "Shumaya" by Dbn Nyts – Samkele Maphumulo, Kabelo Masekane, Cebo Ngcobo, Wanda Shabalala and Lwazi Yokwana

#### Best Selling Digital Download Composers’ Award (CAPASSO)

* "Bayede Baba" – Sfiso Ncwane