Women In Arts In Zimbabwe: January 2015

PRESS STATEMENT

29^th JANUARY 2015

The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) is happy to announce the list of the nominees for the 14^th National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) edition to be held in the capital on 14^th February 2015 at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale. After the adjudication process, the results are as follows;

LIST OF NOMINEES DANCE AWARDS

Outstanding Male Dancer

1. Stanley Wasili of Tumbuka Dance Company

2. Reuben Mlauzi of IYASA

3. McIntosh Jerahuni of Tumbuka Dance Company

Outstanding Female Dancer

1. Charlene Chimara of Dance Trust of Zimbabwe

2. Cheryl Mabaya of IYASA

3. Maylene Chenjerai of Tumbuka Dance Company

Outstanding Choreographer

1. Ketan Nagar in The Caterpillar Dance by Kinkini – The Voice of Dance

2. Sean George Mabwere in International Skrillex Remix by M &M Dance Factory

3. Richard Ndlovu in The Official opening of the African Union Sports Commission Region V Youth Games by the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture

Outstanding Dance Group

1. M &M Dance Factory

2. Dance Trust of Zimbabwe

3. IYASA

FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS

Outstanding Actor

1. Philani Nyoni in Qiniso

2. Partwell Nazvo in Prophets of Doom

3. Nash Mphepho in Dust and Fortunes

Outstanding Actress

1. Bianca Magwenzi in Tariro

2. Stella January in Dust & Fortunes

3. Nothando Nobengula in Beyond

Outstanding Screen Production - Full length film

1. Sour Milk by Melgin Tafirenyika

2. Tariro by Malon Murape

3. Dust & Fortunes by Justice Chapwanya

Outstanding Screen Production - Short Film

1. My Dream by Sheunesu Moyo

2. The Calling by Mhle Nzima

3. The Journey from Rural to Ramp by Jill Roberts and Lynette Frewin

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)

