The 30th Annual South African Music Awards (or SAMA 30) took place on 2 November 2024 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. Hosted by Minnie Dlamini and presented by the Recording Industry of South Africa, the event was live streamed on YouTube and broadcast on SABC1 at 20:00 South Africa Standard Time (UTC+02:00). It honoured the best albums, music videos and songs released in South Africa during the period 15 April 2023 to 14 April 2024.
The nominations were announced on 26 September. Tyla received the most, with seven, followed by Kabza de Small with six. The pre-show took place on 1 November, and the industry awards and red carpet events preceded the main show on 2 November. Tyla won the most awards, receiving four (Newcomer of the Year, Best Pop Album, Female Artist of the Year and International Achievement). Kabza de Small and Mthunzi received three awards.
In the top five categories, Kabza de Small and Mthunzi's Isimo won Album of the Year and Duo or Group of the Year; Tyla's self-titled studio album won the aforementioned Newcomer of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. uGatsheni took home Male Artist of the Year.
Background The 30th Annual South African Music Awards celebrates the best music videos, albums and songs released in South Africa during the period 15 April 2023 to 14 April 2024. Entries for nomination consideration were open from 1 March 2024 to 15 April. For members of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), the entry fee for an individual or entity was R862.50 ($), and for non-members it was R4,600.00 ($) including value-added tax per entry for all categories.
Two public voting categories, Music Video of the Year (presented by RiSA) and Record of the Year (presented by the Motsepe Foundation), were announced via the South African Music Awards' website on 14 August 2024. The remaining nominations were announced on 26 September 2024 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, where the ceremony would take place. Tyla was the most nominated artist with seven nominations, followed by Kabza de Small with six.
YouTube and SABC1 partnered with RiSA to live stream and broadcast the event on 2 November 2024, at 20:00 South Africa Standard Time (UTC+02:00). Presented by RiSA, the ceremony was sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation; Department of Sports, Arts and Culture; SABC1; Santam; SABC; CAPASSO; SAMPRA, Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation; Joburg, YouTube and Proudly South African.
On 18 October 2024, the South African Music Awards announced that Tyla would be honoured with the International Achievement Award. Sipho Makhabane and Ringo Madlingozi were the recipients for the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Oskido was bestowed the Chairperson's Award. On 2 November 2024, Tyla emerged as the most awarded artist with four accolades, ahead of Kabza de Small and Mthunzi with three.
Winners and nominees Top 5 categories
Below is the list of nominees. Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.References for nominees and winners:
+ Kabza de Small and Mthunzi – Isimo Tyla – Tyla Daliwonga – Dali Dali Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Soothe My Soul: Songs from Our South African Church Xolly Mncwango – Unusual Kabza De Small and Mthunzi – Isimo Mellow & Sleazy – Boroko Keng FokofPolisieKar – Dans Deur Die Donker Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Soothe My Soul: Songs from Our South African Church Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt – Almal Gly Tyla – Tyla Brenda Mtambo – Sane Lwah Ndlunkulu – Imizwa Lordkez – Testament Xolly Mncwango – Unusual uGatsheni – Uyihlo noNyoko Priddy Ugly – Dust Kelvin Momo – Kurhula Daliwonga – Dali Dali De Mthuda – Baba Yaga Tyla – Tyla Sykes – Most Wanted Lwah Ndlunkulu – Imizwa Die Piesangskille and Johan Balt – Almal Gly Joliza – Bhacasoul Experience EP
