The Metro FM Music Awards (MMAs) are South Africa's premier radio-station music awards, organized by Metro FM and the SABC since 2003 to recognize excellence across 22 categories spanning amapiano, hip hop, gospel, jazz, maskandi, gqom, and more. The 2026 edition took place on April 25, 2026, at the Durban ICC, with Ciza winning Artist of the Year and Best Male Artist.
How the Metro FM Music Awards Work
The MMAs are organized by Metro FM, one of South Africa's largest radio stations, in partnership with the SABC. The awards focus exclusively on South African artists and releases, celebrating genres that dominate the local airwaves and streaming charts.
The nomination process combines chart performance data, streaming numbers, radio airplay metrics, and cultural impact during the eligibility period. Metro FM's internal programming team and industry panels review the data to shortlist nominees across 22 categories. These categories cover major genres including amapiano, hip hop, gqom, kwaito, maskandi, lekompo, jazz, gospel, R&B, African pop, and dance.
Voting uses a hybrid model. Major categories like Artist of the Year and Song of the Year rely heavily on public voting through SMS and online platforms. Technical and genre-specific categories like Best Produced Album and Best Jazz Album lean more on panel judging. This split ensures both popular appeal and industry recognition.
The ceremony broadcasts live on SABC 1 and streams on SABC+. The 2026 edition was hosted by Lerato Kganyago and Lawrence Maleka, featuring performances from Mafikizolo, Nomfundo Hlophe, Shandesh, and Nkosazana.
Award Categories Explained
The MMAs recognize South African music across 22 categories. Here are the main ones:
- Artist of the Year: The top honor. Decided primarily by public vote. Recognizes the most impactful South African artist of the eligibility period.
- Song of the Year: Recognizes the most popular South African song. Decided by public vote. The winner receives R150,000 (other category winners receive R50,000).
- Best Male Artist / Best Female Artist: Recognize the top individual male and female artists based on chart performance, streaming data, and public voting.
- Best New Artist: Recognizes the most promising debut artist. Sponsored by SANTAM in 2024.
- Best Duo or Group: Recognizes outstanding collaborative or group acts.
- Best Amapiano: Recognizes the best amapiano track, South Africa's dominant house subgenre.
- Best Hip Hop: Recognizes the best hip hop track or collaboration.
- Best R&B Song: Recognizes the best R&B release.
- Best African Pop: Recognizes the best African pop release.
- Best Dance: Recognizes the best dance track.
- Best Kwaito / Gqom: Recognizes the best track in these South African house subgenres.
- Best Gospel Album: Recognizes excellence in gospel music.
- Best Jazz Album: Recognizes excellence in jazz.
- Best Maskandi: Recognizes excellence in maskandi, a traditional Zulu folk music genre.
- Best Lekompo: Recognizes excellence in lekompo, a Limpopo-based electronic genre.
- Best Produced Album: Recognizes production excellence. Judged by industry panels.
- Best Collaboration Song: Recognizes outstanding collaborative tracks between artists.
- Best Music Video: Recognizes visual excellence in music videos.
- Best Viral Challenge: Recognizes songs that gained traction through social media challenges.
- Best Styled Artist: Recognizes fashion and visual presentation.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Honors artists with long-standing contributions to South African music.
- Long Service Award: Honors broadcasters and industry figures for sustained contributions.
Notable Past Winners
The Metro FM Music Awards have been presented since 2003. Here are winners from recent editions:
MMA 2026 (20th Edition, Durban ICC, April 25, 2026)
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Ciza |
| Best Male Artist | Ciza |
| Best Female Artist | Shandesh |
| Best New Artist | Kharishma |
| Song of the Year | Umafikizolo - "Uyoncengwa Unyoko" |
| Best Duo or Group | Thukuthela and Jazzworld |
| Best Produced Album | Thukuthela and Jazzworld - "Most Wanted" |
| Best Dance | Thukuthela and Jazzworld |
| Best Amapiano | Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle and Mano - "Shela" |
| Best Hip Hop | Stogie T, Nasty C, Maggz and A-Reece - "Four Horsemen" |
| Best Music Video | Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle and Mano - "Shela" |
| Best Kwaito / Gqom | DJ Tira |
| Best African Pop | Ladysmith Black Mambazo |
| Best Lekompo | Kharishma |
| Lifetime Achievement | Ihashi Elimhlophe |
| Long Service Award | Wilson B Nkosi |
MMA 2025 (Mbombela Stadium, May 3, 2025)
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Makhadzi |
| Best Male Artist | Usimamane |
| Best Female Artist | Xolly Mncwango |
| Best New Artist | Neo Dube |
| Song of the Year | Woodblock DJs - "Skuta Baba (Remix)" |
| Best Amapiano | Bassie et al. - "Kwelanga 2.0" |
| Best Collaboration | Bassie et al. - "Kwelanga 2.0" |
