Toya is tops at MTN Samas

The MTN South African Music Awards were announced earlier this morning in Newtown and leading the pack is Toya Delazy with six nominations.

The colourful electro rapper, who is also a granddaughter to Chief Mangasuthu Buthelezi, burst onto the scene in 2012 with the hit Pump It Up from her debut album, Due Drop. She is nominated in Newcomer of the Year,

Another newcomer, model and pop singer, Chiano Sky has five nominations for her album, Hungry. The two go up against each other in Best Pop where Lloyd Cele, Snotkop and Kurt Darren are also nominated.

The Muffinz, who recently won Best Group at the Metro FM Awards are third on the nominees list with four nominations. This includes Album of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Duo or Group of the Year and Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album.

Also nominated in four categories is DJ Vetkuk and Mahoota with their platinum selling triple CD, Dinaledi. This is the duos most successful album to date and has spawned the massive singles Stokvel and Via Orlando which features the high kicking sensation, Dr Malinga.

However, the kwaito artist, house producer and Kalawa Jazmee director was nonplussed with his four nominations. “We as Kalawa Jazmee never enter the Samas,” he explained. “Our distribution company, Universal does that for us. I don’t think they are a true reflection of South African music in that I have had many platinum selling albums but I have never really been nominated.”

He continued: “When I go to the Samas it is just to rock the pre parties and to perform when they ask me. Otherwise I just carry on as usual because it doesn’t mean anything to me.”

Rock band Prime Circle fair well with three nominations overall. Their competitors in Best Rock are Pretoria based rockers, Desmond & the Tutus, The Plastics, Arno Carstens and Zebra & Giraffe.

Last year’s big winner of a record eight awards, Zahara is nominated three times. While she has not released a new album since her debut best selling Loliwe, she has released a live DVD of those songs. The other nominees are Black Coffee, Lira, The Parlotones and Huisgenoot Skouspel.

With the event in its 19th year, the MTN Samas are the biggest South African entertainment event on the annual calendar. This year it takes place on 10 and 11 May at Sun City’s Superbowl. There will be a live broadcast of the main event on Saturday, 11 May on SABC1.

The MTN Samas RECORD OF THE YEAR nominees:

B.O.P – Wa Muhle

Black Motion – Father To Be

Chiano-Sky – Walking Away

DJ Vetkuk Vs Mahoota – Stokvel

DJ Zinhle – My Name Is

Donald – I Deserve

Elvis Blue – Lifeline

HHP – Bosso

Kabomo – Colour of You

Khaya – Move

Liquideep – Still

Lloyd Cele – Hero

Mi Casa – Heavenly Sent

Oskido – Tsa Mandebele

Riot – Thetha Nami

Sfiso Ncwane – Kulungile Baba

Teargas – Wake Up

Toya Delazy – Love Is In The Air

Zahara – Umthwalo

Zonke – Feelings

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