The 31st South African Music Awards (SAMA31) delivered a night of triumph, legacy and debate when the ceremony took place at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg on Saturday, December 13, 2025, broadcast live on SABC1 and SABC Plus.
While the event crowned standout bodies of work across genres, it also sharpened focus on another cultural flashpoint: the highly anticipated and hotly contested Song of the Year build-up now gripping radio, streaming platforms and social media.
Big wins that defined SAMA31
Two names towered above the night’s honours. Goldmax emerged as Male Artist of the Year, while his album ‘Play At Your Own’ Risk secured the coveted Album of the Year title, reinforcing Gqom’s continued mainstream power.
Equally commanding was Thandiswa Mazwai, the most decorated artist of the evening. Her album ‘Sankofa‘ swept multiple categories, including Female Artist of the Year, Best Engineered Album, Best Produced Album and Best African Adult Contemporary Album — a masterclass in intention, craft and cultural return.
Other headline wins reflected the breadth of South Africa’s soundscape. Black Motion took Duo or Group of the Year and Best Collaboration for ‘Takala‘ , while Kelvin Momo’s ‘Ntsako‘ earned Best Amapiano Album. Hip hop found its champion in 25K, Maskandi in Khuzani, and jazz in Peter Auret — a reminder that the SAMAs remain a barometer of artistic depth rather than viral heat alone.
As awards are handed out, the Song of the Year war intensifies
Yet even as trophies were lifted, the national conversation has pivoted toward a different prize — one decided not by panels but by the public. The annual Song of the Year countdowns, led by stations such as Ukhozi FM, have become December’s most emotionally charged cultural ritual, with songs competing to soundtrack the final seconds before the new year.
The tension follows the precedent set in 2024, when ‘Biri Marung‘ dominated radio votes across the country, including Metro FM and YFM. That phenomenon is unpacked in our background explainer on how South Africans voted in the 2024 Song of the Year.
This year’s build-up is even more complex. Ukhozi FM has unveiled its Top 10 finalists under a revised voting system, notably excluding Maskandi heavyweights Khuzani and Mthandeni after years of controversy. The result is a more open — and unpredictable — race, with strong early sentiment rallying behind ‘Uzoncengwa Unyoko‘ by Umafikizolo.
The shortlist arrives amid a wider national debate already shaped by major platforms like the Metro FM Music Awards (MMA) 2025. There, Woodblock DJs claimed Song of the Year for their viral ‘Skuta Baba‘ remix — also winning Best Viral Challenge — highlighting how audience momentum and digital culture are increasingly deciding South Africa’s biggest hits. A full MMA 2025 winners breakdown is available here.
Local excellence, global momentum
The SAMA31 moment also arrives as South African artists continue to expand their global footprint. Rising international recognition for stars like Tyla, now part of the 2026 Grammy conversation and successes, underscores how local success increasingly feeds global relevance, as explored in our coverage of her 2026 Grammy race here.
At the same time, amapiano’s global dominance continues through chart-topping releases from figures such as Kabza De Small, whose latest album ‘Bab’Motha‘ has surged across international streaming charts, reinforcing South Africa’s growing influence on the world stage — a trajectory we unpack in our in-depth feature on the project’s global impact.
These developments mirror wider international trends, where songs — not albums — increasingly drive cultural moments, as seen in Kendrick Lamar’s recent Song of the Year triumph at the Grammys, analysed here.
A defining moment for the 2025 music season
The contrast is striking: the SAMAs reward longevity, cohesion and artistic vision, while Song of the Year battles reflect immediacy, emotion and public power. Together, they form a complete picture of South Africa’s music ecosystem — one rooted in heritage yet driven by mass participation.
With voting now open open and radio countdowns gaining pace, one question dominates the national conversation: which song will ultimately define the sound of 2025? And does that crown carry more cultural weight than the industry’s highest honours?
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