The Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mrs. NS Leeto would like to take this opportunity to congratulate three Free State artists that have been nominated for the 22nd South African Music Awards (SAMAs). The SAMAs are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995.
The ceremony is held every year, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. This music award ceremony affords South African music artists an opportunity to be awarded for their talents and encourages the radio station listeners to actively participate in this process by voting for their favourite artists in certain categories.
The primary objective for hosting the SAMAs is to recognise and support local artists by creating a platform for listeners to honour South African musicians. The SAMAs have become a highly anticipated event on the South African social calendar.
The 22nd edition of the SAMAs is an instalment that will be celebrating 22 years of existence and of recognising the rich South African music and talent respectively. The 22nd staging of the SAMAs is scheduled to take place on 04 June 2016 at the iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Center in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
The three artists who have successfully put the Free State province on the map in their respective music genres are:
1) Kabelo Motsamai (Prince Kaybee) – This Free State-born house DJ and producer is among the nominees who have been nominated for Record of the Year category for his hit song Better Days (feat. Audrey). The Free State
Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation supported Prince Kaybee through the recent SA Sport Awards held in Bloemfontein where he performed.
2) Thiwe Mbola – Born and bred in Theunissen Free State, Thiwe has become a household name in the South African music industry since the release of her debut album at the tender age of 22. Today Thiwe is rated among the best vocalists in the country having worked with legendary artists and producers such as Black Coffee, Press, Aurthur Mafokate, and DJ Ganyani to name just a few. The release of her latest album Soul Therapy has kept music and dance lovers entertained for the better part of the festive season last year. Thiwe is nominated for the 2016 SAMAs in the Best African Adult Album category.
The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation supported Thiwe through the recent Mangaung Cultural Festival where she performed.
3) The Fraternity – This newest Hip-Hop sensation comprises of a Bloemfontein-born duo namely, Muzi “Muzee” Moholo and Katlego “Sick D” Ditshidi. Though the duo was founded in 2006, it has recently resurfaced on
South Africa’s Hip-Hop scene as a force to be reckoned with.
The Fraternity is nominated in the Best Remix of the Year category for Bheka Mina Ngedwa Amplified. The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation supported The Fraternity through the last year’s Mangaung Cultural Festival where they performed.
Congratulating these Free State artists, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mrs N.S. Leeto said, “These music maestros are a beacon of hope and light for the future of all young people in the Free State province. Their successes as individuals are indicative of the fact that hard work always pays. For them, the road to where they are was never easy but today we marvel at them with a deep sense of pride.
They communicate a subliminal message to others who are still coming behind them that it is possible to achieve great success irrespective of your background. The South African music industry is indeed their oyster. I wish them all the best.”
Enquiries:
Tankiso Zola
Cell: 082 940 2392
Tel: 051 410 4742/4786/4719
E-mail: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