1. One Family Can by Johannes Machingauta

2. The Other Brother by Charity Mahowa-Matavo

3. Mr Perfect by Gugulethu Ndlovu

Outstanding Music Video

1. Makanika by Willard Magombedze ft. Jah Prayzah

2. Gudo Guru by Munyaradzi Nota ft. Changamire

3. Ndipe Rudo by Andy Cutta ft. Sanii Makhalima

LITERARY AWARDS

Outstanding First Creative Published Work

1. Shards written by Cynthia Marangwanda Published by Ko.Maseko Publishers

2. Revai written by Ropofadzo Mupunga Published by Zimbabwe Women Writers

3. A Struggle Alike written by Debra Vakira Published by Zimbabwe Women Writers

Outstanding Children’s Book

1. Little Hare Stories – Big Trouble at the River written by Enock Chihombori Published by Xlibris

2. Mombe Yamai written by Chenjerai Mazambani Published by Bhabhu Books

3. Around the Fire – Folktales from Zimbabwe edited by Raisedon Baya and Christopher Mlalazi Published by Multimedia Box

Outstanding Fiction Book

1. Mukoma’s Marriage and Other Stories written by Emmanuel Sigauke Published by Booklove Publishers

2. Bhuku Risina Basa Nokuti Rakanyorwa Masikati written by Memory Chirere Published By Bhabhu Books

3. Writing Lives edited by Irene Staunton Published by Weaver Presss

MEDIA AWARDS

Outstanding Journalist Print

1. Sharon Muguwu - Daily News

2. Tinashe Muchuri - Parade

3. Garikai Mazara - Sunday Mail

Outstanding Journalist TV

1. Josephine Mugiyo - ZBC

2. Sifiso Mpofu - ZBC

Outstanding Journalist Radio

1. Tawanda Gudhlanga - SFM

2. Tendai Chakanyuka - Power FM

3. Jackson Madzimba - SFM

Outstanding Online Media

1. 3 Men On a Boat

2. Writers International Network (WIN)Zimbabwe

3. Panorama

MUSIC AWARDS

Outstanding Female musician

1. Cindy Munyavi

2. Cynthia Mare

3. Agatha Murudzwa

Outstanding Male musician

1. Obey Makamure aka Tocky Vibes

2. Antonio Romeo aka Shinsoman

3. Sulumani Chimbetu aka Sulu

Outstanding Song

1. Mhai from Mhai by Tocky Vibes

2. Kumbumura Mhute from Kumbumura Mhute by Jah Prayzah

3. Popopopo from Tirikumhanya by Killer T

Outstanding Album

1. Gunship by Sulumani Chimbetu

2. Kumbumura Mhute by Jah Prayzah

3. Mhai Singles Collection by Tocky Vibes

SPOKEN WORD AWARDS

Outstanding Comedian

1. Mike Matimba aka Uncle Ritchie

2. Victor Mpofu aka Doc Vikela

3. Clive Chigubhu

Outstanding Poet

1. Tatenda “Dhege” Chinoda

2. Likhwa Ncube

3. Sithandazile Dube

THEATRE AWARDS

Outstanding Actress

1. Rumbidzai Karize in The Convert

2. Bathabile Dlamini in Umbiko KaMadlenya

3. Lawayne Muzite in Connections

Outstanding Actor

1. Tichaona Mutore in Maids

2. Jasen Mphepho in 1000 Miles

3. Memory Kumbota in Umbiko KaMadlenya

Outstanding Director

1. Nelson Mapako for Umbiko KaMadlenya

2. Ali-Jarmil Mutodzaniswa for Connections

Outstanding Theatrical Production

1. The Convert by Almasi Collaborative Arts

2. Umbiko KaMadlenya by Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo

3. Connections by Pamushana High School

VISUAL ARTS AWARDS

Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work

1. Undressing to Redress by Wallen Mapondera

2. Farming and Production by Webster Mubayirenyi

3. Song from Within by Boarding Dzinotizei

Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work

1. Mwana Wedangwe by Rufaro Murenza

2. Contemporary Scourge by Forbes Mushipe

3. Jacket of Love by Israel Israel

Outstanding Mix Media

1. The Challenged by Forbes Mushipe

2. Different Roots, Same Destination by Ngonidzashe Tsiga

3. Disappearing Faces by Rizimu Chiwawa

Outstanding Exhibition

1. Social Zoometry by Wallen Mapondera

2. Women at the Top by Doreen Sibanda and Thandazani Dhlakama

3. Crossing the Bridge by Clifford Zulu

OTHER AWARDS

Outstanding Promoter

1. Butterwick Promotions

2. X-MO Squad

3. Formstate Investments

In a bid to enhance entries, NACZ appoints a team of both individual and institutional Monitors who keep an eye on excelling artists throughout the year. These monitors would submit reports to NACZ, which reports will be used by adjudicators together with the submitted entries. A panel of independent Adjudicators, guided by a set selection criteria, is appointed to preside over all the submissions. Nominees and winners are then selected for each award category. For the 14^th Edition of NAMA, 606 entries were submitted, from which the above nominees were selected from.

Monitors are appointed on the basis of their knowledge of specific arts disciplines and that they are in constant touch with arts products from the genre of their expertise. Their role is to see to it that deserving and excelling work is consideration by the adjudicators.

After the closing date (30^th November of each year) NACZ then appoints independent team of adjudicators who assess all entries. The general observation by adjudicators is the quality of submissions that did not portray the actual levels of artistic excellence and innovation. It could have been that the artists faced challenges of resources enabling them to submit adequately packaged entries. NACZ cannot over emphasise the importance of adhering to submission requirements. It is the onus of the entrant to ensure that adequate, high quality support material is submitted for the awards selection, so as not to undermine the process.

The nine categories of awards are

· Dance

· Film and Television

· Literary Arts

· Media

· Music

· Promoter

· Spoken Word

· Theatre

· Visual Arts

Special awards

· Arts Service Award

· Arts Personality Award

· People’s Choice Awards

This year NAMA will have an additional special award; The Lifetime Achievement Award.

NACZ therefore would like to thank all those that entered for the 14^th Edition of NAMA for making it a success. It is the participation of the artists and stakeholders that make NAMA and indeed the whole arts activities a success.

NACZ launched the inaugural National Arts Merit Awards in 2002. NAMA is the forum where NACZ recognizes outstanding achievements within the arts sector. By rewarding excelling artists, NAMA stimulates more interest in the arts and raises the profile of the same. The awards are a means of encouraging creativity and excellence in the quality of the arts, making Zimbabwe a force to reckon with on the region and international arena.

In addition, the awards aim to inspire artists to strive for higher and original forms of creativity and provide an opportunity for arts disciplines to jointly market and publicize the arts locally, regionally and internationally.

