South African Music Awards (SAMAs) are awarded in a series of categories, each of which isolate a specific contribution to music. The standard awards list nominees in each category from which a winner is selected. SAMA categories have been added and removed over time.
Special awards edit
There are special awards which are awarded without nominations, typically for achievements of longer than the past year, which the standard awards apply to:
- Lifetime Achievement Award is a Special Merit Award presented to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.
- International Achievement Award is a Special Merit Award presented to performers who, during their musical careers, have achieved notable international success.
Top 5 categories edit
The Top 5 categories are standard awards for musical works which do not restrict nominees by genre, but may do so by some other criteria:
- Album of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of an album.
- Group or Duo of the Year is awarded to a group or duo with reference to an album.
- Newcomer of the Year is awarded to an artist with reference to an album.
- Female Artist of the Year is awarded to a female artist with reference to an album.
- Male Artist of the Year is awarded to a male artist with reference to an album.
Genre-specific categories edit
Afrikaans edit
- Best Afrikaans Traditional Music Album
- Best Adult Contemporary Album: Afrikaans
- Best Afrikaans Gospel Album
- Best Kiddies Album: Afrikaans
- Best Country Music Album
- Best Rock Album: Afrikaans
- Best Alternative Music Album: Afrikaans
- Best Pop Album: Afrikaans
- Best Sokkie Dans Album
- Best Afrikaans DVD
Global Charts edit
- Best Adult Contemporary Album: English
- Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
- Best Kiddies Album: English
- Best Rock Album: English
- Best Alternative Music Album: English
- Best Pop Album: English
- Best Global Chart DVD
Jazz and Classical edit
- Best Popular Classical Album
- Best Instrumental Album
- Best Traditional Jazz Album
- Best Contemporary Jazz Album
- Best Jazz/Instrumental/Popular Classical DVD
Technical and Video edit
Traditional edit
- Best South Sotho Music (SeSotho) Album
- Best Tsonga Music (XiTsonga) Album
- Best Venda Music (TshiVenda) Album
- Best Mbhaqanga Album
- Best Maskandi Album
- Best Traditional A Capella Album
- Best Adult Contemporary Album: African
- Best African Contemporary Gospel Album
- Best African Traditional Gospel Album
- Best Traditional African A Capella Gospel Album
- Best Alternative Music Album: African
- Best Traditional/African Adult Contemporary African DVD