STEVE DYER SAMA30 Best Jazz RecordingSteve Dyer is a renowned South African saxophonist, flautist, composer, and cultural activist born in Pietermaritzburg in 1960. Raised in a musically rich environment—his parents favoured Western classical music, while local influences like Maskandi and kwela shaped his early soundscape—Dyer began composing music at the age of 10. He pursued formal music education at the University of Natal, earning a B Mus degree in 1981 with a focus on saxophone and flute.
In the early 1980s, Dyer refused mandatory military conscription into the South African Defence Force, leading him to relocate to Botswana. During his five-year stay, he immersed himself in the exile music scene, collaborating with prominent artists like Jonas Gwangwa and Hugh Masekela. He was instrumental in forming the band Shakawe, which delved into mbaqanga traditions.
After a brief period in the United Kingdom, Dyer settled in Zimbabwe in 1988, where he formed the group Southern Freeway. The band released two albums: Southern Freeway(1989) and Indlela yenkululeko (1992).
With the advent of South Africa’s democracy in 1993, Dyer returned to his homeland. He directed the Soweto String Quartet on international tours and founded the Southern African supergroup Mahube in 1997, which toured Southern Africa and Europe. Dyer also produced six albums for Zimbabwean icon Oliver Mtukudzi between 1998 and 2002, including the seminal Tuku Music.
As a solo artist, Dyer has released several critically acclaimed albums, such as Down South in Africa (2000), Son of the Soil (2004), Lifecycle (2006), Native Art (2007), Ubuntu Music (2012), Confluence (2014), and Genesis of a Different World (2019). His 2024 album, Enhlizweni – Song Stories from My Heartland, won the South African Music Award for Best Jazz Album.
Dyer’s work transcends performance; he has composed for film and television, collaborated with modern dance companies like Moving into Dance and Tumbuka, and conceptualised and directed numerous shows and collaborations. Notably, in 2010, he composed Rebirth, the first African concerto for soprano saxophone, orchestra, African percussion, and marimbas, which premiered in Johannesburg with an 118-piece Miagi Youth Orchestra.
A passionate advocate for cultural unity, Dyer believes that no single culture holds a monopoly on human wisdom. His projects, such as Visions of Ubuntu, celebrate African creativity and promote a positive message for shared humanity.LSteve Dyer’s contributions to music and culture have solidified his status as a pivotal figure in South African and global jazz scenes.
PRIDDY UGLY – SAMA30 Best Hip Hop AlbumPriddy Ugly, born Ricardo Moloi on April 2, 1992, in Luanda, Angola, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Raised in Meadowlands and Kempton Park, South Africa, he was introduced to hip-hop by his father through Tupac’s music. At 15, he joined the dance crew Freeze Flame and later became part of the boy band Krunk Era, which was renamed Blaque and signed with H.U.G.E Entertainment in 2007. In 2010, he signed as a solo artist with Aviator Management.
Priddy Ugly gained prominence with his mixtape The Ugly Truth in 2012 and his debut album You Don’t Know Me Yet in 2016. He later signed with Ambitiouz Entertainment in 2017 but left the label in 2020. His fourth studio album, SOIL, was released in 2021, followed by his sixth and final album, Dust, in January 2024. Dust surpassed 4 million streams on Spotify within three months, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Beyond music, Priddy Ugly is involved in various ventures and is married to South African actress and dancer Bontle Modiselle. They have a daughter together and are expecting their second child.LDJ THABI THABS – Performed at SAMA30 Nominee AnnouncementDJ Thabi Thabs, born Nompumelelo Thabisile Buthelezi, is a dynamic South African DJ and producer renowned for her contributions to the house and amapiano music scenes. Originating from Tembisa, Gauteng, she began her journey in the entertainment industry as a dancer before transitioning into DJing in 2010. Her passion for music was nurtured in a vibrant family environment, and she further honed her skills by joining a DJ society during her tertiary education.
In 2012, DJ Thabi Thabs gained significant recognition by winning the Gauteng Carnival DeeJay competition, which propelled her into the international spotlight with performances in Miami and Malawi. Her career continued to ascend as she became the first JC LeRoux Spinstress, handpicked by DJ Mo Flava, a notable figure in South Africa’s DJ community.
Beyond her performances, DJ Thabi Thabs is celebrated for her vibrant personality and unique musical ear, which have endeared her to audiences both locally and internationally. She remains a prominent figure in the South African music industry, continually breaking barriers and making a lasting impact.
Bongani Gxekwa
Soweto Sunrise News
