UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP AFRICA RAKES IN ARMLOADS OF SAMA AWARDS

05 June 2019

Nomzamo Mbatha & Mpho Pops during the 25th annual South African Music Awards (SAMA 25) at Sun City on June 01, 2019

Johannesburg, South Africa (05 June 2019) -- It was a slam dunk of note when Universal Music Group Africa (UMGA) picked up a total of 13 SAMA awards at the weekend’s SAMA25 held in Sun City, North West. This tally makes the company the most awarded label at the awards, two years in a row. It’s an affirmation that they are the leading recording company in South Africa. UMGA went into the awards with a staggering 43 nominations.

Revered house maestro DJ Black Coffee was one of the big winners when he took home two gongs for the coveted Male Artist of the Year for his album Music is King as well as Best Collaboration Award for the single Drive featuring David Guetta and Delilah Montagu.

Rapper Nasty C’s album For Strings and Bling earned him a double whammy for Best Hip Hop Album and Best Produced Album of the Year Award.

Proving her wide appeal and resonance with music lovers, Lady Zamar walked off with two trophies for Sampra Highest Airplay of the Year Award and Samro/Capasso Highest Airplay Composer Award all thanks to Collide, her chart topping smash hit.

Other UMGA victories saw Tresor announced as a winner in the Best Pop Album category, for a record third time in a row at the SAMA. Zakwe’s remix of Sebentin featuring Cassper Nyovest, HHP, Blaklez, Kwesta and Musiholiq beat off competition to clinch the Remix of the Year Award. Kwaito veteran Spikiri showed off his staying power when he lifted the Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano Album Award for King Don Father.

In the traditional sounds front Candy bagged the Best Traditional Album award for her release Hupenyu Unenge Viri while Sgwebo Sentambo reigned supreme in the Best Maskandi Album for Yekani Umona.

The Rest of Africa Award went to UMGA’s East Africa artist, Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania for A Boy From Tandale.

To top it off the legendary Motswako rapper Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his sterling contribution in the music industry. HHP passed away last year.

Excited by this good run, Sipho Dlamini, the managing director of Universal Music Group Africa (South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa) enthused: ‘We’re quite pleased by the recognition our artists received this past weekend at the SAMAs. Universal Music is committed to the production of quality music and the development and upliftment of the music industry. This past weekend’s wins bear testament of that commitment. We would like to extend our felicitations to all our winners and to the nominees, well done, we’re proud of you.’ said Dlamini

LIST OF UMG AFRICA WINNERS AT SAMA25:

HIP HOP PANTSULA

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

BLACK COFFEE

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR (FOR MUSIC IS KING)

BEST COLLABORATION AWARD (FOR DRIVE) (FEAT. DAVID GUETTA AND DELILAH MONTAGU)

LADY ZAMAR

SAMPRA HIGHEST AIRPLAY OF THE YEAR AWARD (FOR COLLIDE)

SAMRO/CAPASSO HIGHEST AIRPLAY COMPOSER AWARD (FOR COLLIDE)

NASTY C

BEST HIP HOP ALBUM (FOR STRINGS AND BLING)

BEST PRODUCED ALBUM OF THE YEAR AWARD (FOR STRINGS AND BLING)