The world-renowned Urban Music Awards (UMA) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an unprecedented global expansion, launching in over 20 countries, with South Africa as the first to host the prestigious event.
Founded in 2003 in the United Kingdom, the UMA rapidly expanded into the USA in 2007, the Caribbean in 2008, and Asia in 2009. Now, with a clear mission to elevate South African music, musicians, producers, DJs, and artists to the global stage, the Urban Music Awards South Africa (UMA SA) will debut on May 4, 2025, at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria.
Bringing South African Music to the World
South Africa has long been a hotbed of musical talent. The global rise of Amapiano has demonstrated the power of South African creativity, with artists like Tyla and DJs like Black Coffee pioneering the genre. Songs like “Jerusalema” by Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode have further solidified the country’s influence in the international music scene. UMA SA seeks to amplify this impact, offering a powerful platform for South African artists to gain international recognition.
Since 1998, the UMA Academy, which boasts over 3.9 million musicians and music fans worldwide, has been instrumental in supporting hip-hop, R&B, soul, gospel, jazz, dance, house, grime, and more. The Academy was the first to introduce a fan-driven voting system, replacing traditional judging panels and allowing music lovers to decide winners.
A Global Stage for South African Artists
Founder & President of the Urban Music Awards, Jordan Kensington, commented: “The launch of UMA South Africa is more than an awards ceremony—it’s a movement to empower South African artists with the tools to brand, monetize, and transcend global audiences across Europe, Asia, North America, and the rest of Africa. South African music is vibrant, diverse, and influential, and now is the time for the world to truly embrace its talent.”The Urban Music Awards South Africa will be broadcast live to audiences worldwide via VooVix TV, a free-to-watch television streaming service with over 4.5 million subscribers. Viewers from South Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and beyond will tune in to witness the biggest celebration of African music talent. As part of UMA SA, the South Africa’s Next Superstar competition will uncover the next big name in music, offering one rising star the chance to perform live at UMA SA on May 4, 2025. This initiative underscores UMA’s commitment to fostering new talent and opening doors for South African musicians on the global stage.
Official World Charts Expanding into South Africa
UMA SA will also mark the launch of the Official World Charts in South Africa, giving local artists a direct pipeline to release music and engage with a charting system that has been in existence since 1998. This expansion will allow South African artists to compete in the global music market and gain the recognition they deserve.
Cressida Oppenheimer, Head of Global Partnerships at UMA and Official World Charts, added: “We are thrilled to expand the Urban Music Awards and Official World Charts into South Africa. This expansion is a game-changer, offering South African artists an unparalleled opportunity to succeed on a global stage. Music tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry, encompassing sales, concerts, tours, festivals, merchandise, and businesses, and our mission is to ensure South African music reaps the rewards worldwide.”
Public Voting is Now Open!
- Voting is now live until midnight on May 2, 2025.
- To vote, users must register their profile on www.telephonos.com and follow the direct link: www.telephonos.com/umavoting
- The winners will be announced live at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria on May 4, 2025.
2025 Urban Music Awards South Africa – Full Nominees List
Main Categories:
Artist of the Year (South Africa):
Best Male Act (South Africa):
Best Female Act (South Africa):
Best Newcomer:
Best Group (South Africa):
Best Collaboration:
Best Album (South Africa):
Best Amapiano Act:
Best Hip-Hop Act (South Africa):
Best Gqom Act:
Best Afro-Pop Act:
Best House Music Act:
Best R&B Act (South Africa):
Best Jazz Act (South Africa):
Best Gospel Act (South Africa):
Best Maskandi Act:
Best Reggae & Dancehall Act:
Performance & Production Categories
Best Producer (South Africa):
Best DJ (South Africa):
Best Music Video (South Africa):
Best Live Performance (South Africa):
Media & Digital Categories (South Africa)
Best Radio Station (South Africa):
Best Music Television Show:
Best Online Music Platform (South Africa):
Best Viral Breakthrough Song (South Africa):
International Artist of the Year (Africa):
Best Radio Show (South Africa):
Best International Collaboration (South Africa x Global):