Pop band Beatenberg dominated at the 2015 South African Music Awards (SAMAs) at Sun City on Sunday.
The popular trio – comprised of Matthew Field (vocals, guitar), Robin Brink (drums) and Ross Dorkin (bass) – took home six of the seven awards for which they were nominated, among these coveted gongs including Album of the Year and Duo or Group of the Year for their debut album, ‘The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg’
In the battle of the SA rappers, AKA won Male Artist of the Year for ‘Levels’, Cassper Nyovest was named Newcomer of the Year for his debut album ‘Tsholofelo’, and K.O., of Cashtime Family fame, won Best Rap Album for ‘Skhanda Republic’.
Veteran musician Professor won the Best Kwaito Album award for ‘University of Kalawa Jazmee Since 1994’, Black Motion went home with the Best Dance Album gong, while S’fiso Ncwane was named the winner in the Best Traditional Faith Music Album category.
aKing won Best Rock Album for ‘Morning After’ and the Best Alternative Album went to Bittereinder for ‘Skerm’, while pop singer Riana Nel received the Best Afrikaans Pop Album award for ‘Die Regte Tyd’.
Wouter Kellerman – who was named joined winner of the Best New Age Album award at the 57th Grammys in 2014, for his collaborative album with Indian composer Ricky Kej called ‘Winds of Samsara’ – won both the Best Classical Instrumental Album and Best Producer of the Year awards, and also received the International Achievement Award.
K.O. and Kid X won Record of the Years, the only award voted for by the public, for their collaborative track, ‘Caracara’.
2012 ‘SA’s Got Talent’ winner, poetess and praise singer, Botlhlale Boikanyo, made history when she received the Best Traditional Album award at the tender age of thirteen. She is the youngest person to ever receive a SAMA nomination, for her album, ‘Spoken Word and Music’.
Speaking to the Netwerk24 before her impressive win at the awards ceremony, Botlhlale said she really didn’t expect to be nominated at such a young age.
“I was just there [SAMAXXI nomination ceremony] to celebrate the other artists’ nominations with them, and then my name appeared on the screen,” she explained of this surprise recognition.
“I didn’t expect it at all. I was just thinking the entire time, ‘No, it can’t happen, maybe if I’m a bit older in a few years’.”
Lifetime Achievement Awards during the glizy SAMAXII event were this year awarded to Zim Ngqawana, Mdu Masilela and Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng.
The SAMAXXI winners are:
Album of the Year: Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Duo or Group of the Year: Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Female Artist of the Year: Bucie – Princess of House (Easy to Love)
Male Artist of the Year: AKA – Levels
Newcomer of the Year: Cassper Nyovest – Tsholofelo
Best Rock Album: aKing – Morning After
Best Pop Album: Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans): Riana Nel Die Regte Tyd
Best Rap Album: K.O. – Skhanda Republic
Best Kwaito Album: Professor – University of Kalawa Jazmee Since 1994
Best Dance Album: Black Motion – Fortune Teller
Best Traditional Faith Music Album: S’fiso Ncwane – Bayede Baba
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Niemand – Back Again
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album: Dewald Wasserfall – #EkEnJy
Best African Adult Album: Maleh – You Make My Heart Go
Best Alternative Album: Bittereinder – Skerm
Best RnB/Soul/Reggae Album: Afrotraction – For the Lovers
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album: Loyiso Bala – Power Love Sound
Best Traditional Music Album: Botlhale Boikanyo – Spoken Word n Music
Best Maskandi Album: Thokozani Langa – Igema Lami
Best Jazz Album: McCoy Mrubata – Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2
KIA RECORD OF THE YEAR
Caracara – K.O. ft. Kid X
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Zim Ngqawana
Mdu Masilela
Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Wouter Kellerman
BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
Best Selling Album: Die Regte Tyd – Riana Nel
Best Selling DVD: Vol. 18 One Purpose – Joyous Celebration
Best Selling Ring-Back Tone: Pluto (Remember You) – DJ Clock ft. Beatenberg
Best Selling Full-Track Download: Pluto (Remember You) – DJ Clock ft. Beatenberg
SAMPRA AWARD
Highest Airplay of the Year (2014): Pluto (Remember You) – DJ Clock ft. Beatenberg