| Best Music Video | Bassie et al. - "Kwelanga 2.0" |
| Best Hip Hop | Skhandaworld, K.O and Nasty C - "Too Much" |
| Best R&B | Mawelele and Kwesta - "All My Life" |
| Best Dance | Chronical Deep, Lahleeza, Kabza De Small ft. Latique, Ezra - "Hayi Baba" |
| Best Gospel Album | Xolly Mncwango - "Unusual" |
| Best Jazz Album | Linda Sikhakhane - "iLadi" |
| Best Produced Album | Emtee - "DIY 3" |
| Best African Pop | Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele - "Romeo and Juliet" |
| Best Duo / Group | Blaq Diamond |
| Best Viral Challenge | Woodblock DJs - "Skuta Baba" |
| Best Styled | Morda |
| Lifetime Achievement | Dr Rebecca Malope, TKZee |
MMA 2024 (18th Edition, Mbombela Stadium, April 27, 2024)
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Lwah Ndlunkulu |
| Best Male Artist | Aymos |
| Best Female Artist | Makhadzi |
| Best New Artist | Nontokozo Mkhize |
| Song of the Year | Kabza De Small and Mthunzi - "Imithandazo" |
| Best Amapiano | Kabza De Small and Mthunzi - "Imithandazo" |
| Best Collaboration | Kabza De Small and Mthunzi - "Imithandazo" |
| Best Produced Album | Kabza De Small and Mthunzi - "Isimo" |
| Best Music Video | Bassie and Aymos - "Izenzo" |
| Best R&B | Mthandazo Gatya - "IN 2 U" |
| Best Dance | Zakes Bantwini - "Mama Thula" |
| Best African Pop | Bongeziwe Mabandla - "Sisahleleleni" |
| Best Gospel Album | Ntokozo Mbambo - "Lavish Worship" |
| Best Jazz Album | Amandla Freedom Ensemble - "Oratorio Of A Forgotten Youth" |
| Best Duo / Group | Thee Legacy |
| Best Styled | Oscar Mbo |
| Global Icon Award | Tyla |
| Lifetime Achievement | Oskido, Boom Shaka |
MMA 2023 (Comeback Edition)
AKA was the biggest winner at MMA 2023, winning 4 awards posthumously: Artist of the Year, Best Male Artist, Best Hip Hop, and Best Collaboration. The awards were presented to his family. The 2023 edition marked the return of the MMAs after a 5-year hiatus.
Ceremony and Performance Clips
The following clips are from the Metro FM Music Awards ceremony and feature winning artists.
Umafikizolo winning Song of the Year at the 2026 Metro FM Music Awards for "Uyoncengwa Unyoko":
Ciza's "Isaka (6AM)" featuring Jazzworx and Thukuthela, the song that won Artist of the Year and Best Male Artist at MMA 2026:
Real-World Example: MMA 2026
The 2026 Metro FM Music Awards took place on April 25, 2026, at the Durban ICC. Ciza, the "Isaka" hitmaker, won the two biggest individual prizes: Artist of the Year and Best Male Artist. Shandesh took home Best Female Artist, while Kharishma was named Best New Artist.
The duo Thukuthela and Jazzworld had a strong night, winning Best Produced Album for "Most Wanted," Best Dance, and Best Duo or Group. Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, and Mano's "Shela" won both Best Amapiano and Best Music Video. Stogie T, Nasty C, Maggz, and A-Reece won Best Hip Hop for "Four Horsemen."
Veteran broadcaster Wilson B Nkosi received the Long Service Award for decades of contributions to South African radio. Maskandi artist Bheki "Ihashi Elimhlophe" Ngcobo received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mafikizolo won Song of the Year for "Uyoncengwa Unyoko."
The previous edition in 2025 was held at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga. Makhadzi was crowned Artist of the Year, and Bassie's "Kwelanga" swept three categories: Best Music Video, Best Amapiano Song, and Best Collaboration Song.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The MMAs are one of the few major awards ceremonies that focus exclusively on South African music. Independent South African artists compete directly with signed acts because nominations are driven by data (streaming, radio play, chart performance) rather than label submissions. If your track charts on South African radio or streaming platforms, you are in contention.
The genre categories reflect the actual South African music market. Amapiano, maskandi, lekompo, and gqom categories recognize genres that other international awards ignore. An independent amapiano producer from Pretoria or a maskandi guitarist from KwaZulu-Natal can win a national award without needing a major label behind them.
If you are an independent South African artist, focus on getting your music onto Metro FM's playlist and building streaming numbers during the eligibility period. Track your performance using our Streaming Royalty Calculator to see if your numbers are competitive. Check the Metro FM Music Awards website for eligibility windows and submission guidelines.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into MMA nominations
- Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income
Similar Awards
- South African Music Awards - South Africa's national music awards, industry-voted
- MTV Africa Music Awards - Pan-African music awards
- AFRIMA - All Africa Music Awards
- The Headies - Nigeria's premier music awards
- Grammy Awards - US peer-voted awards
- Music Awards Directory - Browse all music awards in our directory
