SAMA (South African Music Awards)

The South African Music Awards (SAMA) are South Africa's premier music awards ceremony, organized by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) since 1995 to recognize excellence in South African music across all genres. The 31st annual ceremony took place on December 14, 2025, with Thandiswa Mazwai winning four awards and Goldmax dominating with multiple wins including Album of the Year.

How the South African Music Awards Work

The SAMAs follow a multi-stage selection process:

1. Entries: RiSA members and non-members submit recordings released during the eligibility period. For SAMA31, the eligibility period covered releases from April 16, 2024 to January 31, 2025. The entry fee for RiSA members was R862.50 (approximately $58), while non-members paid R4,600 (approximately $311) per entry including VAT.
2. Nominations: Industry panels review submissions and determine nominees across genre categories, technical categories, and special awards. Nominations for SAMA31 were announced in batches starting August 28, 2025, via the SAMAs' social media platforms.
3. Voting: Most categories are judged by industry panels. Record of the Year and Music Video of the Year are public voting categories. Record of the Year nominees are selected using a weighted formula combining airplay tracked by Radiomonitor and streams from The Official South African Charts. Music Video of the Year nominees are chosen based on the most-played music videos from RiSA Audio Visual Licensing NPC and YouTube data.
4. Ceremony: The awards ceremony is held annually and broadcast on SABC1 and YouTube. SAMA31 was held on December 14, 2025, hosted by Scoop Makhathini and Pamela Mtanga, with the motto "Less Noise, More Music."

The SAMAs present cash prizes to winners: R25,000 (approximately $1,691) for Album of the Year, R15,000 (approximately $1,015) for the top five categories, R10,000 (approximately $677) for genre and technical categories, and R20,000 (approximately $1,353) for the Chairman's Award and Album of the Decade.

The Motsepe Foundation sponsored the SAMAs from 2023 through 2025 under a three-year contract. Additional sponsors include the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, CAPASSO, SAMRO, SAMPRA, and SABC as media partner.

Real-World Example: SAMA31 (2025)

The 31st Annual South African Music Awards took place on December 14, 2025, broadcast live on SABC1 and YouTube. Thandiswa Mazwai was the biggest winner of the night, taking home four awards including Female Artist of the Year and Best African Adult Contemporary Album for "Sankofa." She was tied with Black Motion and Kelvin Momo for the most nominations at five each.

Goldmax won Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year for "Play at Your Own Risk." Black Motion won Duo or Group of the Year for "Takala." Nontokozo Mkhize won Newcomer of the Year for "Lindiwe." Kelvin Momo won Best Amapiano Album for "Ntsako."

In genre categories, 25K won Best Hip Hop Album for "Loyal to the Plug: The Life and Times of Don Kilograms," Elaine won Best R&B/Soul Album for "Stone Cold Heart," Peter Auret won Best Jazz Album for "Hope Dies Last," and Dlala Thukzin won Best Dance Album for "Finally Famous Too." Sjava won Best Afro Pop Album for "Isibuko (Deluxe)." Makhadzi won Best Traditional Album for "Miracle Child (Deluxe)."

The ceremony was initially scheduled for the first half of 2025 but was rescheduled to December. No red carpet event was held. The first batch of nominations was announced virtually on the SAMAs' social media platforms on August 28, 2025.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The SAMAs focus exclusively on South African music, which creates a more accessible awards platform than international ceremonies. Independent South African artists who submit their releases through RiSA can compete alongside major label acts in every genre category.

The Newcomer of the Year category specifically targets emerging talent. Nontokozo Mkhize won in 2025 for her album "Lindiwe," demonstrating that relatively new artists can take home top prizes. The genre categories cover a wide range including amapiano, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, alternative, traditional, maskandi, Afro pop, reggae, classical, and faith music, giving artists in niche genres a path to recognition.

The entry fee is relatively affordable for RiSA members at R862.50 per entry. Non-members pay R4,600, which is higher but still accessible for serious independent artists. Record of the Year is determined by airplay and streaming data, meaning independent artists who chart well automatically qualify for consideration without needing panel nomination.

If you are a South African artist, ensure your releases are submitted through RiSA before the deadline. Track your streaming numbers and radio airplay, as commercial performance factors into Record of the Year nominations. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to monitor your performance. Check the SAMA website for eligibility windows and entry guidelines.

Related Resources

• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into SAMA nominations
• Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
• 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
• When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help coordinate SAMA submissions and campaigns
• South African Hip Hop Awards - The genre-specific hip-hop awards for South Africa