27th Annual South African Music Awards

The 27th Annual South African Music Awards were the 27th edition of the South African Music Awards. The award show was broadcast live on SABC1 on 31 July 2021, and was held virtually due to the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns.
The nominees were announced on 19 May 2021. Kabza de Small received the most nominations with six, ahead of Sun-El Musician with five nominations. The 27th annual SAMAs introduced new categories, introducing best amapiano, gqom and kwaito albums as their own categories.
On 17 July 2021, it was announced that television personalities Bontle Modiselle and Lawrence Maleka were to be the hosts of the ceremony.

Performers

The list of performers was announced on July 28.

Artist	Song
Sjava	"Umcebo"
Boity	"Bakae"
Big Zulu	"Mali Eningi"
Bucy Radebe
Azana
Langa Mavuso
Buhlebendalo
Blaq Diamond

Winners and nominees

Nominees are as listed below. Winners are in bold.

Album of the year	Female Artist of the Year	Male Artist of the Year	-
Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa 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	Sho Madjozi – What a Life Reign Africa – On the Frontline Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter Nomcebo Zikode – Xola Moya Wam’ HLE – Your Kingdom on Earth	Kabza De Small – I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust Sun-El Musician – To The World & Beyond Bongo Riot – Persistence Oscar Mbo – For the Groovists Junior Taurus – Back to Love	-
Newcomer of the Year	Duo/Group of the Year	Best Rock Album	Best Pop Album
Bucy Radebe – Spiritual Encounter Xolly Mncwango – Jesus is Enough Reign Africa – On the Frontline BandaBanda & The Crocodiles – Africado Azana – Ingoma	Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa – Once Upon A Time in Lockdown Reece Madlisa & Zuma – Ama Roto EP MFR Souls – Musical Kings Mas Musiq & Aymos – Shonamalanga Mi Casa – We Made It	Orange Sunshine – Yum Yuck *Chrome Neon Jesus – Ethyl Ether *Here’s to the Now – Nathan Smith *The Devils Cattle – Ruff Majik *Nothing’s Gonna Change – Oooth	Tribes & Angels – Locnville *11:11 – Rowlene I Don’t Sleep – Jethro Tait Sugar – Mark Stent *She – Amy Lilley
Best Pop Album	Best Afro Pop Album	Best R&B/Soul Album	Best Adult Contemporary Album
Twintig20 – Brendan Peyper *2021 – Die Heuwels Fantasties *Die Toekoms is Synth – Synth Peter *Gewigloos – Juan Boucher *Gemaklik Verlore – Christa Visser	Ngumama – Vusi Nova *Ingoma – Azana Molimo – Manu Worldstar The Voice of Africa – Kelly Khumalo *Tugela Fairy: Made of Stars – Simmy	Uhambo – Soul Kulture *A Force To Be Reckoned With – Thando *LANGA – Langa Mavuso *Sindisiwe – LaSauce *Small World – Ricky Tyler	Beyele - The Journey Continues – Max – Hoba *Umsebenzi – Sjava Isambulo – 1020 Cartel Artists Bamako – Simphiwe Dana *Buhlebendalo – Chosi
Best Classical Album/Instrumental Album	Best Contemporary Music Album	Best Hip Hop Album	Best Reggae Album
We’ve Known All Times – Wouter Kellerman *Live in Cape Town – Guy Buttery & Derek Gripper *Imagine – Charles du Plessis Trio *Live in Lisbon – Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery *Tek’o – CH2	Herverbeel – Die Heuwels Fantasties *Wandel in my Woning – Refentse Net Geleen – Bernice West Monumentaal – Ruhan Du Toit *Spontaan – Riaan Benadê	Zulu Man with Some Power – Nasty C 4436 – Boity Nadia Naked II – Nadia Nakai POPSTAR – Yanga Chief Zakwe & Duncan – Zakwe & Duncan	Persistence – Bongo Riot *The Journey – Ras Canly *My Music – Freeky *On the Frontline – Reign Africa *Empathy Riddim – Lavoro Duro
Remix of the Year	Best Collaboration	Best Dance Album	Best Kwaito
