THE country’s leading privately-owned publishing company, Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), scooped two gongs at the 22nd edition of the annual National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) held on Saturday at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.
AMH is the publisher of NewsDay, The Standard, Southern Eye, Zimbabwe Independent and operates an online radio and television station Heart & Soul TV (HSTV).
At the awards, held under the theme #Kwan22, AMH had three nominations. Sindiso Dube (The Standard) scooped the Outstanding Journalist Print category while HStv’s Khumbulani Muleya bagged the Outstanding Online Media gong with Sharon Zebra (NewsDay) being the finalist.
AMH has continued its dominance at the awards. Last year it was NewsDay Life & Style’s correspondent Nyadzombe Nyampenza who was adjudged the Outstanding Journalist (Print) category at the country’s premier awards.
The domination of AMH at the awards attest to the media house’s incisive news coverage of diverse arts and culture stories. AMH journalists have also performed well during the annual awards organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.
Dancehall president Winky D again proved to be the people’s favourite after winning the People’s Choice award.
Some of the award winners included Feli Nandi for Outstanding Female Artist of the Year.
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Zibusiso Mabonisa for Outstanding Book writer.
Dean Jones scooped the Outstanding Theatre Actor award.
A High School Diary by John Mabuyane scooped the Outstanding Film and Television production award.
Kinah The Music won the Outstanding Newcomer award.
Fashion reigned supreme at the glittering awards ceremony attended by artists across genres, stakeholders in the creative circles and government officials.
It was, indeed, a memorable night for the creatives and followers of showbiz matters.
The event organisers must be applauded for impressing many as unlike previous editions, they started and ended the ceremony within the scheduled time.
The host for the night Arthur Evans kept the guests in stitches with his comic interaction style alongside the popular Charlene Mangweni-Furusa who also kept the energy flowing from her booth where she did the voice of God announcements.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style on the red-carpet songbird Sandra Ndebele said: “The Namas came guns blazing Kwan22 and we are a proud host city. Besides art and culture, such events open business opportunities for the local industry as people get to sell and or at least market their ideas to the rest of the country”.
Singer Bhekiwe Dube, who gave an indelible performance alongside Msiz’kay, said performing at the Namas was incredible.
“There is so much money in the arts industry and the fact that the corporates are tapping into it to push and see the vision and invest in it means we are going higher from here.”
Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture deputy minister Emily Jesaya came short of being booed off the stage when a speech she read on behalf of her minister Kirsty Coventry took longer than expected.
She was embarrassed as people whistled and clapped loudly while laughing during her address.
Among the attendees at the ceremony was Nash Paints proprietor Tinashe Mutarisi, SaintFloew, Sandra Ndebele and retired modelling guru Sipho Mazibuko.
The guests also included Ginimbilite, renowned musician and poet Albert Nyathi, Jayz Marabini, Calvin Mangena who also performed and the Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube.
Tammy Moyo stole the limelight with a memorable performance when she took to the stage.
Guests were also entertained by an array of artistes across genres who included gospel singer Everton Mlalazi and Jiti musician Baba Harare.
