The nominations for the Metro FM Music Awards were announced in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, bringing together artists, government officials, sponsors, and media to celebrate the moment.
Presenters Smash Afrika and Lamiez Holworthy hosted the festivities. After the speeches from the important stakeholders, which seemed to go on longer than necessary, the nominees were revealed.
Chart-toppers Zee Nxumalo and MaWhoo performed and had the crowd singing and dancing along.
The 2026 Metro FM Music Awards will be hosted in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on April 26.
Zee Nxumalo is tied up with music producer Sam Deep as the most nominated with seven nominations each.
Nxumalo, speaking to IOL, shared that she was honoured for the recognition, but she had mixed emotions with having “trauma” from being nominated and not winning when it comes to the awards.
Mawhoo received five nominations for her smash collaborations with Jazzworx and Thukuthela. The musician was very grateful for the recognition by the radio station and called for more collaborations.
“Competition is all over, don’t hate a person because people are comparing. Just work. We are all talented, no one can replace you, just know that you have your own shine, I have my own shine.”
Ciza is no longer a newcomer but an artist here to stay. The “Isaka” hitmaker made his artist debut at the Metro FM Music Awards in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, and even performed at the after-party concert. Now the musician has five nominations. “A year later and five nominations because of you (supporters) and God,” he said.
Mma26 Nominees
Best Gospel Album
- Xolly Mncwango - "Unusual Live / Deluxe"
- Nontokozo Mkhize - "The Live Experience"
- Musa Yende - "Sustained By Grace"
- Mmatema - "Heart Of Gratitude"
- Nothando Hlophe - "A New Dawn"
Best Jazz Album
- Mandisi Dyantyis – "Intlambululo: Ukuhlambulula"
- Judith Sephuma – "When The Winter Fades"
- Andile Yenana - "Way Out Is In"
- Benjamin Jeptha – "Homecoming Revisted"
- Siphamandla ‘Paras’ Dlamini – "Ingoma Busuku"
Best Produced Album
- Jazzworx & Thukujthela - "Most Wanted"
- Kabza De Small - "Bab Motha"
- Sam Deep - "Kings Of Kwapi"
- Kelvin Momo - "Thato Ya Modimo"
- Lwah Ndlunkulu – "Amaciko"
Best Collaboration
- Sam Deep, Nia Pearl and Boohle – "Shela"
- Jazzworx, Mawhoo & Thukuthela - "Uzizwa Kanjani"
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini and Mbuso Khoza - "You Make Me Happy"
- Mawhoo Ft Jazzworx & Thukuthela – "Bengicela"
- Goon Flavour, Master Kg and Eemoh – "Ngishutheni"
Song Of The Year
- Sam Deep, Nia Pearl and Boohle – "Shela"
- Dj Smallz – "Zep"
- Dj Maphorisa - "Abantwana Bakho"
- Mawhoo – "Bengicela"
- Khadeir – "Magumba"
- Jazzworx, Thukuthela and Mawhoo - "Uzizwa Kanjani"
- Shandesh - "Sdudla Or Slender"
- Goon Flavour and Master Kg – "Ngishutheni"
- Umafikizolo - "Uzoncengwa Unyoko"
- Ciza – "Isaka"
Best Viral Challenge
- Dj Smallz –"Zep"
- Mluucisian – "Malacosta"
- Goon Flavour – "Ngishutheni"
- Shandesh - "Sdudla Or Slender"
- Umafikizolo - "Uyoncengwa Unyoko"
Best Female
- Mawhoo
- Lordkez
- Zee Nxumalo
- Shandesh
- Lwa Ndlunkulu
Artist Of The Year
- Jazzworld and Thukuthela - "Uzizwa Kanjani"
- Sam Deep – "Shela"
- Ciza – "Isaka"
- Shandesh - "Sdudla or Slender"
- Zee Nxumalo – "Mamma"
Best Styled
- Musa Keys
- Dali Wonga
- K.O
- Vusi Nova
- Zee Nxumalo
Best Duo / Group
- Thukuthela & Jazzworx - Uzizwa Kanjani
- Dladla Mshunqisi and Beast Rsa - "Puku Puku"
- Big Zulu Ft Emtee - "Abazazi Bafunani"
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo - "You Make Me Happy"
- Goon Flavour, Master Kg and Eemoh – "Ngishutheni"
Best R&B Song
- Lordkez - "Aweh"
- Manana - "Little Things"
- Naledi Aphiwe - "Come Duze"
- Lloyiso - "High/Higher"
- Langa Mavuso – "Dangerous"
Best Maskandi
- Umafikizolo - "Uzoncengwa Unyoko"
- Simonofu - "Sajola Kamnandi"
- Mzukulu - "Ubu Ghost Bami"
- Khuzani - "Umanikinikana"
- Siya Ntuli - "Amaphiko"
Best Male
- Sam Deep
- Ciza
- Kabza De Smal
- Kelvin Momo
- Maphorisa
Best Hip Hop
- Stogie T - "Four Horseman"
- Yanga Chief - "What If"
- Big Zulu - "Abazazi Bafunani"
- Makwa Ft Kwesta - "Umguzumbane We Summer"
- K.O - "Supa Nova"
Best Dance
- Mawhoo – "Bengicela"
- Khadier – "Magumba"
- Ciza – "Isaka"
- Jazzworx, Thukuthela and Babalwa M – "Uvalo"
- Jazzworx, Thukuthela and Mawhoo - "Uzizwa Kanjani"
Best Music Video
- Zee Nxumalo – "Mamma"
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo - "You Make Me Happy"
- Lordkez – "Aweh"
- Sam Deep – "Shela"
- Ciza – "Isaka"
Best Lekompo
- Janesh – Ngwanaka
- Kharishma - "Wa Inama"
- Shandesh - "Sdudla Or Slender"
- Shebeshxt - "Rato Laka"
- Mvzzle - "Leskandi 2.0"
Best Amapiano
- Sam Deep – "Shela"
- Dj Maphorisa - "Abantwana Bakho"
- Dj Maphorisa - "Dlala Ka Yona"
- Dj Jaivane – "Lutho"
- Kabza De Small - "Ngiyozama"
Best Kwaito / Gqom
- Dladla Mshunqisi and Beast Rsa - "Puku Puku"
- Dj Lag – "Ngyasindelwa"
- Dj Tira – "Awungazi"
- Kamo Mphela – "Partii"
- Bello B – "Dubai"
Best Jazz Album
- Mandisi Dyantyis – :"Amyoli"
- Judith Sephuma - "Back 2 Love"
- Andile Yenana - "Way Out Is In"
- Benjamin Jeptha - "The Blessings"
- Paras Sibalikhulu Dlamini – "Isiwelele"
Best African Pop
- Lwah Ndlunkulu – "Amaciko"
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo - "You Make Me Happy"
- Naledi Aphiwe - "Waiting For You"
- Mawelele - "Buya Ekhaya"
- Samthing Soweto – "Deda"
Best New Artist
- Shandesh
- Khadeir
- Kharishma
- Goon Flavour
- Nkeshemba
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