THE road to 22nd Edition of National Arts Merit Awards or simply the NAMAs began in earnest with the recent announcement of nominees, with musician Saintfloew is dominating the music category.
The Bipolar hitmaker got three nods for People’s Choice Award, Outstanding Song for One by One that also features Julian King and Outstanding Male Musician. Mbida D, who won big at last year’s 100 Sound Clash held at City Sports Centre in Harare, is in the running for the Outstanding Newcomer accolade together with Kinah the Music (Shekinah Nathan Ndlovu) and Bagga Maga.
The NAMAs will be held in Bulawayo at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair hall number 3 on 24 February 2024.
This not the first time the NAMAs have been held in the City of Kings as two other previous editions were held at the City Hall.
This year’s edition will be held under the theme #kwan22 (KwaNtuthu).
The awards are one of the Culture Fund’s projects funded by the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe.
CreativeACTIONS2 aims at complementing national development priorities by funding innovative artistic and cultural expression, empowering civil society, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, and providing training and skills development programmes for arts and culture practitioners.
The project was launched in January 2023 with a focus on nurturing and empowering Zimbabwean artists and cultural practitioners across a spectrum of disciplines, encompassing music, dance, theatre, literary arts, and fashion.
Napoleon Nyanhi, the director of Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation, who are managing the NAMA event, promised arts lovers a thrilling night in Bulawayo.
The NAMAs are aimed at honouring Zimbabwean artists in various disciplines such as visual, theatre, dance, literary works and music. The celebrations have been marked by pomp and fanfare as the red carpet is rolled out to guests and nominees.
Organised by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the NAMAs add value to the performing arts as they are the highest recognition in the nation.
The 22nd edition NAMA nominees’ full list:
1. DANCE AWARDS
Outstanding Female Dancer
Ellain Ncube in the Chronicles
Deborah Kabongo in Fame in a Frame
Vannessa Nyoni in Street Battles
Outstanding Male Dancer
Tichaona Chikara in The Hero
Sean Mambwere in The Chronicles
Terence Kapesa in A man from Bulawayo
Outstanding Dance Group
Elysium Magna Dance Theatre – Ndabaningi Sithole
Guruve Marimba Arts Ensemble – Dinhe
Salt and Light – The Chronicles
Outstanding Dance Choreographer
Deborah Kabongo – Fame in a Frame
Terence Kapesa – A man from Bulawayo-Saint Floew
Sean Mambwere – Salt and Light/ See me
2. VISUAL ARTS AWARDS
Outstanding 2-Dimensional Work
My daughter by Crystal Vimbanashe Beseni
Shiriyabvutarekeni by Sea Mpetwa
Wire Car by Christwish Mulunga
Outstanding 3-Dimensional Work
Cultural Dancer by Chenjerai Chiripanyanga
Humility by Previledge Garade
Charging Gorilla by Ray Chataira
Outstanding Mixed Media Work
What’s Next by Fizani Nkomo
Scaffolding on Site by Ishmael Maririrofa
Dhunamutuna by Tawanda Takura
Outstanding Exhibition
Katundu katurikwa – (Solo Exhibition at National Gallery of Zimbabwe –
Harare: curated by Zvikomborero F. Mandangu)
Pamoyo Sihlengeni – (Solo Exhibition at National Gallery of
Zimbabwe –
Bulawayo: curated by Doris Kamupira)
Connections – (group exhibition at National Gallery of
Zimbabwe – Bulawayo: curated by Hajee Ismail Mposa, Sinqobile Shamie
Dube and Doris Kamupira
3. SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
Outstanding Poet
Ngonidzashe Paradza aka Mambo
Guramatunhu
Shanay Wood
Chioniso Tsikisayi
Outstanding Comedian
(None)
Outstanding Social Media Skit
Admire Takudzwa Mushambi aka Mama Vee
Theophilus Chigumira aka Astra632 Mai Kirifodhi
Kudzayi Chengedza aka Mbuya
VaPiyasoni
4. MEDIA AWARD
Outstanding Journalist – Print
Sharon Zebra-Alpha Media
Sindiso Dube –Alpha Media
Mthabisi Tshuma-Chronicle
Outstanding Journalist – Radio
MisRed – ZiFM Stereo
KVG – Star FM
Chamvary – ZiFM stereo
Outstanding Journalist – Television
Collete Musanyera – ZTV
Mr Dobbie – NRTV
Outstanding Online Media
Khumbulani Muleya – Heart and Soul
Plot Mhako – Earground
Jonathan Mbiriyamveka – Gem Nation
5. THEATRE AWARDS
Outstanding Actor
Farirai Clarence Borerwe as Augustine in Beautiful Men
Douglas Bramsen as Jafar in Aladdin
Dean Jones as Lago in Aladdin
Outstanding Actress
Charmaine Mujeri as Faith Nehura in Zuva Crumbling
Musawenkosi Sibanda as ALL MOTHER: We are One WINNER in
Simunye
Nosizo Gumede as Runyararo in I am/was Marah
Outstanding Theatrical Production
Simunye We are One directed by Mongi Wekhaya Mthombeni produced
by Shearwater
I am/was Marah directed by Llyod Nyikadzino Zimbabwe Theatre Academy
Zuva Crumbling directed by Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi
Outstanding Director
Sandy Bradrick for Aladdin
Llyod Nyikadzino for I am/was Marah
Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi for Zuva Crumbling and Beautiful Men
6. LITERARY AWARDS
Outstanding First Creative Published Work
The Train House on Lobengula Street by Fatima Kara
A Somber graveyard Tale by
Christopher Madala
UQondisile MaKhumalo by Kephas Sibanda
Outstanding Children’s Book
Sloba and the Crocodile Tears by Martin Chayambuka
A day in the park by Audrey Chirenje
The Haunted Pumkin by Mai Sarungano Folktales
Outstanding Fiction book
Whatever happened to Rick Astley by Bryony Rheam
The Magic and Masala by Violette Kee-Tui
UKhethiwe by Zibusiso Mabonisa
Outstanding Poetry Book
Looking for mother by Nkosiyazi Kan Kanjiri
Shamhu yezera renyu by Memory Chirere
Tesserae: A mosaic of poems by Zimbabwean Women compiled and
edited by Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure and Marian Christie
7. FILM & TELEVISION AWARD
Outstanding Actor
Everson K Chieza as Jabulani in the November Promise
Alex Ayanda Marova as Sgora in High School Diary
Felix Machingambi as Comrade in Comrade
Outstanding Actress
Auxillia Mucharevei as Nomsa in Destiny
Munashe Goromonzi as Tsitsi in The November Promise
Bonakele Agnes Ncube as Dudu in High School Diary
Outstanding Music Video
Famba – Anita Jakson Directed by Taurai Zidya
Harare to Mutare – Shingai ft Bryan K – Directed by Jonathan Samukange
Damage – Tahle wedzinza – Directed by Jonathan Samukange
Outstanding Screen Production
(Television)
The November Promise – Derby Bheta
High School Diary – John Mabuyane
DNA Show Episode Isaiah – Tinashe Mugabe
Butsu na Shatireki – Johanes Machingauta
Outstanding Screen Production (short length film)
Maoko akandirera by Tinashe Dhorobeni
Daughter of the soil by Derrick Manieca
A few dollars more by Jabu Mudzvova
Outstanding Screen Production (full length film)
White yet Black by Steve Chikosi
Comrade by Stephen Mutsago & Abel Silungwe
8. MUSIC AWARDS
Outstanding Newcomer
Mbida-D
Kinah the Music (Shekinah Nathan Ndlovu)
Bagga Maga
Outstanding Female Musician
Vuyo Brown
Feli Nandi
Janet Manyowa
Outstanding Male Musician
Saintfloew
Msiz’Kay
Enzo Ishall
Outstanding Song
One by One by Saintfloew and Julian King
Bhebhi Rako Raroorwa by Enzo Ishall
Chiremerera by Jah Prayzah
Outstanding Album
Joyful Praise Choir – Season 4 Jesus
Jah Prayzah – Chiremerera
Freeman – Trophy
9. SPECIAL AWARDS
Promoter of the Year
Prunella Investments
Xmo Squad
Stratosphere Events
Chipaz Promotions
Artist in the Diaspora
Learnmore Jonasi Mwanyenyeka aka Long John (Stand Up Comedy)
based in the USA
Wiina Musamati (Theatre) based in the UK
Virginia Chihota (Visual Artist) based in New York, America
Ernest Ndlovu (Film and Television Actor) South Africa
Masimba Hwati (Visual Artist) based in Vienna, Austria
People’s Choice Award
Holy Ten (Mukudzei Chitsama)
Voltz JT (Nkosinathi Sibiya)
Saintfloew (Tawanda Mambo)
Mai Khirifordhi (Theophilus Chigumira)
Winky D (Wallace Chirimuko).
