Gospel star Pulane Maphari has been stripped of her SAMA win for allegedly lying. Image via Twitter @PhilMphela
Holy lies: Gospel star stripped of SAMA win, new winner crowned
Pulane Maphari, who won a SAMA in the Best Contemporary Faith Album category last month, has been stripped of her award.
Gospel star Pulane Maphari has been stripped of her SAMA win for allegedly lying. Image via Twitter @PhilMphela
Less than a month after winning a South African Music Award (SAMA) in the Best Contemporary Faith Album category, gospel star Pulane Maphari has been stripped of her accolade.
City Press reports that according to a statement released by the SAMA organisers, the Recording Industry of SA (RiSA), on Tuesday 13 September, Maphari misled the organisation to win the award at last month’s SAMA28 event held at Sun City.
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GOSPEL MUSICIAN’S SAMA RESCINDED
In the statement, the organisers revealed that Maphari had lied about her album Sacrificial Worship (Live) being new.
“It has come to the attention of the office that Maphari repackaged, renamed and paraded an album she released in 2020 as a new body of work and submitted it for 2021 consideration with the same track-listing.
“This is in clear violation of the rules of the Sama and equals an automatic disqualification. Under general rules: eligibility for entry clause 5.1 states that an album must contain not less than four (4) tracks of previously unreleased recorded performances (Remixes are excluded).”
The organisation added that Maphari violated one of the general rules: Eligibility for entry.
“Clause 5.2 says 50% of the album must feature different and previously unreleased sound recordings by the artist or group entered (in other words, no re-released albums or ‘best of’ or ‘greatest hits’ compilations and the like).”
As a result, she has also been disqualified from entering the prestigious music awards in the future.
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NEW WINNER CROWNED
By virtue of getting the second highest votes in the Best Contemporary Faith Album category, Kingdmusic has now been crowned the winner for his album, titled Denga.
In addition, RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi has suspended the SAMA project team and instituted internal disciplinary processes.
“The integrity of the SAMA is of the utmost importance. We take seriously any complaint we receive regarding how the winners are chosen and the conduct of our office and the panel of judges. We are looking at a total overhaul of the SAMA structure, systems and processes. The SAMAs must be artist-driven and focused,” Sibisi added.
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