Millions of viewers tuned into SABC 1 and witnessed the glitz, glam and the pizazz at the 19th Annual MTN South African Music Awards as Toya Delazy and Khuli Chana dominated the evening taking home 3 awards each at the Sun City Superbowl on Saturday, 11 May 2013.

For Toya Delazy who had kicked off the evening with a high octane performance alongside rapper Reason, the awards for Newcomer of the Year and Best Pop Album serve as confirmation of her newly found status in the industry after a breakout year in 2012 with her debut hit album, Due Drop Deluxe. Jax Panix scooped the Best Producer award the previous night for his work on Toya’s album.

The outrageously talented Khuli Chana finally had his moment to shine in the spotlight as all the years of hard work finally paid off for the former Motswako protégé as he took home the coveted Best Male Artist, Best Rap Album and Album of the Year awards.

Multi award winning Afro-fusion group Freshlyground scooped what must be fast becoming a familiar statuette for Duo or Group of the Year, further cementing their place as music royalty in South Africa.

The fiercely contested Female Artist of the Year award saw songbird Kelly Khumalo beat off stiff competition from a very talented field.

The almost three hour long show witnessed some unique and iconic collaborations from amongst others Zonke and Kabomo, ChianoSky with DJ Zinhle ft. Busiswa, Bobby van Jaarsveld with Oskido ft. Candy, Zozo & Sangere Superbeat, Desmond & The Tutus with Kabelo, Professor, Sfiso and Khaya ft. Proverb, Donald, Lira and crowd pleasers DJ Vetkuk & Mahoota ft. Dr Malinga & Manqoba amongst others.

The guest presenters on stage to hand over the awards were some of the leading names in the entertainment industry: Rapulana Seiphemo, Tsholo Monedi, Gareth Cliff, Zahara, Loyiso Bala, Tailor, Pearl Thusi, Tumi Morake, Theo Kgosinkwe, Nhlanhla Nciza, Zolisa Xaluva, Glen Lewis, Tumi Morake, Greg Carlin and Thami Mgqolo. An emotional tribute to artists and other industry players that have passed on during the last year was movingly performed by Bongeziwe Mabandla, Nina Schumann, Steve Dyer, Herbie Tsoaeli and CH2 over a visual montage of these fallen icons.

The Album of the Year medley was one of the major highlights of the star studded night as Khuli Chana, Kelly Khumalo, Maleh, Ntokozo Mbambo and The Muffinz took to the stage and left the over 5 000 strong crowd in rapturous applause. It was then left to the popular Menzi Ngubane and Sophie Ndaba to close off the night and present the coveted Album of the Year to an utterly surprised Khuli Chana.

“MTN congratulates all the MTN SAMA 19 winners for the all their great effort put into consistently producing quality music. The standard of the music over the past year has seen our artists continuing to showcase sophistication which is fitting as we celebrate our 10th year partnership with the SAMAs in what is their 19th anniversary. We believe that the MTN SAMA 20 next year will continue seeing new, amazing talent emerging in the industry to give us more of the best in South African music”, said Serame Taukobong Chief Marketing Officer at MTN SA.

The full list of categories and winners for the 19th Annual MTN South African Music Awards are:

 

• Album of the Year – Presented by Menzi Ngubane & Sophie Ndaba

Khuli Chana      Lost in Time

 

• MTN Record of the Year – Presented by Serame Taukobong:MTN

Sfiso Ncwane      Kulungile Baba

 

• Duo or Group of the Year – Presented by Arthur Mafokate & DJ Pepsi

Freshlyground      Take Me to the Dance

 

• Female Artist of the Year – Presented by Theo Kgosinkwe & Nhlanhla Nciza

Kelly Khumalo      The Past, The Present, The Future

 

• Male Artist of the Year – Presented by Theo Kgosinkwe & Nhlanhla Nciza  

Khuli Chana      Lost in Time

 

• Newcomer of the Year – Presented by Arthur Mafokate & DJ Pepsi

Toya Delazy      Due Drop Deluxe

 

• Best Rock Album – Presented by Rapulana Seiphemo & Tsholo Monedi

Zebra & Giraffe      The Wisest Ones

 

• Best Pop Album – Presented by Rapulana Seiphemo & Tsholo Monedi

Toya Delazy      Due Drop Deluxe

 

• Best Adult Contemporary Album – Presented by Greg Carlin & Zahara

Elvis Blue      Journey

 

• Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album – Presented by Greg Carlin & Zahara

Theuns Jordaan      Roeper

 

• Best African Adult Album

Maleh       Step Child

 

• Best Alternative Album – Presented by Kgomotso KG Moeketsi & Khetha Gwala

iScream & The Chocolate Stix    The Paradox

 

• Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album – Presented by Kgomotso KG Moeketsi & Khetha Gwala

Khaya       For You

 

• Best Rap Album – Presented by Boity and Akhumzi Jezile

Khuli Chana      Lost in Time

 

• Best Kwaito Album –  Presented by Loyiso Bala & Tailor

Professor      The Orientation

 

• Best Dance Album – Presented by Loyiso Bala & Tailor

Black Coffee      Africa Rising

 

• Best Traditional Faith Music Album – Presented by Boity and Akhumzi Jezile

Various       Siprit of Praise Vol.4

 

• Best Contemporary Faith Music Album – Presented by Kgomotso KG Mooketsi & Khetha Gwala

Ntokozo Mbambo     Filled

 

• Best Traditional Album – Presented by Pearl Thusi

Soul Brothers      Isiphithiphithi

 

• Best Maskandi Album – Presented by Boity and Akhumzi Jezile

Ichwane Lebhaca     Inkunzi Yomthakathi

 

• Best Jazz Album – Presented by Boity and Akhumzi Jezile

Herbie Tsoaeli      African Time

 

• Best Classic & Instrumental Album – Presented by Kgomotso KG Moeketsi & Khetha Gwala

CH2 CH 2 Guitar Duo Live with the University of Pretoria Symphony   Orchestra

 

• Best Live DVD – Presented by James Shikwambana & Amor Vittone

The Captured Tour Concert Film    Lira      

• Best Collaboration

Riot Feat. Zahara     Thetha Nami

 

• Best Music Video of the Year – Presented by Penny Lebyane and Ben Maitsapo 

Claudio Pavan  for Honey Spiders  (The Parlotones)

 

• Best Producer – Presented by Penny Lebyane and Ben Maitsapo

Jax Panik  for Due Drop Deluxe   (Toya Delazy)  

 

• Best Engineer – Presented by Penny Lebyane and Ben Maitsapo

Mark Beling  for Strong   (BlackByrd)   

 

• Remix of the Year – Presented by Penny Lebyane and Ben Maitsapo

DJ Kent   for Thinking about You Ft. Zonke   DJ Kent Remix (Theo Kgosinkwe)

 

• Best Selling DVD – Presented by James Shikwambana & Amor Vittone

Vol. 16 Live at Carnival City    Joyous Celebration 

 

• Best Selling Album – Presented by James Shikwambana & Amor Vittone

Roeper       Theuns Jordaan      

• Best Selling Tru-Tone – Presented by Michelle Constant & Lerato Sengadi

Follow Me      DJ Cleo ft. Teddy Bears

      

• Best Selling Ring-Back-Tone – Presented by Michelle Constant & Lerato Sengadi

Loliwe       Zahara      

• Best Selling Full-Track Download – Presented by Michelle Constant & Lerato Sengadi

You’re The Voice     Shout/J23 – Artists for a safer South Africa 

• SAMPRA AWARD – Presented by Jared Orlin

Heavenly Sent       Mi Casa