Zahara, Mi Casa, and Zakwe head SAMA18 nominees

Zahara is the front runner with seven nominations for her album "Loliwe", which includes three in the Top Five categories and one for MTN Record of the Year.

The soul-house trio, Mi Casa, is close on her heels with five nominations in total, four for their debut album "Mi Casa Music", the fifth nomination is for the MTN Record of the Year for their track, These Streets.

Also with five nominations is another newcomer, KwaZulu-Natal emcee Zakwe, who is in the running for five statuettes for Best Street Urban Album, Remix Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Male Artist Of The Year and Newcomer Of The Year .

Panel of SAMA alumni

The nominees were announced by a panel of MTN South African Music Awards alumni, including Loyiso Bala, HHP, Kabelo Mabalane, Solly Mahlangu, Kurt Darren, Ziyon Hamilton (Liquideep), Matshediso Mholo (Malaika), Greg Carlin (Zebra & Giraffe), Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse and Lira.

Joining the line-up of artists in announcing nominees were Randall Abrahams (CEO: MTN SAMA) and Serame Taukobong (MTN SA: chief marketing officer).

"The MTN South African Music Awards represents the highest accolade for achievement in the art of recorded music," Abrahams said.

"The awards capture the defining spirit of music in South Africa and celebrate our finest musical talent. "

In announcing the 29 categories, the panel revealed another multi-nominee in the form of highly accomplished songwriter and versatile Afro-soul performer, Zonke, whose 2011 record, Ina Ethe is up for three awards. This includes a nomination for Album Of The Year, where she's up against Zahara, Zakwe, Mi Casa and SA music industry stalwarts Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who have earned the nomination for their album "Songs from the Farms".

The latter album also sees Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the running for Best Traditional Album as well as Duo or Group Of The Year, in which they're vying for the SAMA alongside Mi Casa, Big Nuz, Goodluck and Taxi Violence.

Goodluck is going into the race with multiple nominations - in addition to Duo or Group Of The Year, the Cape Town-based group has earned a nomination in the publicly voted MTN Record Of The Year category for their song Taking It Easy, as well as a nod in the Best Dance Album category for their eponymous debut.

Rock also rears its head in the Best Newcomer Of The Year category, with Shadowclub's debut "Guns and Money" up against Mi Casa, Zahara and Zakwe, as well as the Lwanda Gogwana, whose mix of jazz and indigenous African influence on the album "Songbook Chapter 1" has also earned nominations in the Best Newcomer, Male Artist Of The Year and Best Jazz categories.

Live streaming

The nominee launch was streamed live for the first time on www.mtnsamatv.mobi - ensuring that South African music fans didn't miss out on a moment.

The mobisite will also stream the Yellow Carpet and performances at the invite-only nominees' celebration taking place in Joburg tonight, as well as several events at the 18th Annual MTN South African Music Awards at Sun City Resort on 29 and 30 April.

New awards

Alongside winners in the 29 categories revealed today, several categories will be announced at the two-day awards event in April, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Achievement Award and the Best-Selling Awards.

Voting is now open for the MTN Record Of The Year - the only publicly voted category at the SAMAs. The public can vote by sending an SMS with the letter assigned to their favourite artist to +27 (0)83 123 SAMA (7262) at standard SMS rates.

SAMA 18 nominee list

Best Traditional Music Album

• Bhekumuzi Luthuli - Isipho (Gift)
  
• Joe Shirimani Na Vana Va Ndoda - Banana
  
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Songs From The Farms
  
• Soul Brothers - Amaphutha
  
• Zozo - Tshigotsha Nama

Best Classical and Instrumental Album

• Ben Schoeman - Liszt
  
• CH2 - Ping
  
• Charl Du Plessis Trio - Shanghai Brunch
  
• Derek Gripper - The Sound Of Water
  
• Zoë Beyers - Mendelssohn

Best Jazz Album

• Adam Glasser - Mzansi
  
• Jimmy Dludlu - Tonota
  
• Lwanda Gogwana - Songbook Chapter 1
  
• Marcus Wyatt - ZAR
  
• Vusi Khumalo - Reasons For Seasons

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Chris Chameleon - As Jy Weer Skryf
  
• Coenie De Villiers - Hart Van Glas
  
• Elvis Blue - Elvis Blue (2CD Special Edition)
  
• Josie Field - 1984
  
• Judith Sephuma - I Am A Living Testimony

Best African Adult Album

• Moreira Chonguica And Various - Khanimambo: Tributes To Legends Of Mozambique
  
• Nomhle - Ikwezi (Morning Star)
  
• Somizi - 9 Lives - My Genesis
  
• Unathi - With Love
  
• Zonke - Ina Ethe

Best Contemporary Faith Album

• Joe Niemand - Ek Sal Nie Bang Wees Nie
  
• Martin PK - Man On A Mission
  
• Swazi Dlamini - Gospel Meets Jazz - Live In Durban
  
• The Plain Truth - We Are The Shining Ones
  
• We Will Worship - The Movemeant Begins

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

• Kgotso - New Dawn
  
• Nqubeko Mbatha - Forever I'll Worship
  
• Sfiso Ncwane - Kulungile Baba
  
• Solly Mahlangu - Mwamba Mwamba
  
• Soweto Spiritual Singers - Open Heavens

Best Kiddies Album

• Carike Keuzenkamp - Carike & Ghoempie Kuier Saam Met Ghoeghoe In Kinderland 8
  
• Helena Smith - Luidkiz 2 U Naam Is Ons Kreet!
  
