As another vibrant week in African culture draws to a close, the local creative landscape is buzzing with major announcements across music, broadcasting, and live events.
This edition of African Arty Beats, Nhlanhla Mahlangu explores the national honours, international recognitions, and major media partnerships shaping South Africa’s (SA) entertainment industry.
All eyes are set on the Sun City Super Bowl in the North West province as the country prepares for the 32nd annual SA Music Awards (SAMAs). Serving as SA’s premier music recognition platform, the SAMAs celebrate artistic excellence, innovation, and cultural impact across 25 categories, including Album of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year.
This year, the Recording Industry of SA is set to honour industry legend, producer, and DJ Oskido with two of the SAMAs’ highest distinctions. Joining him in the spotlight is two-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Tyla, who will receive the International Achievement Award for her soaring global impact.
Among the nominated talent is reggae and hip-hop artist Don Dada, who earned a nod for Best Reggae Album. Marking his second nomination, the artist expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, describing a SAMA nomination as both a seal of quality and an invaluable marketing milestone that introduces an artist’s work to broader audiences. Looking ahead, Don Dada revealed that fans can expect a new double-disc album titled The Struggle and The Crown, a multi-genre project centered on themes of resilience, spiritual motivation, and unity.
In live event news, the SABC has officially stepped in as the new broadcast partner for the Delicious International Food and Music Festival. Following the conclusion of the festival’s 12-year partnership with DStv, organisers named the public broadcaster as the ideal media partner to usher in the next era of the event. The festival is set to bring its signature blend of food, music, art, and fashion to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, on April 10 and 11, 2027.
–ChannelAfrica–
