S/Africa: Kabza De Small, Mthunzi the biggest winners at Metro FM Awards

By Mark Ogagan

Winners for the 2024 edition of South Africa’s Metro FM Music Awards (MMAs) were announced at Mbombela Stadium, in Mpumalanga Province on Saturday, 27 April.

Amapiano artists Kabza De Small and Mthunzi (Pictured), were the biggest winners with four awards in the Best Amapiano, Song of the Year, Best Produced Album and Best Collaboration categories.

The dynamic pair’s creative partnership on the nine-track Isimo album yielded impressive results, securing them the prestigious Best Produced Album award at this year’s ceremony.

Moreover, their smash hit single ‘Imithandazo’ from the same album dominated the remaining three categories, sweeping the top honours.

Aymos followed with two wins, taking home the Best Male and Best Music Video awards for the hit single ‘Izenzo’, which he shared with Bassie from their album of the same name.

Maskandi artist and Inkabi Records signee, Lwah Ndlunkulu beat out Grammy winner Tyla and other heavyweights to win the coveted Artist of the Year award. However, she missed claiming the Best Female Artist trophy, which went to the influential Makhadzi. Other nominees in this category included Kamo Mphela, Ntokozo Mbambo, and Tyla, who received the Global Icon Award.

The Best New Artist and Best Kwaito/Gqom awards went to Nontokozo Mkhize and DJ Kotin. Oskido and Boom Shaka’s were each honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for their contribution to the music industry.

Below is the full list of winners:

Best Gospel Album

• Ntokozo Mbambo – Lavish Worship
• Jumbo – Siyabonga
• Hle – Take Heart

Best Jazz Album

• Amandla Freedom Ensemble – Oratorio Of A Forgotten Youth
• Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane – Izibongo
• Mbuso Khoza – Ifa Lomkhono
• Bokani Dyer – Radio Sechaba
• Vusi Mahlasela – Umoya: Embracing The Human Spirit

Best Produced Album

• Isimo – Kabza De small & Mthunzi
• Sgudi Snyc – De Mthuda & Da Muziqal Chef
• Permanent Music 3 – Dlala Thukzin
• Ukhamba – Inkabi Zezwe
• Kurhula – Kelvin Momo

Best Collaboration

• Kabza De small & Mthunzi – ‘Imithandazo’ ft. DJ Maphorisa, Young Stunna, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush
• DJ KENT – ‘Horns in the Sun (Thakzin remix)’ ft. Thakzin, Brenden Praise, Mo T and Morda
• Inkabi Zezwe – ‘Umbayimbayi’
• Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ ft. Tumelo ZA, Dj Maphorisa: Nandipha808, CeekaRSA and Tyrondee
• Mellow & Sleazy – ‘Imnandi Lento’ ft. Tman Xpress, SjavasDaDJ and TitoM

Song of the Year

• ‘Imithandazo’ – Kabza De small & Mthunzi ft. DJ Maphorisa, Young Stunna, Sizwe Alkaline and Umthakathi Kush
• ‘Yes God’ – Oscar Mbo & KG Smallz ft. Dearson, Morda, Mhaw keys (Mhaw keys remix)
• ‘Horns in the Sun’ –  DJ KENT ft. MoT, Brenden Praise, Morda, Thakzin (Thakzin remix)
• ‘Dalie’ – Kamo Mphela ft. Baby S.O.N, Tyler ICU & Khalil Harrison
• ‘Water’ – Tyla
• ‘iPlan’ – Dlala Thukzin ft. Zaba & Sykes
• ‘Mnike’ – Tyler ICU ft. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, CeekaRSA and Tyrondee
• ‘Izenzo’ – Bassie & Aymos ft. T-Man SA
• ‘Sgudi Snyc’ – De Mthuda & Da Muziqal Chef ft. Eemoh & Sipho Magudulela
• ‘Masithokoze’ – DJ Stokie ft. Eemoh

