# South African Music Award for Newcomer of the Year

The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held in late-April or May every year, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. The nominations are typically announced at the end of March. The winners receive a gold-plated statuette called a SAMA.
The show is consistently held at the Super Bowl in Sun City, with exception of two years, and broadcast live on national broadcaster, SABC. The ceremony features live performances by a selection of nominees. The SAMAs are considered the South African equivalent of the American Grammy Awards. MTN has been the title sponsor of the event since 2003.

## 1990s

| 1st SAMA (1995) Soweto String Quartet – "Zebra Crossing" | 2nd SAMA (1996) Qkumba Zoo – "The Child (Inside)" |
| 3rd SAMA (1997) Revolution – "The Journey" | 4th SAMA (1998) Jimmy Dludlu – "Echoes From The Past" |
| 5th SAMA (1999) Tasché – "Tasché" ||

## 2000s

| 6th SAMA (2000) Gloria Bosman – "Tranquility" | 7th SAMA (2001) Selaelo Selota – "Painted Faces" Loyisa – "Loyiso" Tsakani Mhinga – "TKO)" Bambata – "1906" Kampi Moto and George Phiri – "Acha Masimango" |
| 8th SAMA (2002) Ernie Smith – "Child of Light" | 9th SAMA (2003) Moses Khumalo – "Mntungwa" After Touch – "The African Reaction" Guy Buttery – "When I Grow Up..." Jae – "Missing You" Prince Kupi – "Loxion" |
| 10th SAMA (2004) Adilah – "Ses'fikile" Gerard Ogle – "Live Your Dream" Malebo Mothema – "Growth in Africa" Sliq Angel – "Sliq Angel" Thando – "Smile upon my Face" | 11th SAMA (2005) Simphiwe Dana – "Zandisile" Jamali – "Jamali" Pitch Black Afro – "Styling Gel" Seed – "In the Soil" Zamajobe – "Ndawo Yami" Ntando _ ll-Kwantu Loyiso - Ampfield Ringo -Baleka |
| 12th SAMA (2006) Brickz – "Face-Brick" Kwani Experience – "Birth of the Mudaland Funk" Prokid – "Heads And Tales" Tuks Senganga – "Mafoko A Me" Wikid – "Anger Management" | 13th SAMA (2007) Siphokazi – "Ubuntu Bam" Lesego – "MyMusic" Lucas Senyatso – "All of Me" Maduvha – "Maduvha" Rae – "Kwenzekile" |
| 14th SAMA (2008) Tasha Baxter – "Colour of Me" Camagwini – "Zivile" Molemi – "Amantsi" Mpumi Dhlamini – "Combined Elements" Tumi Lane – "No Guarantee" | 15th SAMA (2009) Andile Mseleku – "Essence of Joy" Babu – "Up Roots" Jody – "Just Gonna Be Me" The Voice of Angels – "The Voice of Angels Vol. 1" Zebra & Giraffe – "Collected Memories" |

## 2010s

| 16th SAMA (2010) Tshepo Mngoma – "People And Places" Culoe de Song – "A Giant Leap" Kyle Shepherd – "Fine ART" Solly Mahlangu – "Obrigado" The South African Youth Choir – "Birth of the Sun" | 17th SAMA (2011) Locnville – "Sun in My Pocket" Jay – "Solo" Kwesta – "Special Rekwest" Liquideep – "Fabrics of the Heart" Nomsa Mazwai – "Nomisupa" |
| 18th SAMA (2012) Zahara – "Loliwe" Lwanda Gogwana Songbook – "Chapter 1" Mi Casa – "Mi Casa Music" Shadowclub – "Guns and Money" Zakwe – "Zakwe" | 19th SAMA (2013) Toya Delazy – "Due Drop Deluxe" Bongeziwe Mabandla – "Umlilo" Khaya – "For You" Tailor – "The Dark Horse" The Muffinz – "Have You Heard?" |
| 20th SAMA (2014) Naima Kay – "Umsebenzi" Gangs of Ballet – "Yes/No/Grey" iFANi – "I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant)" MuzArt – "MuzArt" Nakhane Touré – "Brave Confusion" | 21st SAMA (2015) Cassper Nyovest – "Tsholofelo" Beatenberg – "The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg" Duncan – "Street Government" Howie Combrink – "Eat It While It's Hot" Jeremy Loops – "Trading Change" |
| 22nd SAMA (2016) Buyelekhaya – Nathi Avery – Emtee 20FIFI – Fifi Cooper VII – Tresor Family Values – Riky Rick | 23rd SAMA (2017) Amanda Black - Amazulu Soul Kulture - Ngeliny'ilanga Babes Wodumo - Gqom Queen Vol. 1 Sketchy Bongo- Unmasked Nasty C - Bad Hair Extensions |
| 24th SAMA (2018) Rose Gold – Shekhinah Yellow – Shane Eagle The New Era Session – Rouge Blaq Diamond – Blaq Diamond Songs About You – Thabsie | 25th SAMA (2019) Sho Madjozi – Limpopo Champions League Simmy – Tugela Fairy Mlindo the Vocalist – Emakhaya Paxton – This is me Sun-El Musician – Africa to the World |

## 2020s

| 26th SAMA (2020) Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble – Queen Nandi: The African Sbu Noah – A David Kind of Psalm (Live) Ami Faku – Imali Spha Mdlalose – Indlel’eyekhaya Symphony Viwe Mkizwana – Tributes | 27th SAMA (2021) Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter Xolly Mncwango – Jesus is Enough Reign Africa – On the Frontline BandaBanda & The Crocodiles – Africado Azana – Ingoma |
| 28th SAMA (2022) Khanyisile Mthethwa – African Bird | 29th SAMA (2023) Myztro – Nkwari 2.0 Blakka Yut – Unleashed Sincerely Anne – To Whom it May Concern Lloyiso – Seasons Venom and Shishiliza – Love Is Pain |
| 30th SAMA (2024) Tyla – TYLA Sykes - Most Wanted Lwah Ndlunkulu – Imizwa Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt - Almal Gly Joliza – Bhacasoul Experience |