It’s Tyla vs Tyler ICU in the high stakes for #SAMA30 Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RiSA Audio Visual (RAV) Music Video of the Year awards. Tyla, already a Grammy winner, claims her stake with the global hit Water. While Tyler ICU counts on the chart-topping Mnike, that sent the world into a frenzy with its dance challenge.

Not to be outdone, the Amapiano star Lowsheen, snatched two nominations in the Music Video of the Year category for Thula with Master KG and Nkosazana Daughter, as well as Uthando Lwakho with Master KG and Basetsana. Lowsheen features in another nominated hit, Ngiyamthanda by MaWhoo and Master KG.

The #SAMA30 Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year will be a battle royale of Amapiano anthems, the likes of IPlan by Zaba, Sykes and Dlala Thukzin; Imithandazo by Mthunzi and Kabza De Small; and Sgudi Snyc by De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh.

The RiSA Audio Visual Music Video of the Year is a mixed-bag of genres, as scorchers from hip hop, dance and new age Maskandi such as Lemons (Lemonade) by AKA and Nasty C; Mohigan Sun by Mörda and Oscar Mbo featuring Murumba Pitch; Ronda by Blxckie; and Ngiyeza by Lwah Ndlunkulu vie for the top honours.

The public voting for the two categories is officially open. To vote for your favourite to win, SMS the artist code to 33485. See details of voting below.

As the South African Music Awards (SAMA) celebrate 30 years, this year’s edition promises to bring new flavours and experiences. It’s a celebration of South African music excellence and the list of nominees is no surprise, as it showcases the exceptional quality of music that local artists have produced.

The nominees for the Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RAV Music Video of the Year, were chosen from singles released between 15 April 2023 and 14 April 2024. Nhlanhla Sibisi, CEO of RiSA congratulated the nominees: “It is with great pride that I salute all the artists who have been shortlisted as nominees for Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RAV Music Video of the Year awards. Artist recognition is an important and significant pat on the back, and we continue this tradition in our 30th year of existence. It is beautiful to see how music and artists have evolved over the years.  

“I would like to encourage music lovers to play their part by voting for their favourites - what good is an award ceremony without the input of the fans?”

“We look forward to a memorable SAMA as we mark 30 years of existence and so the journey has begun towards the celebration.”

SMS Artist code to 33485. Each SMS costs R1.50. No free SMSes apply. Terms and

conditions apply. For more information visit www.samusicawards.co.za

Below is the full list of Nominees:

Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year

Nominee Voting Code

Mnike-TylerICU and Tumelo.za, featuring Dj Maphorisa,

Nandipha808,Ceeka RSA & Tyrone Dee

RY01

IPlan- Dlala Thukzin featuring Zaba and Sykes RY02

Imithandazo – Kabza De Small and Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ

Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush

RY03

Awukhuzeki - DJ Stokie featuring Omit ST, Sobzeen and Zeenhle RY04

Sgudi Snyc - De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef, Eemoh & Sipho Magudulela RY05

Water -Tyla RY06

Izenzo – Bassie and Aymos featuring T-Man SA RY07

Imnandi lento - Mellow and Sleazy x SjavasDaDeejay and TitoM featuring

Tman Xpress

RY08

Hamba Juba – Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici & Murumba Pitch RY09

Paris - Mthandeni SK featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu RY10

Isgubhu - Sam Deep, Njelic and Aymos RY11

Masithokoze – DJ Stokie and Eemoh RY12

iMpumelelo - Sam Deep, Eemoh, Da Muziqal Chef RY13

Umbayimbayi - Inkabi Zezwe, Sjava and Big Zulu RY14

Dubula - Harrycane, Master KG and DJ LaTimmy RY15

Nhliziyo Yami eKhala Kakhulu - Thabza Tee featuring Tman Xpress RY16

Gangnam Style - Mas Musiq and Daliwonga featuring DJ Maphorisa and

Kabza De Small

RY17

Horns in the Sun - DJ Kent featuring Brendan Praise, Morda, Mo-T RY18

Funk 55 - Shakes and Les, DBN Gogo and Zee Nxumalo featuring Ceeka

RSA & Chley

RY19

Nana Thula - Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa featuring Njelic RY20

RAV Music Video of the Year

Nominee Voting Code

Ngixolele – Busta 929 featuring Boohle MVY01

Water - Tyla MVY02

Mnike -Tyler ICU and Tumelo.za featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808,

Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee

MVY03

Awukhuzeki - DJ Stokie featuring Omit ST, Sobzeen and Zeenhle MVY04

Kulula - MaWhoo, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small MVY05

Hamba Juba - Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici and Murumba Pitch MVY06

Iplan - Dlala Thukzin, Zaba and Sykes MVY07

Sengizwile - Mas Musiq featuring Aymos and Young Stunna MVY08

Impumelelo - Sam Deep and Eemoh featuring Da Muziqal Chef MVY09

Last Call - Will Linley MVY10

Mina Nawe - Soa Mattrix and Mashudu featuring Happy Jazzman and MVY11

Emotionz DJ

Sgudi Snyc - De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Eemoh featuring Sipho

Magudulela

MVY12

Sosh Plata (Remix) - Loatinover Pounds featuring 25K and Thapelo

Ghutra

MVY13

Mohigan Sun - Mörda and Oscar Mbo featuring Murumba Pitch MVY14

Lemons (Lemonade) - AKA and Nasty C MVY15

Ronda - Blxckie MVY16

Ngiyamthanda - MaWhoo and Master KG featuring Lowsheen MVY17

Thula - Lowsheen, Master KG and Nkosazana Daughter MVY18

Ngiyeza - Lwah Ndlunkulu MVY19

Uthando Lwakho - Lowsheen, Master KG and Basetsana MVY20