The nominations were announced on 26 September. Tyla received the most, with seven, followed by Kabza de Small with six. The pre-show took place on 1 November, and the industry awards and red carpet events preceded the main show on 2 November. Tyla won the most awards, receiving four (Newcomer of the Year, Best Pop Album, Female Artist of the Year and International Achievement). Kabza de Small and Mthunzi received three awards.
The 30th Annual South African Music Awards celebrates the best music videos, albums and songs released in South Africa during the period 15 April 2023 to 14 April 2024. Entries for nomination consideration were open from 1 March 2024 to 15 April. For members of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), the entry fee for an individual or entity was R862.50 ($58.36), and for non-members it was R4,600.00 ($311.23) including value-added tax per entry for all categories.[1]
Two public voting categories, Music Video of the Year (presented by RiSA) and Record of the Year (presented by the Motsepe Foundation), were announced via the South African Music Awards' website on 14 August 2024.[2] The remaining nominations were announced on 26 September 2024 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, where the ceremony would take place.[3]Tyla was the most nominated artist with seven nominations, followed by Kabza de Small with six.[a]
On 18 October 2024, the South African Music Awards announced that Tyla would be honoured with the International Achievement Award. Sipho Makhabane and Ringo Madlingozi were the recipients for the Lifetime Achievement Awards.[11]Oskido was bestowed the Chairperson's Award.[12][13] On 2 November 2024, Tyla emerged as the most awarded artist with four accolades, ahead of Kabza de Small and Mthunzi with three.[5]
Winners and nominees
Top 5 categories
Tyla, Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Best Pop Album, and International Achievement winnerKabza de Small, Album of the Year, Duo or Group of the Year, and Best Amapiano Album winnerAKA, Music Video of the Year winnerLadysmith Black Mambazo, Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album winnerThe Soil, Best Engineered Album winner
Below is the list of nominees. Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.[5]
Hosted by Luthando Shosha (also known as Lootlove), the pre-show took place on 1 November 2024, at the Gallagher Convention Centre. She also hosted the industry awards event. Preceding the main show, the red carpet event was hosted by Siphesihle Vazi and Kuhle Adams.[13][15] The main show was hosted by Minnie Dlamini,[13] with assistance from Zanele Potelwa and Unathi Nkayi.[16]Internet personalities including Ntando Duma were in attendance at the main event.[17]
Luthando Shosha – presented Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album, Best Afro Pop Album, Best Rock Album, Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album, Best Reggae Album, Best Produced Album, Best R&B/Soul Album and Best Contemporary Faith Album
Bontle Modiselle – presented Best Traditional Album & Best Alternative Album and Best Pop Album
Salvon and Bravo Le Roux – presented Best Classical/Instrumental Album and Best Traditional Faith Album
Dada Morero & Pinky Bala – presented Best Jazz Album, Best Kwaito Album and Best Gqom Album
DJ Fefe and Tumi Powerhouse – presentedb Remix of the Year and Best Collaboration
Minnie Ntuli – presented Best Dance Album and Best Produced Music Video
Main show
Minnie Dlamini – introduced Zanele Potelwa and Nondumiso Ngobese
Tyla's "Water" lost the Record of the Year award to Mthandeni SK and Lwah Ndlunkulu's "Paris". Following the conclusion of the main show on 2 November, Cassper Nyovest posted on Twitter to express his feelings on how Tyla was snubbed of the accolade.[19] In response, Mthandeni SK implied that Nyovest, a hip hop musician, was trying to use maskandi to regain fame. In Nyovest's apology, he suggested a boxing match to address their issues.[20] On 3 November, Zakes Bantwini criticized DJ Cleo's performance when he posted on Twitter and said that he felt like the Durban kwaito era was not well represented in the DJ's medley mix. In response to Bantwini on 4 November, DJ Cleo praised Bantwini's craft before saying that the South African Music Awards are very political and are not his show. Bantwini later apologized and said that his emotions were driven by his passion for music, and that he should have reached out privately.[21]
After the South African Music Awards had Arthur Mafokate and Cici perform at the same event despite their 2018 assault allegations, Cici expressed her feelings on Twitter the following day when she tweeted three brokenhearted emojis.[22] Although Mafokate was acquitted due to lack of evidence to prosecute,[23] the Women for Change organization called for a boycott for Chris Brown's South African concert in December 2024 due to his controversial past,[24] but the South African Music Awards celebrated Mafokate's performance. Independent Online wrote that "it is very important to differentiate between Mafokate and Brown, as the former was not charged, while Brown pled guilty on multiple occasions".[22]
Explanatory note
^This includes their nominations for the two public voting categories.[4][5][6]
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