Congratulations to Bongeziwe Mabandla on winning his second South African Music Award
(SAMA)!
iimini was named Best Alternative Album at the virtual ceremony on July 31st and the whole
Black Major team is thrilled that this beautiful release was recognised. We are proud to
have put this album out to the world, in what is undeniably the most challenging time for
artists. We are especially grateful to have been part of Bongeziwe’s music connecting and touching
people in so many different places and ways – at a time when the world needs it most.
As this truly gifted artist put it, “This award – and believe me I am so grateful – means
something but it’s not everything. What is everything is the true connection I have felt with
the people who discovered and supported my music over the past 18 months. And also
those people who have been there before this journey started. I see and hear you all and
wish I could write to all of you to explain what all of this means.”
True to an artist devoted to reflecting the full human condition in his music, Bongeziwe said
the SAMA came at a hard time in his creative life. “Two months on the road (in Europe)
touring with all the COVID protocols is no joke. I am tired.”
But in good news for his fans, Bongeziwe also revealed that he’s working on wrapping his
next album, adding that “a lot of questions, hopes and fears come at play when the work is
almost done”. He also underlined the continued reach of iimini through his live
performances and a series of wonderful remixes.
“Check out the remix we dropped on Friday (July 30th ) by the incredible Muzi. It is one of my favourites in the series!”.
You can listen to Muzi’s official remix of “mini esadibana ngayo” here.
This is Bongeziwe’s second SAMA. His first came when his 2017 album Mangaliso was
named Best Alternative Album at the 2018 ceremony.
