SAMA awards adds three new categories
The SAMA Awards has added three new categories to the awards show. The decision to do so is in response to the growing popularity of African music, such as afro pop and gospel.
The new categories are namely; the Best African Indigenous Gospel album (Clap & Tap/Zion Music), Best African Artist album and Best Afro Pop album. The SAMA awards are now accepting submissions for the 2017 awards show.
The intercontinental support of African music by other Africans is what has inspired the change in categories. This will be the first time that the rest of Africa will be eligible for the SAMA awards.
Music from the continent
South Africans have been showing a growing interest in Kenyan and Nigerian music.
Artists like D’Bani, Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, and Wizkid are examples of these. The resurgence of afro pop from Musa and Mafikozolo is also notable.
Record labels and artists have from now until the end of January next year to submit their entries for the awards show. The music submitted has to have been released from December 2015 to January next year.
“Any commercially released music is eligible, including music released on platforms like YouTube.” said Risa chief executive Nhlanhla Sibisi to the Weekend Argus
You have to provide a copy of your CD and pay an entry fee for your submission. The entries will be judged and nominees will be released in April next year.
“Our genre committees have to determine if we cover as many genres as possible. Afro Pop used to be combined into other categories. Now we see it must be a stand- alone. Gospel has too many sub-genres. It has never had its own category before and it needed it.” said Sibisi
Sibisi confirmed that it was too early to tell if the ninety percent local music on radio policy had an impact on the exposure of African music.
“The SAMA awards are focused on South African music anyway. We (Risa) will have to look at buying patterns.”
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