SAMAs announce theme, hosts for 2025 ceremony

This year’s theme, Flowers For Those Who Keep Our Nation Singing, aims to highlight artistic contribution and longevity within the country’s music industry.

“We wanted to celebrate artists not just for their achievements, but for their courage to create,” SAMAs spokesperson Unati Gwija said. “Flowers For Those Who Keep Our Nation Singing is a call to appreciation, to give our artists their flowers now. It’s about recognising the musicians, producers, composers, and collaborators who continue to make South Africa sing, who turn struggle into sound and rhythm into resilience.”

The event will incorporate floral-inspired visual design by local creatives, reflecting growth and sustainability. According to organisers, the show will be closed to the public to support production demands, with audiences able to watch through digital platforms and a later SABC1 broadcast.

Gwija added: “We are in an age where the world watches South African music with new eyes. Flowers For Those Who Keep Our Nation Singing is our way of saying thank you to every artist who has made that possible. Whether they are household names or underground innovators, this is their bouquet – a collective standing ovation.”

This year’s awards are supported by partners including the Motsepe Foundation, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, SAMPRA, SAMRO, CAPASSO, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, YouTube and media partner SABC.

Hosts announced for SAMAs 31

The SAMAs will be hosted by writer and television presenter Siyabonga “Scoop” Ngwekazi, alongside broadcaster and digital content creator Pamela Mtanga. The pair will lead the hybrid production, described by organisers as a blend of cultural insight and contemporary energy.

Gwija said the presenters reflect the standards of the ceremony. “The SAMAs have always been a platform that honours excellence, and our presenters must embody that spirit. Makhathini and Mtanga bring a rare combination of experience, authenticity, and cultural resonance. Together they will deliver a hybrid show that is fresh, compelling, and worthy of the legacy of South African music.”

Mtanga, known for her work on Channel O’s Massive Music and her presence within youth culture and digital media, represents what organisers describe as a rising generation of South African storytellers. She holds a Media & Communications degree from Nelson Mandela University and has built a career across broadcasting, fashion influence and entrepreneurship.

Ngwekazi, who gained prominence through programmes such as Street Journal on SABC1, is recognised for his long-standing involvement in urban culture. His work extends across writing, presenting and production, and includes co-founding Parental Advisory Productions.