After last years South African Music Awards I mentioned that there was some ill feeling about how the awards are judged, and it seems that this year is be no different. The winners were announced at two ceremony evenings held at Sun City over the weekend, and although the winners are all smiling, I wonder what effect, if any, the grumblings will have on future awards.

We were pretty chuffed that Karen Zoid scooped Best Female Solo Artist after having booked her for the Oyster & Champagne Festival recently, and were pleased to see that Rhythm Records scooped two awards! But wow, hats off to Freshlyground for taking home 4 awards this year!

I have to say that I was away for the week, so only caught all the action after the fact, but while the SAMA’s were on the go it seems that we had some effect in getting Koldproduk on stage with 50 Cent in Cape Town! Awesome stuff! I am sure that we will get some news and views as to how it was, and of course how the Cape Town audience reacted!

But this week our focus will be on the grinning winners, and here is a complete list, courtesy of The Times:

Album of the Year: Freshlyground - Macheri
Best Male Solo Artist: Hip Hop Pantsula - Acceptance Speech
Best female Solo Artist: Karen Zoid - Postmodern World
Best Duo / Group: Freshlyground - Macheri
MTN Record of the Year: DJ Sdunkero - Maputo Song

Best Contemporary Jazz Album: Jimmy Dludlu - Portrait
Best Newcomer: Tasha Baxter - Colour of Me
Best Traditional / African Adult Contemporary DVD: Joyous Celebration 11 - Joyous 11: Live At The Sun City Superbowl (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Global Chart DVD: Harris Tweed - Live Under The Pillows (Just Music cc)
Best Afrikaans DVD: Jan Blohm - Jan Blohm Live At The Performer (Hathor Records)
Best Music Video: Lira - Ixesha (Sony BMG Africa) Lara Hollis FOR Ixesha BY Lira
Best Producer: Loyiso – Blow Your Mind (Sony BMG Africa) Crighton Goodwill for Blow Your Mind BY Loyiso
Best Engineer: Freshlyground – Macheri (Sony BMG Africa) David Langemann for MaCheri BY Freshlyground
Best Afrikaans Traditional Music Album: Valiant Swart And Ollie Viljoen - Vuur En Vlam (Rhythm Records)
Best Tsonga Music (XiTsonga) Album: Thomas Chauke - Shimatsatsa (CCP)
Best Mgxobanyawo Album: Thokozani Langa - Phuma Kimi (Bula Music)
Best Maskandi Album: Umgqumeni - I Juke Box (GRC)
Best Traditional A Capella Album: Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Ilembe (GRC)
Best Instrumental Album: Tony Cox - Blue Anthem (Sheer Sounds)
Contemporary Jazz: Jimmy Dludlu – Portrait (Universal Music)
Traditional Jazz: McCoy Mrubata - Brasskap Session Vol 1 (Sheer Sounds)
Best Adult Contemporary Album (English): Freshlyground - Macheri (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Adult Contemporary Album (Afrikaans): Danie Niehaus - Fynskrif (EMI Musiek)
Best Adult Contemporary Album (African): Kwela Tebza - King Kwela (CCP)
Best Urban Gospel: Benjamin Dube - In His Presence (Spirit Music)
African Contemporary Gospel: Hlengiwe Mhlaba - Blessings (Izibusiso) (Amanxusa Music Productions)
African Traditional Gospel: Lundi - Impilo (Bula Music)
Traditional African A Capella Gospel: Macecilia A St. Paul - Moshe Mohlanka Oa Modimo (Sony BMG Africa)
Pop/Rock Gospel: Reason (Spirit Music)
Afrikaans Gospel: Retief Burger - Luidkeels Hersien (Merchant Music)
Best Kiddies Album (Afrikaans): Lienka – In Afrikaans se Kinderliedjies (Mastermax Productions)
Best Country Music: Alan Ladd - Sing Country (Fantasia Music Distribution)
Best Rock Album (English): Seether - Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces (Musketeer Records)
Best Rock Album (Afrikaans): Kobus! - Swaar Metaal (Rhythm Records)
Best Alternative Music Album: Somerfaan - Kyk Of Sy Kyk (Roar Agencies)
Best Pop Album (English): Tasha Baxter – Colour Of Me (EMI South Africa)
Best Pop Album (Afrikaans): Nicholis Louw - Hier Naby Jou (Select Music)
Best African Pop Album: Malaika - Sekunjalo (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Urban Pop Album: KB - My Rhythm (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Sokkie Dans Album: Kurt Darren - Voorwarts Mars (Select Music)
Best Urban Dance Album: Dj Cleo - Eskhaleni Phase 4 (Ghetto Ruff)
Best R&B / Neo-Soul Album: Loyiso - Blow Your Mind (Sony BMG Africa)
Best Rap Album: Hip Hop Pantsula - Acceptance Speech (CCP)
Best Kwaito Album: Brickz - Estokfeleni (Ghetto Ruff)
Best Comedy Album: Afrikaans Op Veiling (Thys die Bosveldklong - Op Veiling) (Fantasia Music Distribution)

Lifetime achievement award: Lucky Dube

It seems that the controversy this year is again regarding the nominations and judging of the awards, and that some big names in the industry found other things to do on the night, with amongst others Arthur Mafokate, Kelly Khumalo, Revolution, Deborah Fraser, and Don Laka not appearing on the Sun City red carpet. They are grumbling about there being a lack of transparency and about the growing feeling that the major labels are taking preference over independent and smaller labels.

You can also go and check out the SAMA website, as they do provide a link to see how the judging is handled, but it is brief and doesn’t list any of the judges. Maybe that’s where transparency needs to start – let the people who make the final decisions be exposed andget rid of the grumbling for once and for all.

To win a South African Music Award is a big boost to an artist’s career, although it doesn’t mean that winning one ensures a future in the music business. Lark was hot property last year, but soon after the awards announced that they were breaking up because of lack of support.

So let’s celebrate our 2008 winners, but keep asking questions and ensuring that the right people do get the awards, and this will ensure that the music keeps on playing!

Brought to you by: The Times Multimedia