Album genre super categories + Francois van Coke – Dans Deur Die Donker Millennium – Deurbraak Wonderboom – Hard Mode Kenny Hughes – Born & Raised Evert Snyman – All-Killer-Filler Tyla – Tyla Mila Smith – You Need Therapy Will Linley – Magic Paxton – 23:23 Matthew Mole – Wake Up, It's Morning Die Piesangskille – Almal Gly Ryno Velvet – Heelal Jan Jan Jan – Braaf Brendan Peyper – Omdat Jy Mag Ilán van Staden – My Mense Drakensberg Boys Choir – Stimela The Misty Cliffs – The Misty Cliffs Dr Duda – The Drive Jack Atlantic – Shipwrecked Smama – Isipho Elandré – Estetika Valiant Swart – Rondry, Fliek En Die Buitelewe Neil Sandilands – Allegaarkie vir 'n Askeet Joshua Na Die Reën – Die Vallei Jacob Swann – Alles Brenda Mtambo – Sane Thee Legacy – Isicathamiya for a New Millennium Bongeziwe Mabandla – Amaxesha The Soil – Reimagined Vusi Mahlasela – Umoya – Embracing the Human Spirit I'm with the Singer – I'm with the Singer Carla Franco – Layers Van Pletzen – Enter the Grootness (deluxe) CHXRL – Hopeless & Romantic West Coast Wolves – Don't Forget to Howl Lordkez – Testament Ayanda Jiya – A Tale of a Fallen Queen KashCPT – Love Letters Uma Rams – Hold Me When It's Cold: The Cuddle Pack Mia – The Other Side (deluxe EP) Priddy Ugly – Dust Flvme – Note to Self Nasty C – I Love It Here Wordz – People Forget To Be People (deluxe) The Big Hash – Heartbreak Hotel Sykes – Most Wanted Abobhova – Ghetto Skomplaz Sbu Malawyer – Celebrating 25 Years in the Game Taylor K – Genesis Zinaro – Inzalo YeKwaito 2nd Half Kabza de Small and Mthunzi – Isimo Mellow & Sleazy – Boroko Keng De Mthuda – Baba Yaga Daliwonga – Dali Dali Kelvin Momo – Kurhula QueDJ – We Don't Play the Same Gqom 2 Funky Qla – Dark or Durban Bello No Gallo – Gqom to Another Level Vol. 1 Mr Thela – TronicsLand Series 2 General C'mamane – The Young Prince of Gqom Dlala Thukzin – Permanent Music 3 Mörda and Thakzin – Asante II Zakes Bantwini – The Star Is Reborn DBN Gogo – Clickbait Sculptured Music – Reputation Omega Khunou – Mororiseng Sneziey – Sibonga Umusa (Live) Thinah Zungu – Indumiso yaseStezi Worship House – Worship House 20 University of Pretoria – uJehova Xolly Mncwango – Unusual Brenden Praise – The Gift Vol. 1 We Will Worship – Izililo 3C Live – We Bow Down The Fellowship with Pastor Namba – Come to Jesus (Live in Bryanston, 2022) Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Soothe My Soul: Songs from Our South African Church JTG Gospel Choir – Alikho Elinye Ithemba Lejwe la Motheo – Ke Nako ya Modimo Di Bruin Gospel Projects – Masango Discuss Nkuna – Vuya Matimba The Soul Brothers – Hamba Naye Joliza – Bhacasoul Experience EP Makhadzi – Mbofholowo Shabalala Rhythm – I'm Happy Shaka Ilembe – Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the Shaka iLembe TV Series) uGatsheni – Uyihlo noNyoko Inkos'yamagcokama – National Anthem Sminofu – Uber Driver Mthandeni SK – Amakhothangqoko Ntencane – Isivulwe Yonke Steve Dyer – Enhlizweni: Song Stories From My Heartland Hugh Masekela and Siparia Deltones – Siparia to Soweto Thandi Ntuli and Carlos Niño – Rainbow Revisited Vuma Levin – The Past Is Unpredictable, Only The Future Is Certain Kujenga – In The Wake Fannie Dick – End of the Beginning UBeyond – Sci-fi, Beats & Life Derek Gripper – Lost Time: Bach Cello Suite No. 1 Tony Drake – Lofi Chill Karen Devroop – Relentless Lwah Ndlunkulu – Imizwa Zuko SA – Umkhonto Inkabi Zezwe – Ukhamba Blaq Diamond – Zulu Romance Nomfundo Moh – Ugcobo Skeleton Blazer – Give Praises Undefynd – Musinion Ras Vuyo – Love & Unity Dimahr – Proof of Life Two Point Ow – Love Expressions
