Lawrence Dubbed The Male Version Of Bonang

The 2022 South African Music Awards took place this past weekend in a 2-day affair and was met with mixed reactions from viewers. Night 1 started off in a sombre mood with little to no hype around it. But the main event, although created a buzz, failed to impress a few people.

Read more: Makhadzi Dumps The SAMAs After Messy Performance

Hosted by the talented TV host and actor Lawrence Maleka, singer Nandi Madida, comedian Mpho Popps, and singer Robot Boii, they took place at Sun City.

Out of all the hosts, Lawrence Maleka seems to have taken the spotlight with people saying he is really that good. The River actor has a few hosting gigs under his belt including Big Brother Africa and #SAMA27 with Bontle Modiselle Moloi in 2021.

The general public opinion is that Lawrence is easy on the eye and a breath of fresh air when it comes to such big events. Some even went to the point of naming him the male version of Bonang Matheba.

Here a few tweeps giving Lawrence his flowers:

Lawrence is one of the best hosts in the country !!

SAMAs #SAMA28 pic.twitter.com/fl23yLhUjO

— Hermaine M (@HermaineM) August 28, 2022

#SAMA28 Lawrence is male version of Bonang Matheba. The man does a stellar job❤️ makes look so easy and blends in with the crowd

— God's a WOMAN 😌 (@mammellohope) August 28, 2022

Lawrence Maleka cleans up nicely shame 🥺🥺😍😩Mfana ka Aunty doing what he does best on stage🔥🔥#SAMA28 #SAMAs pic.twitter.com/O50zO3EQ16

— 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐌. (@afterglowxxxx) August 28, 2022

Lawrence is the male version of Bonang, it his time to host everything on SA TV... #SAMA28 pic.twitter.com/xYmFnVdVdo

— Zanele Mokoena (@zahMokoena) August 28, 2022

Lawrence the best in everything he does🔥💯❤️.. Nandi should present Gospel Awards❤️. And there's Makhadzi guys a queen herself😍🥰.

Everthing else is dead there, sound, theme, disco, hay hay they failed dismally shame I'm embarrassed on their behalf. 🙆‍♂️😭 pic.twitter.com/clPfK4MscM

— Africa 🇿🇦💖 (@Bright_Afrika) August 28, 2022

Not at all impressed with the awards ceremony as a whole, some tweeps expressed disappointment at the hosts themselves, particularly Nandi Madida. Others said the crowd was very boring and the performances were not as good as before.

No but honestly, Nandi and Lawrence can only do so much. The crowd is dead, makes the whole thing cringe #SAMA28

— Kaluuya’s Wife ✨🧚🏽‍♀️ (@uBhekiswayo) August 28, 2022

Nandi and Lawrence are giving 'change the channel kinda vibes' they should just bring Mpho Pops.

Anyway Riky Rick once said "If this niggas pay for this awards I don't want them"

SAMAs SABC 1

— YT : Blaacko (@Blaacko_m) August 28, 2022

....Nandi is a cringe fest to watch. Such a bore. Lawrence is overrated and definitely not for a big live production shows. It a mess #SAMA28 pic.twitter.com/HudDLXkbwf

— Maverick Huzaifah (@DJMaverickZA) August 28, 2022

#SAMA28 they r overfeeding us Lawrence now, Nandi ain't giving. Performances, messy😭. Envelopes closed with superglue. Terrible speeches from the winners who cared 2 come. It gets worse by the second.... R.I.P to the SAMAs. pic.twitter.com/1D6SUknk8o

— Dedrick (@sirSelemale) August 28, 2022

Here is a list of the full winners: Chymamusique Wins Big At #SAMA28

When it was announced that he would be hosting, Lawrence said he was excited to share the stage with Nandi Madida. 

“I am again honoured to have received the call to host the country’s most prestigious awards show. I am excited about the calibre of artists that will be celebrated across 30 categories, the phenomenal performers that will ignite the stage and the magic Nandi Madida and I will create on stage. It’s going to be a memorable iteration of the South African Music Awards.”

Image credit: Instagram