The SAMA Awards took place on the 28 August 2022 at 8:00 pm SAST at Sun City Resort. The awards were filled with excitement and anticipant nominees.
South African gospel artist, King D Music was nominated for the BEST CONTEMPORARY FAITH MUSIC ALBUM award alongside Thabelo, Pulane Maphari, Lauren Cullen and Ncebakazi Msomi. As anticipation rose in the room, the winner for this category was announced to be Pulane Maphari, for her album Sacrificial Worship (live).
Several weeks after the SAMA’s a twist of events has occurred. On Tuesday evening, it was confirmed by the South African Music Awards (SAMA) that her award has been revoked. “It has come to the attention of the office that Maphari repackaged, renamed and paraded an album she released in 2020 as a new body of work and submitted it for 2021 consideration with the same track listing,” the organisers said in a statement.
According to the statement, Pulane Maphari violated the general rules: eligibility for entry: clause 5.1 of the awards qualification criteria, which states, “an album must contain not less than four tracks of previously unreleased recorded performances (remixes are excluded)”. Clause 5.2 says 50% of the album must feature different and previously unreleased sound recordings by the artist or group entered (in other words, no re-released albums or “best of” or “greatest-hits” compilations and the like).”
The artist has been further disqualified from entering the competition in the future and additionally, the SAMA project team has been suspended and is undergoing instituted internal disciplinary processes.
“The integrity of the SAMA is of the utmost importance. We take seriously any complaint we receive regarding how the winners are chosen and the conduct of our office and the panel of judges. We are looking at a total overhaul of the SAMA structure, systems and processes. The SAMAs must be artist-driven and focused,” says Risa CEO, Nhlanhla Sibisi.
The SAMA Award for BEST CONTEMPORARY FAITH MUSIC ALBUM has now been awarded to Kind D Music whose votes were the second highest in the category for his Album, Denga.