Album of the Year is considered to be one of the top five accolades of the South African Music Awards (SAMAs), an annual award ceremony coordinated by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA). The recording artist(s) who released the winning album are given a statuette called a SAMA. To be eligible for nomination, an album must have been released by a South African artist in the calendar year before the year of the ceremony. The ceremony is held in April or May, and features live performances by some of the nominees. The event is broadcast on SABC1.
The South African Music Awards were established in 1995, but the "Album of the Year" category was not added until 2007.
The following is a list of artists and albums that won a SAMA in the "Album of the Year" category.
2000s Simphiwe Dana – "The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street" Bheki Khoza – "Getting To Heaven Alive" DJ Sbu – "Y-lens Vol. 1" Siphokazi – "Ubuntu Bam" Vusi Mahlasela – "Naledi Ya Tsela"Freshlyground – "Ma'Cheri" DJ Cleo – "Eskhaleni Phase 4" HHP – "Acceptance Speech" Jimmy Dludlu – "Portrait" Zonke – "Life, Love N Music"Lira – "Soul in Mind" Rhythmic Elements – "The Offering" 340ml – "Sorry For the Delay" Chris Chameleon – "Klassieke Chameleon" Goldfish – "Perceptions of Pacha"
2010s
Big Nuz – "Undisputed" BLK JKS – "After Robots" Busi Mhlongo – "Amakholwa Believers" Selaelo Selota – "Lapeng Laka" Teargas – "Dark Or Blue"Liquideep – "Fabrics of the Heart" Flash Republic – "Killer Moves" Prime Circle – "Jekyll and Hyde" Professor – "University Of Kalawa Jazmee" Zakes Bantwini – "Love, Light & Music"Zahara – Loliwe Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Songs From The Farms Mi Casa – Mi Casa Music Zakwe – Zakwe Zonke – Ina EtheKhuli Chana – "Lost In Time" Wa Muhle – "B.O.P" Kelly Khumalo – "The Past, The Present, The Future" Maleh – "Step Child" Ntokozo Mbambo – "Filled" The Muffinz – "Have You Heard?"Mafikizolo – "Reunited" DJ Kent – "The Weekent" Mi Casa – "Su Casa" Naima Kay – "Umsebenzi" Nakhane Touré – "Brave Confusion" Beatenberg – "The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg" Cassper Nyovest – "Tsholofelo" K.O. – "Skhanda Republic" Ringo Madlingozi – "Vulani" The Soil – "Nostalgic Moments" Pieces of Me – Black Coffee Francois van Coke – Francois Van Coke Avery – Emtee Buyelekhaya – Nathi VII – Tresor Kwesta - Dakar II Black Motion - Ya Badimo Amanda Black - Amazulu Nasty C - Bad Hair Extensions Thandiswa - BeledeRose Gold – ShekhinahBeautiful Madness – Tresor 20 – Mafikizolo King Zamar – Lady Zamar Yellow – Shane Eagle | valign="top" width="50%"|Sjava – UmqheleBlack Coffee – Music is King Black Motion – Moya Wa Taola Vusi Nova – Manyan-nyan Zonke – L.O.V.E |- |valign="top" width="50%"| Re Mmino - Prince Kaybee
Isphithiphithi – Samthing Soweto Season, Volume II – We Will Worship Bongo Riot Di Dancehall Wakanda – Trust Stories Amanzi Nemifula: Umkhuleko – Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane | valign="top" width="50%"|Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)Persistence – Bongo Riot The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small Back to Love – Junior Taurus |- |valign="top" width="50%"| Chymamusique - Musique Sun-El Musician - African Electronic Dance Music Zakes Bantwini - Ghetto King Brian Temba - It's All You Mobi Dixon - When House Was House Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo Mass Country – AKA SR3 – K.O Isibuko – Sjava KOA II Part 1 – Kabza De Small Isimo - Kabza De Small, and Mthunzi TYLA – Tyla Dali Dali - Daliwonga Soothe My Soul: Songs from our South African Church – Ladysmith Black Mambazo Unusual - Xolly Mncwango
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