Sizwe Dhlomo Sets The Record Straight After Rashid Kay’s SAMAs Scheduling Take
Sizwe Dhlomo Sets The Record Straight After Rashid Kay’s SAMAs Scheduling Take. South African media personality Sizwe Dhlomo has stepped into the debate around the scheduling of the South African Music Awards (SAMAs), correcting hip-hop figure Rashid Kay after he claimed that major international awards shows avoid weekends because artists would rather take paid bookings.
Kay sparked the conversation on X on Sunday when he questioned the decision to hold awards ceremonies on dates that could clash with artists’ performance opportunities.
“The Grammys, the BETs and the Billboard Awards are never hosted on a weekend cos artists are booked. No one will sacrifice a booking fee for an award ceremony (where a win is not even guaranteed),” Rashid Kay posted.
But Dhlomo was quick to challenge the claim, pointing out that at least two of the major awards shows Kay mentioned are, in fact, traditionally Sunday events.
“What are you talking about? Lol! Grammys & BETs are on a Sunday bruh,” Sizwe Dhlomo responded.
Kay appeared to acknowledge the mistake shortly afterwards, replying, “My bad but…”, leaving the wider debate around awards scheduling open.
The calendar backs Dhlomo’s correction. The Grammy Awards have traditionally taken place on Sundays; the 2025 and 2026 ceremonies fell on Sundays, and the 2027 ceremony is also scheduled for a Sunday. The BET Awards have likewise been held on Sundays in recent years, including the 2026 ceremony.
The Billboard Music Awards have had a more varied scheduling history, making the broader claim less straightforward.
The exchange comes as questions continue to swirl around how South African awards ceremonies can attract and retain top artists, particularly when major performers can earn significant fees from bookings on the same night.
Dhlomo later added another layer to the conversation, suggesting that the issue may not simply be about scheduling. Some artists, he noted, may no longer place the same level of importance on awards that they once did.
What started as a criticism of the SAMAs’ timing quickly turned into a public fact-check, with Dhlomo reminding the industry that even the biggest awards shows in the world can happily take over a Sunday.