Technical categories + Kamo Mphela – "Dalie"(Producer: Kudzi) Sjava – "Amakhehla"(Producer: Tido) Loatinover Pounds – "4am"(Producer: BSV) Cassper Nyovest – "018"(Producer: Jabu) Filah Lah Lah – "Call Me"(Producer: Reabetswe Fila Ranamane) David Watkyns – No Other Love Nasty C – I Love It Here Mbuso Khoza – Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the Shaka iLembe TV Series) Matthew Mole – Wake Up, It's Morning Mbuso Khoza – Ifa Lomkhono The Soil – Reimagined Mbuso Khoza – Shaka iLembe Soundtrack Album Volume 2 (Original Music from the Shaka iLembe TV Series) Matthew Mole – Wake Up, It's Morning Vusi Mahlasela – Umoya – Embracing the Human Spirit Brenda Mtambo – Sane Jnr SA – "Weekend Special" (Jnr SA remix) Bongeziwe Mabandla & Ntokzin – "Sisahleleni" (Ntokzin remix) Oscar Mbo – "Yes God" (Mörda, Thakzin, Mhaw Keys remix) Harrycane featuring Eemoh, Master KG and DJ Latinny – "Dubula" Azana and Soa Mattrix – "Goodbye" (remix) Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba – "iPlan" Mörda and Thakzin – "Burning Bush" De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh featuring Sipho Magudulela – "Sgudi Snyc" Tyla and Travis Scott – "Water" Kabza de Small and Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush – "Imithandazo"
Public vote + Mathandeni SK featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu – "Paris" Tyler ICU and Tumelo_za featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee – "Mnike" Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba – "iPlan" Kabza De Small and Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush – "Imithandazo" DJ Stokie featuring Omit ST, Sobzeen and Zeenhle – "Awukhuzeki" De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh featuring Sipho Magudulela – "Sgudi Snyc" Tyla – "Water" Bassie, Aymos featuring T-Man SA – "Izenzo" Mellow & Sleazy, SjavasDaDeejay and TitoM featuring Tman Press – "Imnandi Lento" Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici and Murumba Pitch – "Hamba Juba" Sam Deep, Njelic and Aymos – "Isigubhu" DJ Stokie and Eemoh – "Masithokoze" Sam Deep, Eemoh and Da Muziqal Chef – "iMpumelelo" Inkabi Zezwe – "Umbayimbayi" Harrycane, Master KG, DJ LaTimmy – "Dubula" Thabza Tee featuring Tman Xpress – "Nhliziyo yam eKhala Kakhulu" Mas Musiq and Daliwonga featuring DJ Maphorisa and Kabza de Small – "Gangnam Style" DJ Kent featuring Brenden Praise, Mörda and Mo-T – "Horns in the Sun" Shakes & Les, DBN Gogo, Zee Nxumalo featuring Ceeka RSA and Chley – "Funk 55" Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa featuring Njelic – "Nana Thula" AKA and Nasty C – "Lemons (Lemonade)" Busta 929, featuring Boohle – "Ngixolele" Tyla – "Water" Tyler ICU, Tumelo_za featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee – "Mnike" MaWhoo, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza de Small – "Kulula" Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici, Murumba Pitch – "Hamba Juba" Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba – "iPlan" Mas Musiq, featuring Aymos and Young Stunna – "Sengizwile" Sam Deep, Eemoh, Da Muziqal Chef – "iMpumelelo" Win Linley – "Last Call" Soa Mattrix, Mashudu featuring Emotionz DJ, Happy Jazzman – "Mina Nawe" De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh featuring Sipho Magudulela – "Sgudi Snyc" Loatinover Pounds, featuring 25K, Thapelo Ghutra – "Sosh Plata" (remix) Mörda and Oscar Mbo featuring Murumba Pitch – "Mohigan Sun" Blxckie – "Ronda" MaWhoo and Master KG featuring Lowsheen – "Ngiyamthanda" Lowsheen, Master KG and Nkosazana Daughter – "Thula" Lwah Ndlunkulu – "Ngiyeza" Lowsheen, Master KG and Basetsana – "Lwakho"
Special awards In the list below, winners are highlighted in bold where necessary. + Edgar Muzah – Son of a Tribe (Royalty Edition) Wurld – Don't Get Used to This Asake – Work of Art Bensoul – Lion of Sudah Bien – Alusa Why Are You Topless?
Performances Adapted from the live broadcast.
Pre-show, industry awards and red carpet + Industry Awards performances Artist(s) Song(s) Sykes "iPlan" De Mthuda, De Muziqal Chef and Eemoh "Sgudi Snyc"
Main show