NAMA 14TH EDITION NOMINEES

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