Billed as South African music’s biggest night, the 14th Annual MTN SA Music Awards celebrated the country's top stars.
Held at the Sun City Superbowl on Saturday 3 May, the show kicked off with a performance by Jub Jub and Jaziel Brothers before dance-floor doyens DJ Sdunkero and T’zozo en Professor got a massive response to their kwaito hits.
Kurt Darren showed his range with two songs before a tribute to posthumous Lifetime Achiever Gé Korsten. MXO and Zonke got together for a collaboration that celebrated their shared roots before The Parlotones took to the stage with their melodic rock.
Freshlyground performed next and the got together with Kwela Tebza and Lucky Dube’s band One People (the house band for all live performances) to pay a touching tribute to the late reggae legend, the evening’s second Lifetime Achiever.
The party got going again when DJ Vetkuk vs Mahoota rocked out one of their club hits before HHP topped off the evening, leaving guests charged up for the after-parties that took them into the early hours of Sunday morning.
The full list of winners of the 14th Annual MTN South African Music Awards are:
MTN Record of the Year
DJ Sdunkero - Maputo Song
Best Male Solo Artist
Hip Hop Pantsula – Acceptance Speech
Best Female Solo Artist
Karen Zoid – Postmodern World
Best Duo / Group
Freshlyground – Macheri
Best Newcomer
Tasha Baxter – Colour of Me
Album of the Year
Freshlyground – Macheri
Best Traditional / African Adult Contemporary DVD
Joyous Celebration 11 – Joyous 11: Live At The Sun City Superbowl
Best Global Chart DVD
Harris Tweed – Live Under The Pillows
Best Afrikaans DVD
Jan
Blohm – Jan Blohm Live At The Performer
Best Music Video
Lira – Ixesha
Lara Hollis FOR Ixesha BY Lira
Best Producer
Loyiso – Blow Your Mind
Crighton Goodwill FOR Blow Your Mind BY Loyiso
Best Engineer
Freshlyground – Macheri
David Langemann FOR MaCheri BY Freshlyground
Best Afrikaans Traditional Music Album
Valiant Swart And Ollie Viljoen – Vuur En Vlam
Best Tsonga Music (XiTsonga) Album
Thomas Chauke – Shimatsatsa
Best Mgxobanyawo Album
Thokozani Langa – Phuma Kimi
Best Maskandi Album
Umgqumeni – I Juke Box
Best Traditional A Capella Album
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Ilembe
Best Instrumental Album
Tony Cox – Blue Anthem
Contemporary
Jazz
Jimmy Dludlu – Portrait
Traditional Jazz
McCoy Mrubata – Brasskap Session Vol 1
Best Adult Contemporary Album: English
Freshlyground – Macheri
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Afrikaans
Danie Niehaus – Fynskrif
Best Adult Contemporary Album: African
Kwela Tebza – King Kwela
Best Urban Gospel
Benjamin Dube – In His Presence
African Contemporary Gospel
Hlengiwe Mhlaba – Blessings (Izibusiso)
African Traditional Gospel
Lundi – Impilo
Traditional African A Capella Gospel
Macecilia A St. Paul – Moshe Mohlanka Oa Modimo
Pop/Rock Gospel
Reason
Afrikaans Gospel
Retief Burger – Luidkeels Hersien (Merchant
Music)
Best Kiddies Album: Afrikaans
Lienka – In Afrikaans se Kinderliedjies
Best Country Music
Alan Ladd – Sing Country
Best Rock Album: English
Seether – Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces
Best Rock Album: Afrikaans
Kobus! – Swaar Metaal
Best Alternative Music Album
Somerfaan – Kyk Of Sy Kyk
Best Pop Album: English
Tasha Baxter – Colour Of Me
Best Pop Album: Afrikaans
Nicholis Louw – Hier Naby Jou
Best African Pop Album
Malaika – Sekunjalo
Best Urban Pop Album
Kb – My Rhythm
Best Sokkie Dans Album
Kurt Darren – Voorwarts Mars
Best Urban Dance Album
Dj Cleo – Eskhaleni Phase 4
Best R&B /
Neo-Soul Album
Loyiso – Blow Your Mind
Best Rap Album
Hip Hop Pantsula – Acceptance Speech
Best Kwaito Album
Brickz – Estokfeleni
Best Comedy Album: Afrikaans
Op Veiling (Thys die Bosveldklong – Op Veiling)