Artist of the Year

• Lwah Ndlunkulu
• Tyla
• Oscar Mbo
• Tyler ICU
• Morda

Best Viral Challenge

• TitoM & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala’ Bam ft. S.N.E & EeQue
• Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ ft. Tumelo ZA, Dj Maphorisa: Nandipha808; CeekaRSA; Tyrondee
• Tyla – ‘Water’
• Kamo Mphela – ‘Dalie’ ft. Baby S.O.N, Tyler ICU & Khalil Harrison
• Tebza De DJ – ‘Ka Valungu’ ft. DJ Nomza The King

Best New Artist

• Nontokozo Mkhize
• Harry Cane
• Sykes
• Robin Fassie
• Shakes & Les

Best Duo/Group

• Thee Legacy
• De Mthuda & Da Muziqal Chef
• Inkabi Zezwe
• Mellow & Sleazy
• Tito M & Yuppe

Best Dance

• Zakes Bantwini – ‘Mama Thula’ ft. Skye Wanda, Thakzin & Suffocate SA
• DJ KENT – ‘Horns in the Sun’ ft. MoT; Brenden Praise; Morda; Thakzin (Thakzin remix)
• Dlala Thukzin – ‘iPlan’ ft. Zaba & Sykes
• Heavy-K – ‘Ulele’ ft. Samthing Soweto, Thakzin & Professor
• MORDA – ‘Burning’ Bush ft. Thakzin & Ihhashi Elimhlophe

Best Kwaito/Gqom

• ‘Hello’ – DJ Kotin ft. Big Nuz, Mshayi & Mr Thela
• ‘Hade Boss’ – DJ Lag & Mr Nation Thingz ft. K.C Driller
• ‘Sisestyleni Babies’ – SYKES ft. Skillz & RudeBoyz

Best Hip Hop

• ‘Ving Rhames’ – A-REECE
• ‘018’ – Cassper Nyovest ft. Maglera Doe Boy
• ‘Prosper In Peace’ – Nasty C ft. Benny The Butcher
• ‘Khuliyano’ – Khuli Chana
• ‘Solo’ – DA LES ft. Manu World Star, Gemini Major, & NAVIO

Best African Pop

• Bongeziwe Mabandla – ’Amaxesha’
• Inkabi Zezwe – ‘Ukhamba’
• Lwa Ndlunkulu – ‘Imizwa’
• Nomfundo Moh – ‘Ugcobo’
• Zonke – ‘Embo’

Best Amapiano

• ‘Imithandazo’ – Kabza De small & Mthunzi ft. DJ Maphorisa, Young Stunna, Sizwe Alakine and Umthakathi Kush
• ‘Sgudi Snyc’ – De Mthuda & Da Muziqal Chef ft. Eemoh & Sipho Magudulela
• ‘Imnandi Lento’ – Mellow & Sleazy ft. Tman Xpress; SjavasDaDj; TitoM
• ‘Mnike’ – Tyler ICU ft. Tumelo ZA, DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, CeekaRSA and Tyrondee
• ‘Awukhuzeki’ – DJ Stokie ft. Omit ST, Sobzeen and Zee_nhle

Best Music Video

• ‘Izenzo’ – Bassie & Aymos ft. T-Man SA
• Sgudi Snyc’ – De Mthuda & Da Muziqal Chef ft. Eemoh & Sipho Magudulela
• Tyla – ‘Water’
• ‘Dalie’ – Kamo Mphela ft. Baby S.O.N, Tyler ICU & Khalil Harrison
• ‘IN 2 U’ – Mthandazo Gatya

Best Male

• Aymos
• De Mthuda
• Kelvin Momo
• Morda
• Kabza de Small

Best Styled

• Oscar Mbo
• Zakes Bantwini
• Morda
• Dbn Gogo
• Musa Keys

Best R&B

• Mthandazo Gatya – ‘N 2 U’
• Filah Lah Lah – ‘Call Me’
• Nanette & Blxckie ft. BGRZ  – ‘Talk 2 Me’
• Tyla – ‘Water’
• Nontokozo Mkhize ft. Nomfundo Moh – ‘Lu Strong’

Best Female

• Makhadzi
• Kamo Mphela
• Ntokozo Mbambo
• Tyla
• Lwah Ndlunkulu

Global Icon Award

• Tyla

Lifetime Achievement Award

• DJ Oskido
• Boom Shaka