You guys were stealing our land and cattle,” stand-up comedian and host Loyiso Gola remarked, looking out over a swankily-dressed audience at Melrose Arch’s Club Kilimanjaro, “way before we started hijacking you.”
Sponsored by MTN, the elegant event attracted the local music industry’s artists, moguls, record company execs, fans and media from around the country, all anxious to know the nominations for this year’s MTN South African Music Awards.
Apart from a glass of vodka and passion fruit (served to all guests upon entering the club’s large wooden doors) and an open bar, there were great performances by Skwatta Kamp and Mzekezeke, with Dame Dash keeping the crowd elated between nomination reports. Among those announcing the nominees were Danny K, the ever-sexy Lebo Mathosa, Pitch Black Afro, Tsepo Tshola and the soulful Ringo. Even though other announcers were ignored by tipsy guests prattling around the bar area, Gola maintained order with his witty racial jokes. “You won’t get the country back, even if you can all vote for one party,” he joked.
Interesting categories for the 2005 Samas, to be held on Saturday April 16, are Best Rap Album, with Mr Selwyn’s Formula threatening to take the award from Skwatta Kamp, Zulu Mobb, Zubz and Baphixile.
The judges will also be faced with the tough task of deciding who — between Lebo Mathosa, Thandiswa, Simphiwe Dana, Suthukazi Arosi and Sibongile Mngoma — will walk away with the Best Female artist award. Dana (whose album, Zandisile, is nominated for the Best Jazz vocal album) is also up against Pitch Black Afro, Seed, Jamali and Zamajobe for the Best Newcomer award. Another newcomer with a great voice, MXO, has been thrown into the mix with Kabelo, Louis Mhlanga, Sipho Gumede and Themba Mkhize in the Best Male Artist category.
While Elle, Loyiso, Nana, Percy and Khalil each anticipate winning the Best R&B Album award, it remains to be seen who among Zola, Trompies, Mandoza, Kabelo and Brown Dash will scoop the big one: Best Kwaito Album award. Last year’s bestsellers: Steve Hofmeyer’s As Jy My Nou Kon Sien, Zola’s Don’t Cry and Mafikizolo’s Nisixoshelani are among those competing for the Song Of The Year category.
This year’s South African Music Awards promise to be interesting, with 10 artists competing for the Artist Of the Year award. Among them is Revolution, Kabelo, Mandoza, Thandiswa, Mdu, Brown Dash, Zola and Steve Hofmeyer. Mandoza also has two of his latest music videos nominated alongside Zola’s Don’t Cry, Trompies’ Bengimngaka, Thandiswa’s Lahl’ umlenze and Mafikizolo’s Nisixoshelani. The well-organised event started glamorously outside, with long queues headed to the red carpet, and ended in celebrations all round.