On Wednesday evening, 19th of May 2021, the 15 categories were announced by the hosts, Presenters DJ Sabby, Rorisang Thandekiso and Sphesihle Vazi.
Kabza De Small bagged the highest nods with 6 categories which are; Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Best Amapiano Album, Duo/Group of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Amapiano Album with DJ Maphorisa.
Check out full list of nominees below:
Album of the Year
-Persistence – Bongo Riot
-The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion
– Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
-I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small
-Back to Love – Junior Taurus
Male Artist of the Year
-To The World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician
-Persistence – Bongo Riot
-I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small
-For the Groovists – Oscar Mbo
-Back to Love – Junior Taurus
Sofnfree Female Artist of the Year
-On the Frontline – Reign Africa
-Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
-What a Life – Sho Madjozi
-Xola Moya Wam’ – Nomcebo Zikode
-Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle
Duo / Group of the Year
-Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa & Zuma
-Musical Kings – MFR Souls
-Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
-Shonamalanga – Mas Musiq & Aymos
-We Made It – Mi Casa
White Star Newcomer of the Year
-Jesus is Enough – Xolly Mncwango
-On the Frontline – Reign Africa
-Africado – Banda Banda & The Crocodiles
-Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
-Ingoma – Azana
Best Pop Album
-11:11 – Rowlene
-I Don’t Sleep – Jethro Tait
-Tribes & Angels – Locnville
-Sugar – Mark Stent
-She – Amy Lilley
Beste Pop Album
-2021 – Die Heuwels Fantasties
-Die Toekoms is Synth – Synth Peter
-Twintig20 – Brendan Peyper
-Gewigloos – Juan Boucher
-Gemaklik Verlore – Christa Visser
Best R&B/Soul Album
-A Force To Be Reckoned With – Thando
-LANGA – Langa Mavuso
-Sindisiwe – LaSauce
-Small World – Ricky Tyler
-Uhambo – Soul Kulture
Best Hip Hop Album
-4436 – Boity
-Nadia Naked II – Nadia Nakai
-Zulu With Some Power – Nasty C
-POPSTAR – Yanga Chief
-Zakwe & Duncan – Zakwe & Duncan
Best Kwaito Album
-Sgubhu OverDoze – Lvovo & Danger
-Endaweni – Darkie Fiction
-Don’t Lose Hope – Sukiripapa
-Bhut’Madlisa – Mampintsha
-Ama Roto EP – Reece Madlisa & Zuma
Best Dance Album
-To The World & Beyond – Sun-El Musician
-For The Goovists – Oscar Mbo
-Xola Moya Wam’ – Nomcebo Zikode
-The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion
-We Made It – Mi Casa
Best Afro Pop Album
-Ingoma – Azana
-Molimo – Manu Worldstar
-Ngumama – Vusi Nova
-The Voice of Africa – Kelly Khumalo
-Tugela Fairy: Made of Stars – Simmy
Best Live Audio Visual Recording of the Year
-Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle
-The Throne (Live Edition) – Presss
-Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
-My Hart Klop Refentse – Refentse
-A Journey to the World & Bevond – Sun-El Musician
Best Collaboration
-Uthando – Darque featuring Zakes Bantwini
-Ek Like Hoe Jy Dans – Chê featuring Snotkop
-Mali Eningi – Big Zulu featuring Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai
-Senzeni – Mthandazo Gatya featuring Comado & DJ Manzo SA
-Yehla Moya – Da Capo & Nduduzo Makhathini featuring Omagugu
Best Produced Music Video
-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
-Hosh by Prince Kaybee featuring Sir Trill – Ofentse
Best Produced Album of the Year
-In the Beginning was the End by Manana – Manana & Noble
-Ithemba by Luyolo – Marcus MC & Andy Keys
-Umsebenzi by Sjava – Delaydem, Ruff, Webmoms, Zadok &Vuyo Manyike
-Tugela Fairy: Made of Stars by Simmy – Sun-El Musician, Claudio Wayde, Da Capo, Mpho Mohlolong
-The Healers: The Last Chapter – Black Motion
Best Engineered Album of the Year
-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
-Inganekwane by Zoe Modiga – Papi Diretsi & Songo Oyama
Remix of the Year
-Jerusalema – Kid Fonque
-Ndanele – Dwson
-Sala Nabani – Sun-El Musician, Claudio & Kenza
-Speak Lord – Sculpturedmusic
-Yehla Moya – Da Capo
Best African Adult Contemporary Album
-Umsebenzi – Sjava
-Isambulo – 1020 Cartel Artists
-Amakhaya – Max – Hoba
-Bamako – Simphiwe Dana
-Buhlebendalo – Chosi
Best Reggae Album
-The Journey – Ras Canly
-Persistence – Bongo Riot
-My Music – Freeky
-On the Frontline – Reign Africa
-Empathy Riddim – Lavoro Duro
Best Amapiano Album
-Musical Kings – MFR Souls
-Back to Love – Junior Taurus
-I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust – Kabza De Small
-Once Upon A Time In Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)
-Shonamalanga – Mas Musiq & Aymos
Best Gqom Album
-We Don’t Play the Same Gqom – Que
-Make Cape Town Great Again – Mshayi & Mr Thela
-Isiqalo – DragerNation
-Inzalo Yekwaito – Zinaro
-Idando Kazi – Babes Wodumo
Best Maskandi
-Amagupta – iChwane Lebhaca
-Ziyangiluma Izinja – Phuzekhemisi
-Iqatha Eliziqobayo – Thokozani Langa
-Banathi Shaqa – Imithente
-Imfene Kamakhelwane – Abafana Baka Mgqumeni
Best Jazz Album
-Africado – Banda Banda & The Crocodiles
-An Open Dialogue – Linda Sikhakhane
-iHubo Labomdabu – Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane
-Modes of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds – Nduduzo Makhathini
-Thandi Ntuli (Live at Jazzwerkstatt) – Thandi Ntuli
Best Traditional Album
-Love and War – Henny C
-What a Life – Sho Madjozi
-Angeke Bakuthande Boke – Smangele
-Shebeen Queen – Vusi Mahlasela
-Ndavhuko – Vendaboy Poet
Best African Indigenous Faith usic Album
-Makhosi Akithi – Vuma Zion
-Izwi Lakho – Mandlethu Gospel Singers
-Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development – Katlehong Gospel Choir Artist Development
-Sithembe Wena Nkosi – JTG Gospel Choir
-Enyokumkhonza – Enyonini Mission Ministries
Rest of Africa Award
-Unity Album – Buffalo Souljah
-A Better Time – Davido
-Made in Lagos – Wizkid
-Midnight Train – Sauti Sol
-Songs in the Key of Love – Berita
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
-Project 17 – Chapter 2 – Worship House
-Buya Nkosi – Thinah Zungu
-Spiritual Encounter – Bucy Radebe
-Wathi Eloyi Eloyi – Sipho Makhabane
-Izulu – Sneziey
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
-Devotion – Nqubeko Mbatha
-Face 2 Face – Collen Maluleke
-Jesus is Enough – Xolly Mncwango
-Your Kingdom on Earth – Hle
-The Promised Revival Part One – Tshwane Gospel Choir