• Minki Burger & Alta Joubert - Lollos 3 Boem Boem, Ons Gaan Groen!
  
• Riku Lätti - Janneman In Die Diereryk
  
• Wendy Oldfield - Singalong Kidz Volume 2

Best Rock Album

• aKING - The Red Blooded Years
  
• Shadowclub- Guns And Money
  
• Taxi Violence - Unplugged: Long Way From Home
  
• The Graeme Watkins Project - Corridors Of The Mind
  
• Van Coke Kartel - Wie's Bang

Best Alternative Album

• Ashtray Electric - Measured In Falls
  
• Dear Reader - Idealistic Animals
  
• Die Heuwels Fantasties - Wilder As Die Wildtuin
  
• The Dirty Skirts - Lost In The Fall
  
• Wrestlerish - Towns

Best Pop Album

• Brandon October - Brandon October
  
• Charlize Berg - Charlize Berg
  
• Hulle - Hulle
  
• Jozi - Moving The City
  
• Lloyd Cele - One

Best Dance Album

• G.Family Deep House Chronicles 6
  
• Ganyani Entertainment Presents The Family 1st Gathering
  
• Goodluck Goodluck
  
• Mi Casa Mi Casa Music
  
• Pascal & Pearce Passport

Best Street Urban Album

• AKA - Altar Ego
  
• HHP - Motswafrika
  
• Jack Parow - Eksie Ou
  
• L-Tido - All Or Nothing
  
• Zakwe - Zakwe

Best Smooth Urban Album

• Afro'traction - Soulfully Yours
  
• Kabomo - All Things Grey
  
• Lira - Return To Love (Deluxe Edition)
  
• Mckenzie - Poetic Genesis
  
• Zahara - Loliwe

Best Maskandi Album

• Imithente - Mbibi
  
• Mfiliseni Magubane - Amandla Ami
  
• Phuzekhemisi - Amapasi
  
• Sakhile Mfuphi - Ngikhanyisele
  
• Thokozani Langa - I-Protection Order

Best Sokkie Dans Album

• Donovan Vallance - Rock My Wêreld
  
• Gerrie Pretorius - Gister En Vandag
  
• Izak Davel - Vreesloos
  
• MarulaBoom - Dijam
  
• Snotkop - Ek Laaik Van Jol

Best Kwaito Album

• Big Nuz - Pound For Pound
  
• Brickz - Ruffcast
  
• Character - The Marathon
  
• Kabelo Mabalane - Immortal Vol.1
  
• Spikiri - The King Don Father 2.5

Best Collaboration

• Character FT. Professor - EX
  
• Kabomo FT. Nothende - Colour of You
  
• Lloyd Cele FT. Loyiso Bala - Thando
  
• Spikiri FT. Teargas, Brickz, Skokho, Madluphutu & Brown Dash - Ngeke Balunge
  
• Zahara FT. Georgy - Incwad'Encane

Best Live DVD

• Concord - Live in Joburg
  
• Simphiwe Dana - An Evening With Simphiwe Dana (Live In Concert)
  
• Solly Mahlangu - Mwamba Mwamba
  
• Various Artists - Skouspel 2011
  
• Various Artists - Spirit Of Praise Vol.3

Best Video of the Year

• Mike Scott - We Come Together by Goldfish
  
• Tristan Holmes - Stars Above You by Locnville
  
• Brian Mason - Music Affair by The Graeme Watkins Project
  
• Ryan Peimer - It's Magic by The Parlotones
  
• Tim Argall - My Dad by Toby

Best Producer

• Kevin Leicher - 1984 by Josie Field
  
• Dan Roberts - Six Winters by Laurie Levine
  
• Robin Kohl & Lira-Lerato Kohl - Return To Love by Lira (Deluxe Edition)
  
• Crighton Goodwill & Loyiso Bala - One by Lloyd Cele
  
• Bethuel Mbonani - My Way by Nkulee Dube

Best Engineer

• Paris Zannos - Tonota by Jimmy Dludlu
  
• Robin Kohl - Return To Love by Lira (Deluxe Edition)
  
• Paris Zannos - Khanimambo: Tributes To Legends Of Mozambique by Moreira Chonguica and Various
  
• Mpho Mokwele - Dream To Reality by Mpho-Za
  
• Johan van der Colff - Loliwe by Zahara

Remix of the Year

• DJ Sbu - Lengoma FT. Zahara
  
• Mr. Moloto - Call Me by Lira
  
• Black Coffee - Time To Go by Marissa Guzman
  
• Black Coffee - Zandiy'bone by MXO
  
• Zakwe ft Zulu Boy & Danger - Bathi Ng'yachoma

MTN SAMA18 Record of the Year