DURBAN - As musos and fans eagerly await the announcement of the South African Music Awards (Samas) nominees for 2018, no-one has forgotten the commotion on social media over Babes Wodumo’s rant after she left the 23rd instalment of the awards empty-handed last year.
The Wololo star, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, posted a video on Twitter at the time insinuating that she had been robbed and the awards “were bought” - causing a social media uproar.
The rant in isiZulu translates as follows: “Hi everyone. Everyone saw what happened - this also happened at the Metros and now its happening with the Samas. So this awards thing in SA is dead, because it has become apparent that awards in SA are bought. There’s no ways that my song can trend the whole year, there’s no other newcomer like me in SA.
“My song even got nominated for a BET award overseas, but yet I didn’t even get one award in my own home turf.
“This is just not on, don’t make us idiots, carry on buying your awards.
“We will carry on with our music, we won’t starve from not winning awards, we get booked regardless. I will always be like this, I will remain Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha will remain Mampintsha and West Ink will remain as well. Thank you.”
Even her other half, Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo, went on a rant on social media claiming that there had been some underhandedness when it came to the awards.
This week the nominees’ list was being finalised and there are rumours that the date for the announcement would be revealed some time next week.
The Independent on Saturday touched base with Durban’s Gqom Queen this week to find out what her predictions were for the Samas this year.
Babes said all the artists she thinks will make the nominees’ list have worked hard.
“All the artists that I think will make the nominees’ list have worked very hard in the past year, they all deserve these accolades,” she said, adding she was certain that she would be nominated for female artist of the year once nominees were announced.
Last year it was new kid on the block Amanda Black who scooped this award at the ceremony held at the Sun City Superbowl.
“I also predict that this year I will be nominated for best collaboration for Gandaganda featuring Mampintsha,” said Babes.
Gandaganda also features Madanon, a member of the same record stable as Babes - West Ink Records.
It was Kwesta who took home this award last year for his song Ngud (which also featured Cassper Nyovest) from his third studio album Dakar II which scooped Best Rap album at the awards in 2017.
“I predict Cassper Nyovest will be one of the nominees
for Album of the Year,” said Babes.
But Nyovest has not submitted his latest album for nomination.
In fact, for the past two years he has not submitted any of his albums for Sama nominations.
This was after he too had expected to scoop an award in 2015 for his hit Doc Shebeleza, but did not do so.