Indigenous hip hop duo A.B. Original have dominated the annual South Australian Music Awards with their provocative protest songs.

The group won six awards at a glittering ceremony at the Thebarton Theatre last night, including Best Group, but it was its controversial track January 26, that also features musician Dan Sultan, that attracted a swag of honours.

The song about changing the date of Australia's national holiday won Best Music Video and Best Song.

"It's been a very, very crazy, sobering experience to wake up to see our names and our statements being carried with such weight and people paying attention to the things we're talking about," said Adelaide-based group member Daniel "Trials" Rankine.

Rankine believes the Australia Day date will eventually be changed.

"It is inevitable, so to get out in front and take charge and show leadership on something is a crucial part of being on the right side of history," he said.

"Currently the Government we have in place is not and will not be on the right side of history and that's for them to explain to their kids.

"But what we're doing is making that message loud and clear to our kids that it ain't okay and this is what we're going to do about it."

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A.B. Original also features Victorian rapper Adam Briggs and the duo put out their debut album Reclaim Australia last year, which attracted the support of the far-right group of the same name.

"They're big on the internet and that's it, even then they followed us on Twitter for one week and got out of there real quick when they realised we weren't allies," he said laughing.

The duo is now working on its second album, as well as playing in other bands, while Briggs is also keeping busy as a comedy writer and actor.

Writing songs a way of 'freeing yourself'

Best Female Artist Tkay Maidza took to the stage for a surprise performance at the SA Music Awards. ( Supplied: Lauren Connelly )

Golden Era Records label manager Ben Martin said the chemistry between Rankine and Briggs was obvious.

"We knew the combination of Trials' producer prowess with Briggs attitude would produce something pretty special," Martin said.

"I definitely knew it was something special, but I didn't expect it to be this, reach this magnitude."

It has been a whirlwind 12 months and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon.

A.B. Original is playing on the current Midnight Oil Australian tour and has received six nominations for the ARIA Awards at the end of the month.

After that they'll get back to working on their upcoming album.

Sudanese-born rapper DyspOra took away the Best Male Artist award. ( Supplied: Lauren Connelly )

Among other awards last night Gabriel Akon, who performs as DyspOra, was named Best Male Artist.

The South Sudanese-born hip hop artist said the win was a breakthrough for his career.

"I'm exhilarated, I feel humble man — eight years into a journey, gave ourselves like a 10-year window where, you know, we really have to get something going," he said after receiving the honour.

"Just to see everything kind of work out before everybody loses hope and you're like, 'Where is this really going?' It's good to be recognised, it's a sign you know that you're doing something right."

DyspOra, a refugee from South Sudan, said his win was a career breakthrough. ( Supplied: Lauren Connelly )

Emerging international performer Tkay Maidza was named Best Female Artist.

"For me to be Best Female Artist is like a really big honour, because when you write music you never really expect to win anything and it's like a way of freeing yourself from any problems that you have in your head," Maidza said.

Among other awards last night, the Wanderers band won the Blues/Roots Award, The Bitter Darlings took out the Country Award and the Grace Emily Hotel was named Best Music Venue.