The 21st Annual South African Music Awards were announced during a gala event at Sun City's Super Bowl arena in the North West province on Sunday night, 19 April 2015. It was branded as #SAMAXXI, where XXI represents the Roman numerals for 21.

Winners and nominees Cassper Nyovest had five nominations for SAMA awards but only walked away with Newcomer of the Year. K.O. beat him to the Best Rap Album of the Year and AKA took Male Artist of the Year. Beatenberg secured 3 SAMAs out of 5 nominations. The group went to win four Special Awards during the pre-show for their collaboration with DJ Clock.

Awards

The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg – Beatenberg Tsholofelo – Cassper Nyovest Skhanda Republic – K.O. Vulani – Ringo Madlingozi Nostalgic Moments – The Soil | valign="top" width="50%"|Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Bittereinder – Skerm BlackByrd – Home McCoy Mrubata – Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 The Soil – Nostalgic MomentsBucie – Princess of House (Easy to Love) Lulu Dikana – I Came To Love Maleh – You Make My Heart Go Moneoa – Ndim Lo Simphiwe Dana – FirebrandAKA – Levels Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo Jimmy Nevis – The Masses K.O. – Skhanda Republic Ringo Madlingozi – Vulani Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Duncan – Street Government Howie Combrink – Eat It While It's Hot Jeremy Loops – Trading Change Morning After – aKING Let The Night In – Prime Circle Majestic – Reburn Tenfold – Taxi Violence Knuckles – Zebra & Giraffe The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg – Beatenberg The Masses – Jimmy Nevis Home – Monark Kiff – The Kiffness Ascension – Toya Delazy Die Regte Tyd – Riana Nel Skildery – Nádine Lied Vir Die Vrou – Kurt Darren Nooit Oud Raak Nie – Eden Maak ‘n Wens – Bobby van Jaarsveld Back Again – Joe Niemand Lightning Prevails – Arno Carstens Home – BlackByrd Eat It While It's Hot – Howie Combrink S'bongile – Josie Field Ek en Jy – Dewald Wasserfal Want Jy Is Boer – Adam Tas Posduif – Chris Chameleon and Daniella Deysel Hande Vol Genade – Dozi Wat Die Hart Van Vol Is – Pieter Koen Spoken Word & Music – Botlhale Boikanyo Living For Yesterday – Brian Finch Palesa – Imfez'emnyama Isiporoporo – Impumelelo Uhambo Olusha – Qadasi Igema Lami – Thokozani Langa KoMalume – Abakamnyandu Mhla Uphelamandla – Amawele Ka Mamtshawe Ohulumeni – Ichwane Lebhaca I Facebook – Maqhinga Radebe Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 – McCoy Mrubata African Time Quartet in Concert – Herbie Tsoaeli Dream State – Kyle Shepherd Trio Maji in the Land of Milk & Honey – Marcus Wyatt Mother Tongue – Nduduzo Makhathini For The Lovers – Afrotraction I Came To Love – Lulu Dikana Ndim Lo – MoNeOa Nostalgic Moments – The Soil Did It For Love – Vusi Nova Skhanda Republic – K.O. Levels – AKA Tsholofelo – Cassper Nyovest Street Government – Duncan Audio High Definition – Reason University of Kalawa Jazmee Since 1994 – Professor The Boss – L’vovo Derrango Licence to Hustle – Phi & Ginger Legend – Mojalefa Thebe Delicious – Trompies Fortune Teller – Black Motion Princess of House (Easy to Love) – Bucie The Brand New Me: Soul Candi Sessions 2015 (Disc 2) – Cuebur Da Capo – Da Capo The 4th Tick: A Clockumentary – DJ Clock Winds Of Samsara – Wouter Kellerman Soos in die Ou Dae – CH2 Guitar Duo Baroqueswing – Charl du Plessis Trio Padkos – Tony Cox Phoenix Camerata – University of Pretoria Bayede Baba – Sfiso Ncwane Chapter 6 Ujehova Ungibiyele – Andile Kamajola Ama VIP – Rebecca Malope Victory In The Blood – Rofhiwa Manyaga Live Project 11 – Worship House Power Love Sound – Loyiso The Uprising – Khaya Mthethwa Rhythm of Worship – Ndo Dlakadla He’s Alive – Tybelo Freedom – Word & Life Worship You Make My Heart Go – Maleh Back To My Roots – Kelly Khumalo Traveling Man – MaxHoba Vulani – Ringo Madlingozi Firebrand – Simphiwe Dana Skerm – Bittereinder Space Elephant – Bye Beneco Mistress – David Moffatt Trading Change – Jeremy Loops Light – Tailor First Decade by Lira – Robin Kohl Renewal in His Presence by Benjamin Dube – Aubrey Peacock and Benjamin Dube Krone Live by Krone – Ben Heyns Spirit Of Praise Vol. 5 by Spirit Of Praise – Aubrey Peacock, Benjamin Dube and Oupa Montshiwaga Innibos is Groot 2014 by Various Artists – Barry Pretorius "Let The Night In" by Prime Circle – Ryan Kruger "Yaya" by DJ Dimplez featuring Dream Team and ANATII – Studio Space "Turn You On" by Micasa – Izm Works "In Defense Of My Art" by Tumi Molekane – Kyle Lewis "Ghetto" by Zakes Bantwini – Zakes BantwiniWouter Kellerman and Ricky Kej – Winds Of Samsara by Wouter Kellerman Denholm Harding – Let The Night In by Prime Circle Ewald Jansen Van Rensburg – Negatives by Monark Holidave – Home by BlackByrd Lulu Dikana and Powella Tiemo – I Came To Love by Lulu DikanaBrian O'Shea, Crighton Goodwill and Maruispopplanet – Johnny Apple by Johnny Apple Dave Reynolds and Peter Pearlson – The Light of Day by Dave Reynolds Peter Auret – Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 by McCoy Mrubata Heritage Sound – Let The Night In by Prime Circle Jürgen von Wechmar, Rogan Kelsey, Ross Fink and Jaziel Sommers – Ascension by Toya DelazyK.O. featuring Kid X – "Caracara" AKA featuring K.O. – "Run Jozi" Cassper Nyovest featuring Gusheshe – "OkMalumkoolkat" DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg – "Pluto" The Soil featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo – "Hamba Uyosebenza""Indlela Yam" – DJ Sbu and Robbie Malinga "Tsiki Tsiki" – Select Play "Goldfish Moonwalk Away" – Goldfish "Personal Paradise" – Heavy K "Amantombazane" – Riky Rick

Special awards

International Achievement Award Wouter Kellerman – The world-renowned flautist received the award for his Grammy-winning album, Winds of Samsara.

Lifetime Achievement Awards M'du Masilela Mandla Mofokeng Zim Ngqawana

SAMPRA Award (Highest Airplay of the Year) "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg

Mobile Music Awards

Best Selling Album Die Regte Tyd – Riana Nel

Best Selling DVD Vol. 18 One Purpose – Joyous SA

Best Selling Mobile Music Download "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg

Best Selling Ring-Back Tone "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg

Best Selling Full-Track Download "Pluto" – DJ Clock featuring Beatenberg

References