Sun City - Shekhinah went for rose gold and took home three statuettes from the 24th annual South African Music Awards (Samas) on Saturday night. The singer-songwriter was the most nominated act at this year’s awards, with six nominations for her debut album Rose Gold.
But she was beaten by Joyous Celebration, who were the biggest winners on the night.
The gospel group won four awards, all of which were a direct result of sales.
Joyous Celebration won the Capasso best-selling digital download composer’s award, the best-selling DVD of the year award, the best-selling digital artist of the year award and the best-selling album of the year award for Joyous Celebration Volume 21: Heal Our Land.
But all eyes were on President Cyril Ramaphosa, who opened the show, and later together with the Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa conferred Mbongeni Ngema, Steve Kekana and Letona “Spokes H” Hlatshwayo Spokes (posthumous) with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ramaphosa also handed out the International Achievement Award to Shashika Mooroth.
While some acts were voted for by the public based on popularity - in cases such as the record of the year - the Samas' judges cast their votes for the rest of the categories.
Sales awards mean the fans putting their money where their mouths are.
The glittering, televised ceremony took place at the Superbowl at Sun City.
Veteran host Somizi Mhlongo was the main presenter for the awards and shared the stage with Metro FM DJ and reality television star Dineo Ranaka and comedian Mpho Popps.
Shekhinah said she was thrilled to win newcomer of the year, female artist of the year and the album of the year awards.
Other artists who won three awards each include Sun-El Musician, for his collaboration with Samthing Soweto.
The duo produced the 2017 smash single Akanamali.
Sun-El won the Samro highest airplay composer’s award, best collaboration and the Sampra highest airplay song of the year awards.
Mafikizolo also won three Samas.
Afro-pop duo Nhlanhla Nciza and Theo Kgosinkwe released their album 20, to celebrate their two decades in the music industry. It was no surprise that they won the best Afropop album award.
They also took home the awards for duo or group of the year and best engineered album.
As at every awards ceremony, some category winners left the audience perplexed.
One such category was the best African artist album. The award went to The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience by Simphiwe Dana.
This was surprising because the category is designed to shed light on music from the rest of the continent, and if one looks at factors such as popularity, airplay, sales and performances, there are other artists in that category who seem to be more popular and are played in this country way more than Dana.
After all, she was up against Niniola for This Is Me, Zoe Modiga for Yellow The Novel, Moreira Chonguica & Manu Dibango for M&M and Wizkid for Sounds from the Other Side.
This is not to say Dana doesn’t deserve the award as she is certainly in a league of her own
But music from the rest of the continent should be highlighted in this category.
Categories such as best kwaito album were rightly taken by Busiswa for her debut album Highly Flavoured.
This artist is one to watch and her career promises to have lon- gevity in the music industry.
The best jazz album category was deservedly won by Nduduzo Makhathini for Ikhambi.
Here's the full list of winners:
Newcomer of the Year:
Shekhinah for ‘Rose Gold’
Male Artist of the Year:
Prince Kaybee for ‘I am Music’
Female Artist of the Year:
Shekhinah for ‘Rose Gold’
Duo or Group of the Year:
Mafikizolo for ‘20’
Album of the Year:
‘Rose Gold’ by Shekhinah
SAMRO Highest Airplay Composer's Award:
Sun-EL Musician ft Samthing Soweto for ‘Akanamali’ composed by Sanele “Sun-El Musician” Sithole
CAPASSO Best Selling Digital Download Composer’s Award:
Joyous Celebration for ‘Joyous Celebration Volume 21: Heal Our Land’ composed by Timothy Bambelela Myeni
Best Selling Digital Artist of the Year:
Joyous Celebration for ‘Joyous Celebration Volume 21: Heal Our Land’
SAMPRA Highest Airplay Song of the Year:
‘Akanamali’ by Sun-EL Musician ft Samthing Soweto
Best Selling DVD of the Year:
‘Joyous Celebration Volume 21: Heal Our Land’ by Joyous Celebration
Best Selling Album of the Year:
‘Joyous Celebration Volume 21: Heal Our Land’ by Joyous Celebration
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Dr Mbongeni Ngema, Adv Steve Kekana , Letona “Spokes H” Hlatshwayo Spokes
International Achievement Award:
Shashika Mooruth
Best Rock Album:
‘Selfmedikasie’ by Fokofpolisiekar
Best Pop Album:
‘The Beautiful Madness’ by TRESOR
Beste Pop Album:
‘Laat Die Dansvloer Brand’ by Kurt Darren
Best Adult Contemporary Album:
‘Symphonic Soweto’ by Wouter Kellerman and the Soweto Gospel Choir
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album:
‘Skepe’ by Jo Black
Best African Adult Contemporary Album:
‘Ilanga’ by Siseko Pame
Best Alternative Music Album:
‘Mangaliso’ by Bongeziwe Mabandla
Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album:
‘Relationships’ by Afrotraction
Best Hip Hop Album:
‘Yellow’ by Shane Eagle
Best Kwaito Album:
‘Highly Flavoured’ by Busiswa
Best Dance Album:
‘King Zamar’ by Lady Zamar
Best Traditional Faith Music Album:
‘Andile KaMajola Chapter 8 Sekwanele’ by Andile KaMajola
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album:
‘Heaven's Ways’ by Nqubeko Mbatha
Best African Indigenous Gospel Album:
‘Samson Aphi Amandla Akho’ by Vuma Zion
Best African Artist Album: ‘
The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience’ by Simphiwe Dana
Best Traditional Music Album:
‘Jessica Mbangeni Sings IGoli Live @ Lyric Theatre Johannesburg’ by Jessica Mbangeni
Best Maskandi Album:
‘6 to 6’ by Abafana Baka Mgqumeni
Best Jazz Album:
‘Ikhambi’ by Nduduzo Makhathini
Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album:
‘Baroqueswing Vol. III’ by Charl du Plessis Trio
Best Afro Pop Album:
‘20’ by Mafikizolo
Best Live Audio Visual Recording / DVD:
‘Red Mic Xperience’ by Donald. Visual recording producer: Robin Kohl
Best Collaboration:
‘Akanamali’ by Sun-El Musician featuring Samthing Soweto
Music Video of the Year:
‘Arumtumtum’ by Rouge. Directed by Alex Fynn
Best Produced Album:
‘Late Night People’ by Goldfish. Produced by Dominic Peters and David Poole
Best Engineered Album:
‘20’ by Mafikizolo. Produced by Howard Gomba and Themba Sekowe
Remix of the Year:
‘I got you’ by Encore. Remixed by Mobi Dixon