THE South African Traditional Music Achievements Awards (Satmas) rocked by a lack of funding.
The top awards that have been recognising outstanding talent in traditional music nationally for 19 years have been forced to postpone this year's nominees' announcement due to funding issues.
A few months ago, the awards founded by Dumisani Goba, requested the public to choose this year's nominees to be crowned during this year's awarding ceremony that was set to be held at eMkhosini Royal Sun Resort & Spa in KZN on 13 December 2025.
The nominees' announcement was meant to take place on Saturday, 27 September 2025, but due to a lack of funding it has been canned to an unknown date.
It is unclear if the main event will also happen in December.
This year, the awards were set to be special and celebrate 20 years of recognising traditional music talent.
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The awards spokeswoman Keletso Dlamini told Daily Sun the Satmas board had a meeting on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, to discuss challenges faced around the funding of the 20th annual Satmas and took a decision to delay the announcement of the nominees.
"We will not announce nominees as scheduled due to funding delays. The Satams office will communicate the next date on which the announcement of the nominees will take place.
"Subsequent to the announcement of nominees, the date of the main event will also be set. The postponement is happening for the first time in the history of the Satmas in almost two decades," he said.
Many musicians, including maskandi star Khuzani Mpungose and top radio presenters who present traditional music Tshatha Ngobe and Bingelela Mpanza of Ukhozi FM, and Gudla Bangi and late Saba Mbixane of Umhlobo Wenene, have been part of the awards over the years.
The awards started in Durban many years ago and moved to the Eastern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and recently back to Durban.
