The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) is turning up the heat this Women’s Month with a nominee reveal worthy of the nation’s biggest music stage. The 31st Annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs) will officially announce its glittering list of nominees in a live-streamed event on 28 August 2025, from 18h00-19h30, broadcast exclusively on the SAMA YouTube channel and social media platforms.
And make no mistake – this isn’t just a list drop. It’s a chart-topping showcase, curated with the star power, style, and swagger that only the SAMAs can deliver. Revellers can expect a genre-bending line-up of legends and fresh fire from Priddy Ugly – the lyrical powerhouse and reigning Best Hip Hop Album champ, bringing bars sharper than a diamond cut to Steve Dyer the jazz royalty, a composer since the age of 10 and last year’s Best Jazz Album winner, ready to prove why he’s still the maestro of improvisation and grand finale by DJ Thabi Thabs – the blazing new kid on the block, from spinning at the SAMA30 Nominee Announcement to igniting the official after-party. Proof that the future of music is already here, and it’s got a beat you can’t ignore.
Guiding audiences through this one-hour spectacle are two dynamite hosts: Letuka Dlamini, razor-sharp and quick-witted, and Zama Naomi, the effortlessly magnetic actor, presenter, social media darling, and DJ. Together, they’ll keep the night flowing like a hit single on repeat.
DiscoverTV, the producers of the event, have assembled an all-female leadership team, with Bokang Phalane as director, Simphiwe Ndhlebe as production manager, Daniela Dell Acqua as producer, and Siphesihle Nduli as director of photography, while Risa has appointed Unathi Gwija as the spokesperson for the SAMAs.
“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’s 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,” said Nhlanhla Sibisi, RiSA CEO.
Sibisi added: “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”.
Backed by powerhouse partners – Motsepe Foundation, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA), Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), YouTube, Composers, Authors and Publishers Association (CAPASSO), with SABC as media partner – the SAMAs remain the gold standard of South African music, amplifying diverse voices, fuelling inclusivity across genres, and championing the nation’s vibrant music ecosystem.
Get your popcorn, charge your Wi-Fi, and clear your schedule: 28 August 2025 is your front-row seat to the SAMA31 nominee reveal. This is the overture to the biggest night in South African music, wrapped in the spirit of Women’s Month. Because when women rise, music soars.
As Sibisi concluded: “The 90-minute show promises to be high-octane, high-energy, and will finally unveil the stars nominated across 38 categories. This is not just news – it’s the prelude to history in the making.”
SAMA31 CHAMPIONS
STEVE DYER SAMA30 Best Jazz Recording
Steve Dyer is a renowned South African saxophonist, flautist, composer, and cultural activist born in Pietermaritzburg in 1960. Raised in a musically rich environment—his parents favoured Western classical music, while local influences like Maskandi and kwela shaped his early soundscape—Dyer began composing music at the age of 10. He pursued formal music education at the University of Natal, earning a B Mus degree in 1981 with a focus on saxophone and flute.
In the early 1980s, Dyer refused mandatory military conscription into the South African Defence Force, leading him to relocate to Botswana. During his five-year stay, he immersed himself in the exile music scene, collaborating with prominent artists like Jonas Gwangwa and Hugh Masekela. He was instrumental in forming the band Shakawe, which delved into mbaqanga traditions.
After a brief period in the United Kingdom, Dyer settled in Zimbabwe in 1988, where he formed the group Southern Freeway. The band released two albums: Southern Freeway(1989) and Indlela yenkululeko (1992).
With the advent of South Africa’s democracy in 1993, Dyer returned to his homeland. He directed the Soweto String Quartet on international tours and founded the Southern African supergroup Mahube in 1997, which toured Southern Africa and Europe. Dyer also produced six albums for Zimbabwean icon Oliver Mtukudzi between 1998 and 2002, including the seminal Tuku Music.
As a solo artist, Dyer has released several critically acclaimed albums, such as Down South in Africa (2000), Son of the Soil (2004), Lifecycle (2006), Native Art (2007), Ubuntu Music (2012), Confluence (2014), and Genesis of a Different World (2019). His 2024 album, Enhlizweni – Song Stories from My Heartland, won the South African Music Award for Best Jazz Album.
Dyer’s work transcends performance; he has composed for film and television, collaborated with modern dance companies like Moving into Dance and Tumbuka, and conceptualised and directed numerous shows and collaborations. Notably, in 2010, he composed Rebirth, the first African concerto for soprano saxophone, orchestra, African percussion, and marimbas, which premiered in Johannesburg with an 118-piece Miagi Youth Orchestra.
A passionate advocate for cultural unity, Dyer believes that no single culture holds a monopoly on human wisdom. His projects, such as Visions of Ubuntu, celebrate African creativity and promote a positive message for shared humanity.
Steve Dyer’s contributions to music and culture have solidified his status as a pivotal figure in South African and global jazz scenes.
PRIDDY UGLY – SAMA30 Best Hip Hop Album
Priddy Ugly, born Ricardo Moloi on April 2, 1992, in Luanda, Angola, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Raised in Meadowlands and Kempton Park, South Africa, he was introduced to hip-hop by his father through Tupac’s music. At 15, he joined the dance crew Freeze Flame and later became part of the boy band Krunk Era, which was renamed Blaque and signed with H.U.G.E Entertainment in 2007. In 2010, he signed as a solo artist with Aviator Management.
Priddy Ugly gained prominence with his mixtape The Ugly Truth in 2012 and his debut album You Don’t Know Me Yet in 2016. He later signed with Ambitiouz Entertainment in 2017 but left the label in 2020. His fourth studio album, SOIL, was released in 2021, followed by his sixth and final album, Dust, in January 2024. Dust surpassed 4 million streams on Spotify within three months, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Beyond music, Priddy Ugly is involved in various ventures and is married to South African actress and dancer Bontle Modiselle. They have a daughter together and are expecting their second child.
DJ THABI THABS – Performed at SAMA30 Nominee Announcement
DJ Thabi Thabs, born Nompumelelo Thabisile Buthelezi, is a dynamic South African DJ and producer renowned for her contributions to the house and amapiano music scenes. Originating from Tembisa, Gauteng, she began her journey in the entertainment industry as a dancer before transitioning into DJing in 2010. Her passion for music was nurtured in a vibrant family environment, and she further honed her skills by joining a DJ society during her tertiary education.
In 2012, DJ Thabi Thabs gained significant recognition by winning the Gauteng Carnival DeeJay competition, which propelled her into the international spotlight with performances in Miami and Malawi. Her career continued to ascend as she became the first JC LeRoux Spinstress, handpicked by DJ Mo Flava, a notable figure in South Africa’s DJ community.
Beyond her performances, DJ Thabi Thabs is celebrated for her vibrant personality and unique musical ear, which have endeared her to audiences both locally and internationally. She remains a prominent figure in the South African music industry, continually breaking barriers and making a lasting impact.