"Yehla Moya" – Da Capo "Jerusalema" – Kid Fonque "Ndanele" – Dwson "Sala Nabani" – Sun-El Musician, Claudio & Kenza "Speak Lord" – Sculptured Music	"Mali Eningi" – Big Zulu featuring Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai "Uthando" – Darque featuring Zakes Bantwini "Ek Like Hoe Jy Dans" – Chê featuring Snotkop "Senzeni" – Mthandazo Gatya featuring Comado & DJ Manzo SA "Yehla Moya" – Da Capo & Nduduzo Makhathini featuring Omagugu	The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion *To The World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician For The Goovists – Oscar Mbo *Xola Moya Wam’ – Nomcebo Zikode*** *We Made It – Mi Casa	Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa & Zuma *Sgubhu OverDoze – Lvovo & Danger *Endaweni – Darkie Fiction *Don’t Lose Hope – Sukiri Papa *Bhut’Madlisa – Mampintsha
Best Amapiano Album	Best Gqom Album	Best Engineered Album of the Year	Best Produced Music Video
Once Upon A Time In Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa *Musical Kings – MFR Souls Back to Love – Junior Taurus I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small *Shonamalanga – Mas Musiq & Aymos	InzaloYekwaito – Zinaro *We Don’t Play the Same Gqom – Que *Make Cape Town Great Again – Mshayi & Mr Thela *Isiqalo – DragerNation *Idando Kazi – Babes Wodumo	Inganekwane by Zoë Modiga – Papi Diretsi & Songo Oyama Swingle Bells by Jonathan Roxmouth – Adam Howard Goodluck Upclose by Goodluck – Murray Anderson & Andrew Rawborn Isambulo by 1020 Cartel Artists – Mfanafuthi Ruff The Second Coming by Kid Tini – James Smals, Kitie, Ron Epidemic & Tweezy	"Hosh" by Prince Kaybee featuring Sir Trill – Ofentse "Where is the DJ" by Malumz on Decks featuring Khanyisa – Oscar Nyathi "Qhawe – Made to Create" by Toya Delazy – Kyle Lewis & Vjorn Tucker "Mamela" by Mi Casa – Katya Abedian "Lucky Star" by K.O – Adam Zackon & Dale Fortune
Best Live Audio Visual Recording	Best Alternative Music Album	Best African Indigenous Faith Album	Best Traditional Faith Music Album
A Journey to the World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician Your Kingdom on Earth – HLE The Throne – Presss Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe My Hart Klop Refentse – Refentse	iimini – Bongeziwe Mabandla *Mania/Post Mania – Yellow House *Hot Mess – Evert Snyman *Filth and Wisdom – The Medicine Dolls *Ebusuku – Th&o	Izwi Lakho – Mandlethu Gospel Singers *Makhosi Akithi – Vuma Zion Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development – Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development Sithembe Wena Nkosi – JTG Gospel Choir *Enyokumkhonza – Enyonini Mission Ministries	Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe *Project 17 – Chapter 2 – Worship House *Buya Nkosi – Thinah Zungu *Wathi Eloyi Eloyi – Sipho Makhabane *Izulu – Sneziey
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album	Best Maskandi Album	Rest of Africa Artist	Best Traditional Album
Your Kingdom on Earth – HLE *Devotion – Nqubeko Mbatha Face 2 Face – Collen Maluleke Jesus is Enough – Xolly Mncwango *The Promised Revival Part One – Tshwane Gospel Choir	Imfene Kamakhelwane – Abafana Baka Mgqumeni *Amagupta – iChwane Lebhaca *Ziyangiluma Izinja – Phuzekhemisi *Iqatha Eliziqobayo – Thokozani Langa *Banathi Shaqa – Imithente	Songs in the Key of Love – Berita *Unity Album – Buffalo Souljah A Better Time – Davido Made in Lagos – Wizkid *Midnight Train – Sauti Sol	What a Life – Sho Madjozi' *Love and War – Henny C *Angeke Bakuthande Boke – Smangele *Shebeen Queen – Vusi Mahlasela *Ndavhuko – Vendaboy Poe

Artist Of The Year Top 5
1. Makhadzi
2. Ethyl Ether
3. Blaq Diamond
4. Reece Madlisa and Zuma
5. HLE
CAPASSO Most Streamed Song of The Year
You're the One - Elaine
Best Adult Contemporary Album:
Winner:
Ndlovu Youth Choir - Rise
Artist Of The Year Top 3
1. HLE
2. Makhadzi
3. Blaq Diamond
Best Jazz Album:
Winner:
Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds - Nduduzo Makhathini
Best Produced Album:
Winner:
Sjava - Umsebenzi
Music Video of the Year: