All is set for 2014 NAMA awards

All is set for this year’s 13th edition of National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) to be held at Rainbow Hotel in Bulawayo this Saturday (February 15). This year’s event is running under the theme Unite, Excite and Educate Zimbabwe on its Proud Heritage and Diversity through Arts and Culture. The event will celebrate the artistry exhibited by artists from December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013 in various categories some of which include music, literature, dance, visual arts, film and television, theatre, media and the spoken word.

The adjudication process has already been completed and the nominees were officially announced by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ)’s deputy director Nicholas Moyo at a Press conference held at their offices in Harare last week.

Contemporary reggae musician Mukudzei Mukombe popularly known as Jah Prayzah is dominating in the list with the highest number of nominations featuring in four categories. His album Tsviriyo was nominated in the Outstanding Album of 2013. The Gochi Gochi hit maker has also been nominated for the outstanding Male Musician award, while two of his videos are running up for the Outstanding Music Video category. His song Tsviriyo was nominated in the Outstanding Song category.

In a statement, NACZ’s communications officer Catherine Mthombeni said 664 NAMA entries were submitted for this year’s edition with entries from all provinces as compared to last year’s 514.  “This year’s submissions included those from production houses, studios, stables, galleries, organisations, associations, groups, artistes, monitors and/or the public,” said Mthombeni.

“In all the categories there were various entries, with the music category taking a lead with 256 entries and the spoken word category being the least with 18 entries.” However, the visual arts category had 137 entries, film and television 84 entries, theatre 56 entries, dance 48 entries and literary 34 entries. Moreover, there were 31 entries in the media category.

According to NACZ, the awards ceremony would feature a series of events aimed at celebrating the diverse cultures that promote and develop positive national cultural identity and appreciate the values of patriotism and Pan-Africanism, among others.

Meanwhile, this year NACZ launched the People’s Choice National Arts Merit Awards given to an artist or arts organisation selected by members of the public through voting via an sms platform. The voting process affording members of the public an opportunity to make a choice of their own at NAMA commenced on the beginning of the month and it will run until the awards night on Saturday.

The event (NAMA awards) which the organisers had hinted to shelf this year owing to lack of funds recognises outstanding achievements within different arts genres by rewarding excelling artistes. It thrives to encourage creativity and excellence in the arts, and seek to motivate local artistes to strive for higher and original forms of creativity.

Last year, Dendera musician, Sulumani Chimbetu bagged three awards, while emerging mbira princess Hope Masike scooped the outstanding female musician award while Nothando Nobengula walked away with an award for being the outstanding actress.