The lines for nominations for the ninth annual South African Traditional Music (Satma) awards were declared at a gala dinner launch at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban last Friday.

The public were invited to nominate their favourite traditional artist or group by SMS-ing their favourite artist or group and category to 34066. An SMS costs R1,50 and free SMSes do not apply.

The launch was attended by high-profile guests, including members of the executive council from both Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape. MEC Pemmy Majodini of the Department of Sports Recreation Arts and Culture in the Eastern Cape gave the assurance that her province was ready to host this year’s SATMA event.

The founder of SATMA, Dr Dumisani Goba, promised that the awards would continue to “honour and preserve our culture and heritage through its support of the arts.” He mentioned that the country's local heritage still did not receive the financial support that it required or deserved. “Musicians should be living the same profile and financial lives as their sporting counterparts, such as soccer stars,” Goba added.

He further challenged the government and associated arts and culture departments to put their financial muscles behind programmes that support the upliftment of traditional music “in its support of our culture and heritage.”

A change to the format of the voting process was unveiled by SATMA CEO Ms Nonyamezelo Sotomela.  All voting must be made from a SATMA sim card, which is a bold new initiative by SATMA to become less reliant on grants and to build towards becoming a self-sustainable operation.

Queries related to starterpacks can be sent to Siya Macanda at [email protected] and he can be contacted on 071 161 2868. Details of all registration requirements are available on the SATMA Website: www.satmaawards.co.za. There are three new categories for 2014: best vernacular local movie, most downloaded song and radio station of the year.

People were especially interested in the new platform that was presented, whereby all nominees will have their nominated song loaded onto a “mysatma website” for downloading by their fans. A percentage of the proceeds of those downloads will be given to the respective artists.

The presentation of the awards will take place over a period of two days. The first day will be the indigenous comedy show and the following categories will be awarded during the comedy show:

Best isicathamiya, best video, best poet, best newcomer, best traditional dance group, best African jazz, best praise singer, best vernacular hip hop, best mbaqanga, best Afro soul, best reggae, best female, best male, best traditional news journalist (print), best traditional news journalist (electronic), best provincial art and culture department, best vernacular local movie, best community radio DJ and best indigenous comedian.

During the second event, the main awards evening gala, prizes in the following categories will be awarded:

Best Xitsonga Album, best Tshivenda album, best Indian album, best SiSwati album, best IsiNdebele album, best SePedi album, best cultural talk show, best SeSotho album, best Boeremusiek album, best IsiXhosa album, best San album, best SeTswana album, best Maskandi album, most downloaded song, best music radio programme song of the year, best traditional DJ, best radio station and founders awards.

The nominations will close on 26 July and the nominees will be announced on 16 August at the Mmabathu Convention Centre in the North West Province. All nominees will need to register by completing a nominee application form, which is available on the website and Facebook page or can be collected from the SATMA offices.

The completed forms, together with a CD or DVD of the material, must be forwarded to the SATMA offices to confirm registration as a potential nominee. Completed forms can also be e-mailed to [email protected], with a CD or DVD sent to the SATMA offices at Old Mutual Place, 2 Torsvale Cresent, corner of  Armstrong Avenue, La Lucia Ridge, 4019.

Queries related to nominations can be sent to Sizwe Mngadi at [email protected] and he can be contacted on 060 827 9423.