CHITUNGWIZA BASED artists hogged the limelight, sweeping about a fifth of the awards at the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama23) at the Hippodrome Conference Centre on Saturday.
The Outstanding Album NOP Makoni by Nkosilathi Sibiya aka Voltz JT, Outstanding Male Musician Hillary Marufu aka Master H, Outstanding Music Video Nhemamusasa by Bagga, directed by Leopold Tapiwa Vengesa aka Leoy V, Outstanding Social Media Skits by Panashe Gurende aka Moojaya, Outstanding Exhibition by Admire Kamudzengerere, Outstanding Female Dancer Celine Madziva in Respect My team and Outstanding Actress Caroline Mashingaidze Zimbizi as Tete Sabina in Family Riots are the seven out the 39 winners that could easily be identified having their roots in Chitungwiza. The rest were unevenly shared across all the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe.
The event had highly energetic and intriguing performances which resonated with the theme #Afrofuturism from the Zimbabwe national anthem which was performed by a combined choir of schoolchildren from Hartman House, Lusitania and Harare Heritage schools.
This paved the way for Fusion 5 Mangwiro who mesmerised the fans with Mumoyo Mangu, Marunje, Mangowe, Zuva, Katarina, Ndizvo Here and Munhu Wemusango, among others. Jah Prayzah and the 3rd Generation band sealed it off with a series of hits after the awards ceremony which had several scintillating performances at intervals from Hwinza, Nisha Ts, Oriyano, Shashl, Atenda Chinx, Bagga, Sylent Nqo, Probeatz, Misheck Mahendere, Joyfull Praise Choir, The Choice Children’s Choir, Denilson the saxophonist and costumed dancers. Outstanding Breakthrough Musician Gift Kudakwashe Hombarume aka Chillmaster was awarded an overseas trip where he will prove his prowess at an international exhibition.
Sports, Arts and Recreation minister Kirsty Coventry said she was honoured to be associated with the Zimbabwean creative and cultural industry.
She said art was a memory bank that curated people’s joys and sorrows and accordingly the magnificent works of imagination awarded and nominated by Nama23 were a reflection of the hard work that artists in their diversity put in.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe board chairperson Nosipho Maraire said her organisation remained people-driven through a holistic approach that made decisions on authenticated research information. Maraire pointed out that the Zimbabwe National Film Strategy (2025-30), which was launched towards the end of 2024, has already yielded results, adding that the film industry would continue to be one of the major employers. She also added that Nama had awarded and nominated over 4 000 creatives who testified positively about the significance of the Nama as a national flagship event.
Nama is a programme that recognises excellence in creativity and innovation. The awards aim to stimulate artistic creativity and originality. Nama caters for artists in all disciplines across the country covering the visual arts, dance, theatre, literary arts, music, film and spoken word.
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The Nama event, which is now seasonal as it occupies the whole of February in hypes and rehearsals and the actual commemorations, is tipped to be a major cultural tourist attraction. For the past six years, Nama has been managed by the Jacaranda Culture Media Corporation, an entity of the China Zimbabwe Exchange Centre (CZEC). Steve Zhao, the chief executive officer of CZEC, said managing the globally-followed event was a journey full of challenges, adding that he would be grateful to have more sponsors coming on board.
A few of the Nama awards were received with mixed feelings while the majority was accepted with great enthusiasm. Outstanding Poet Kudakwashe Rice, Outstanding Stand-Up Comedian Mukudzei Majoni aka King Kandoro, Outstanding Screen Production (Television) The DNA Show by Tinashe Mugabe, The People’s Choice Award Winky D were received with thunderous applause and cheers. The rest had moderate cheers which is emblematic of surprises and upsets.
