... and the NAMA Nominees are...

The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe launched the inaugural National Arts Merit Awards, popularly known as NAMA in February 2002.  The occasion of the National Arts Merit Awards is the main forum where the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe recognizes outstanding achievements in the area of Arts.

The awards bring together well-developed artistic modes, each different in its own identity.  By rewarding excelling artistes with the awards of merit, NAMA aims at stimulating more interest in the arts and raise the profile of the same. The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe considers the awards as one of the means that will stimulate and encourage creativity and quality among the arts thus putting Zimbabwean arts and culture on the international map. (NACZ)

The Women Artists who made it for the NAMA nominee selection are......

DANCE

Outstanding Female Dancer
Melany Caruthers— Titanium
Loveness Mambakwa—Bembera Arts Ensemble
Siphephiso Magonya– IYASA

THEATRE

Outstanding Actress
Rumbidzai Karize in When Angels Weep
Caroline Mashingaidze in Ten Bush
Nothando Nobengula in Wusiku and Ten Bush

Outstanding Director
Eunice Tava for Diamond's in His Son's Grave— Rooftop



VISUAL ARTS

Outstanding Exhibition

“The Cycle” by Davina Jovi
“Inhlama” by Nonhlanhla Mathe



SPOKEN WORD

Outstanding Comedian
No women comedians

Outstanding Poet

Sithandazile Dube



MUSIC

Outstanding Female Musician

Plaxedes Wenyika

Hope Masike

Cindy Munyavi

Outstanding Song
No women artists made it into this category

Outstanding Album
No women artists made it into this category



FILM AND TELEVISION

Outstanding Actress

Qeqeshiwe Mntambo in Suku

Sarah Mpofu inTshuz Mazikhethela and in Reunite

Locadia Matenga in Delete

Outstanding Music Video
No women artists made it into this category

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)

Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length film)

Suku by Gugulethu Ndlovu

Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)
No women artists made it into this category



LITERARY ARTS

Outstanding fiction Book

Taking The Lead  by Sibongile Mnkandla

Outstanding Children’s book
No women writers made it into this category

Outstanding First creative Published Work

???

MEDIA

Outstanding Journalist (Print)

Margaret Chinowaita

Outstanding Journalist (Television)
???

Outstanding Online Media

The Writers International Network

Three Men On A Boat

Zimbojam



SPECIAL AWARDS

Outstanding Promoter of the Year

C & A Entertainment

Brumat t/a Horizon Bar and Restaurant

Chipaz Promotions


The National Arts Merit Awards Ceremony will be held at Large City Hall in Bulawayo on Saturday 16 February 2013. The Culture Fund through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(Sida), awarded the NAMA awards a grant of US$15,000.00 for the ceremony in recognition of the need to reward and applaud artistic talent and good art at a national level.