The MTN South African Music Awards is turning sweet 16 this year, and befitting this momentous occasion was the electrifying Nominees Launch celebrations that took place at Taboo in Sandton on 4 March.

The evening transcended the South African music experience to another level unlike anything experienced within this glitz and glamour occasion before, setting a high standard for the Main Awards Ceremony taking place in Sun City on 16 and 17 April.

Some of Mzansi's superstars took celebrations to another level with captivating live performances, with Lira, DJ Cleo, Foto Na Dans, Brickz, Rhythmic Elements, Da L.E.S., Oskido and DJ Kent amongst the artists who entranced guests with their rhythms and award winning music and kept the party going to the early hours. But as much as it was a good excuse to get down, the real reason everyone was there was to find out who had made it onto the nominees list for the 16th Annual MTN SA Music Awards.

And here they are:

TOP 5

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Big Nuz for Undisputed
BLK JKS for After Robots
Busi Mhlongo for Amakholwa Believers
Selaelo Selota for Lapeng Laka
Teargas for Dark Or Blue

DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
AKING for Against All Odds
Big Nuz for the album Undisputed
Jaziel Brothers for The Journey
Joyous Celebration for Volume 13 Live At The Mosaiek Theatre, Johannesburg
Teargas for Dark Or Blue

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Busi Mhlongo for Amakholwa Believers
Camagwini for Emandulo
Lira for Live In Concert: A Celebration
Louise Carver for The Home Tour - Live
Thandiswa Mazwai for Ibokwe

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Dube for 16 June Commemoration Live
Black Coffee for Home Brewed
Chris Chameleon for Kyk Hoe Lyk Ons Nou
Ntando for Inqubela
Selaelo Selota for Lapeng Laka

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Culoe de Song for A Giant Leap
Kyle Shepherd for Fine ART
Solly Mahlangu for Obrigado
The South African Youth Choir for the album Birth of the Sun
Tshepo Mngoma for People And Places

MTN RECORD OF THE YEAR
Change the World - Master Jam (w/ RJ Benjamin)
Consider Me - Prime Circle
Fairytale - Liquideep
Fort Knox - Goldfish
Free - Thembi Seete
Good Music - DJ Cleo
Heartbreak Street - Jesse Clegg
I Believe - Oskido
Ingoma - Thandiswa featuring Hugh Masekela
Juju - Black Coffee featuring Zakes Bantwini
Lesson Number 1 - Rhythmic Elements
Live my Life - Winnie Khumalo
Maybe - Loyiso
Mmatswale- Malaika
Mpitse - HHP
Nka Mo Dira - Nutty Nys (w/ Abe Molamu)
Nomalanga Mntakwethu - Zuluboy
Push me to the Floor - The Parlotones
Umlilo - Big Nuz featuring Tira
We Baba - Culoe De Song featuring Busi Mhlongo