Cathrine Mthombeni

Communications and Marketing Officer

Saturday 17 January 2015, 2pm

Book Café, 139 S.Machel Ave/6^th Street, Harare

Forget January disease! January is always the happiest month at Sistaz Open Mic, when women artists of Zimbabwe gather to celebrate the platform for women artists which has helped so many, under the vibrant gender programme FLAME (Female Literary, Arts & Music Enterprise) by Pamberi Trust. This Saturday 17 January 2015 Sistaz Open Mic celebrates its 8^th birthday at the Book Café from 2-5pm – an awesome record of 8 years of work by a powerful team of women, to prepare and promote women artists into the mainstream of the arts in Zimbabwe.

There is always a lot of fun at Sistaz Open Mic

Confirmed to perform are Rudo Chasi, Vera, Duchess Rose, Tendai Mavengeni, D-Blok, Ammi Jamanda and many more. Sistaz Open Mic is a welcoming space which encourages music brothers to come through in support of their sisters, and this month we welcome formidable young drummer Blessing Chimanga who has backed countless women artists in Zimbabwe and beyond. Veteran Jazz singer-songwriter Dudu Manhenga - who was one of the original contributors to FLAME and is now a Board member of Pamberi Trust - will be the hostess, and the open mic will be followed by a separate event featuring Tariro NeGitare from 5.30pm.

Vera

Batsirai Chigama, Gender Project Officer with arts development organisation Pamberi Trust extends an open invitation: “Come join us as we celebrate how far we have come as women in the arts. The journey continues and we have witnessed some amazing talent come through the Sistaz Open Mic platform. We celebrate every artist who has supported and made this journey wonderful!”

Started in 2007 by Pamberi Trust under the F.L.A.M.E Project (Female Literary, Arts & Music Enterprise), Sistaz Open Mic has seen tremendous growth not only in attendance, but great achievements by women artists who have used this platform to improve their confidence, stage presence as well as learning to brand and prove themselves as formidable artists holding their own in a male-dominated industry. The many success stories are reflected in the number of women artists who are taking their art to a new level, organising their own shows, performing at corporate functions, touring beyond Zimbabwe, recording their work and winning numerous awards.

2014 has seen several ‘Sistaz’ participants and mentors reaching new heights –

Hope Masike toured 8 countries in the course of this year, flying the Zimbabwe flag high in solo and collaborative performances around the world from Malaysia to Iceland and China to America.

Tariro Ruzvidzo aka ‘Tari neGitare’ joined the Acoustic Allstars for a tour in Germany and established herself strongly on the local Harare scene, both as featured artist in her own shows and as opening act for some of Zimbabwe’s top performers including Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits, who she joined in Botswana at Botswanacraft and in South Africa at the Macufe Festival.

Tariro NeGitare

The group ‘Amawala’ comprising Edith Katiji, Rute Mbangwa and Tina Watyoka came together spontaneously at a Sistaz Open Mic performance early in the year and went on to develop the lively production under the Amawala brand, performing several times in Harare and at Intwasa Festival koBulawayo to wide acclaim, and later invited back to Bulawayo to grace the Community Human Rights Defenders Awards night. Edith was elected by her peers to the new Zimbabwe Musicians Union.

Zanele ‘Uzah’ Manhenga enjoyed her first European tour with the Bulawayo accapella group ‘Nobuntu’, and older sister, acclaimed jazzist Dudu Manhenga performed once again in Italy where she captured the hearts of Italians, and the same in the Ghanaian capital Accra.

Poet Cynthia Marangwanda launched her first book ‘Shards’; Poet Wadzanai Chiuriri participated at the Poetry Africa Festival in Durban SA; FLAME project officer Batsirai Chigama, herself a gifted and widely recognised poet, joined African poets from Ghana and Kenya in developing workshops for children in Zimbabwe and Denmark, and was first runner-up in the Stanza Digital Poetry Slam 2014 award. A ZIMA award was won by Clare Nyakujara, and Cindy Munyavi won the ‘African Music Award’ in Nigeria.

Last year alone the F.L.A.M.E project hosted the launch of three albums and a single, with CDs launched by Rudo Chasi, Tina Watyoka, and the youngest of them, Tendai Mavengeni who grew in confidence and delivery at Sistaz Open Mic over several months, and launched her album at the age of 13. The gifted young Vera Chisvo (aka ‘Vera’) launched her first single in December.

The Sistaz Open Mic platform has spread it’s wings across the country with performers coming from as far as Mutare, Marondera, Chegutu, Gweru, Zvishavane and Bulawayo.

Women In Arts In Zimbabwe

Pages

Thursday 29 January 2015

NAMA 14TH EDITION NOMINEES

Wednesday 21 January 2015

SISTAZ @ 8 IN PICTURES

Tuesday 13 January 2015

SISTAZ OPEN MIC @ 8