SAMAs 2025 Nominees Announced in Special Women’s Month Event

As South Africa embraces Women’s Month, the Recording Industry of South Africa, RiSA, is gearing up to deliver an unforgettable celebration of talent with the reveal of the 31st Annual South African Music Awards, SAMAs, nominees. Scheduled for 28 August 2025, from 18h00 to 19h30, the event promises to be a spectacular, live streamed showcase, broadcast exclusively on the SAMA YouTube channel and social media platforms.

But this will not be a mere reading of names. The nominee announcement is set to be a high energy, genre spanning event packed with star power and stylish flair, the kind of excitement only the SAMAs can command. Audiences can look forward to a dazzling line up that bridges generations and genres, featuring the lyrical dynamo Priddy Ugly, last year’s Best Hip Hop Album winner known for bars etched with precision, jazz virtuoso Steve Dyer, a prodigious composer since childhood and reigning Best Jazz Album champion, and a thrilling grand finale by DJ Thabi Thabs, the electrifying newcomer who rocked the previous nominee announcement and will ignite the official after party.

Hosting this hour long celebration are two charismatic personalities, Letuka Dlamini, known for her razor sharp wit, and Zama Naomi, the magnetic actor, presenter, social media sensation, and DJ. Together, they promise to keep the rhythm alive and the audience engaged, like a hit single on repeat.

Behind the scenes, DiscoverTV is championing female leadership at every level. The production is spearheaded by director Bokang Phalane, production manager Simphiwe Ndhlebe, producer Daniela Dell Acqua, and director of photography Siphesihle Nduli. Meanwhile, Unathi Gwija represents RiSA as the official spokesperson for the SAMAs.

Nhlanhla Sibisi, RiSA CEO, encapsulates the spirit of the event, “We will be announcing the glittering list of nominees for the 31st Annual South African Music Awards, a roll call of excellence, rhythm, and pure South African star power. In true SAMA style, this year’s nominee reveal is more than just a list, it is a moment. And what better stage for this announcement than Women’s Month, when the nation celebrates the power, grace, and resilience of its daughters, mothers, and trailblazers.”

He adds, “Unveiling our nominees during Women’s Month is our way of honouring the phenomenal women who shape the soundtrack of our lives, on stage, in the studio, and behind the scenes. The spotlight on the virtual nominee reveal belongs to every voice that dares to dream and every rhythm that refuses to be ignored. We are celebrating the beat of a nation.”

Supported by powerhouse partners including the Motsepe Foundation, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the South African Music Performance Rights Association, SAMPRA, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation, SAMRO, YouTube, the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association, CAPASSO, and media partner SABC, the SAMAs continue to be the definitive benchmark of South African music excellence. The awards amplify diverse voices, promote inclusivity across genres, and champion the country’s vibrant music ecosystem.

So, mark your calendars, prep your snacks, and ensure your Wi-Fi is strong. On 28 August 2025, you will have a front row seat to the SAMA31 nominee reveal, a high energy prelude to the biggest night in South African music, charged with the spirit of Women’s Month. Because when women rise, music soars.

As Sibisi concludes, “The ninety-minute show promises to be high energy and will finally unveil the stars nominated across thirty eight categories. This is not just news, it is the prelude to history in the making.”