TikTok viral songs feature in new Sama category

TIKTOK virality has given rise to many of the biggest songs in South Africa over the past few years, with dance challenges becoming the order of the day.

For amapiano artists, the entertainment platform has become the most popular avenue for artists to push music.

Seeing this trend, the 28th South

African Music Awards (Sama28) have introduced a new public-voted category, “TikTok Viral Song of the Year”.

The award recognises and celebrates local songs and artists who have dominated the platform in South Africa in the past year.

Yuvir Pillay, TikTok’s music operations lead for sub-Saharan Africa, said in a press release that music is a special part of TikTok’s creative DNA.

“We have seen that songs going viral on the platform generally do well on streaming services as well.

“This plays an important role in the recognition of songs and artists, and influences other areas such as nominations, chart rankings and sales.”

Of the 10 songs nominated, stand out as serious contenders: 9umba, TOSS and Mdoovar’s uMlando; Abo Mvelo by Daliwonga, featuring Mellow & Sleazy and MJ; and Ch’cco & Mellow & Sleazy’s Nkao Tempela.

Nkao Tempela gave rise to the hottest challenge last year after Ch’cco introduced an infectious dance on social media that spread across the globe like wildfire.

This year uMlando exploded onto the scene when TOSS debuted a dance move in which he’d move his hips from side to side on social media and saw it go viral in a matter of days.

Similarly, Abo Mvelo blew up on TikTok well before the song’s release, after Daliwonga teased an enticing promo video of the song where he did a dance similar to that of uMlando, that had users begging him to release it.

With the Samas edging ever closer, the TikTok Viral Song of the Year nominations can be voted for exclusively on TikTok until August 24.

The winner will be announced at the live event taking place on August 28, in Sun City.