The Sunday Mail
Prince Mushawevato —
ARE the annual National Arts Merit Awards elitist or a simple reflection of the status quo of our arts industry?
The nominees for the 16th edition of Nama, to be held on February 18 at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare, was released late last week. Sadly, the list easily leaves one with more questions than answers.
For instance, how is it possible that one of the most popular actors in the country, Eddie Sandifolo, is not nominated under Film and Television?
Sandifolo, who was first introduced to the public in the 2004 ZTV drama series “Tiriparwendo” as lead actor Chabvonga, has since starred in many movies and TV productions.
And he has proved to be a force to reckon with on the local film scene in the process walking away with the Best Actor award for his role in the movie “Escape”, at the last edition of the annual Zimbabwe International Film Festival held in 2016.
Furthermore, is it by default or design that artistes like Leonard Zhakata, resurgent sungura king Alick Macheso and his counterpart Tatenda Pinjisi, who occupied the top spots on the popular end of year Radio Zimbabwe Coca-Cola Top 50 and National FM charts after amassing hundreds of thousands of votes, have not been nominated for anything?
Are we missing something here?
Certainly, Takura Shonai, who finds himself in the Outstanding Male Musician category together with Winky D and Jah Prayzah, has not done better than sungura singer Pinjisi.
Similar glaring anomalies are present in the Dance and Theatre categories.
Perhaps the nominees are selected based on the “quality” of crowd or following that one attracts. Or is it that the guys are not on the list because they did not enter?
Statistics released early this year by the national arts council of Zimbabwe show that only 775 entries were submitted across the country ahead of the November 30 deadline, a drop of 329 from 1 104 entries submitted for last year’s edition. Could these visible double standards be the reason why artistes have developed apathy in these supposed premier arts awards event in the country ?
But for the sake of credibility and transparency, one would expect the adjudicators to carefully follow market trends without bias and nominate deserving artistes. This is what we all hoped would happen when the NACZ announced last year that they “…appointed individual and institutional monitors who have been monitoring the work of excelling artistes throughout the year and are still monitoring until the 30th of November”.
Sadly market watchers do not feel the adjudication team was thorough in the nominees selection criteria.
Below is the full list of the Nama nominees.
- THEATRE AWARDS
Outstanding Actor
Fortune Ruzungunde in Untikolotshi
Mehluli Dube in Warrior
Everson Ndlovu in Liberation
Outstanding Actress
Rumbidzai Karize in Liberation
Tsitsi Gumbo in Untikolotshi
Farirai Mukumba in The Graduate
Outstanding Theatrical Production
Untikolotshi by Theatre for Everyone
Liberation by Savanna Trust
Warrior by Umkhathi Theatre Works
Special Mention
The Dream by Chaplin High School Drama Club
Outstanding Director
Charles Munganasa for The Graduate
Styx Mhlanga for Untikolotshi
Matesu Dube for Warrior
- SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
Outstanding Poet
Tinashe Tafirenyika
Lerato Ndlovu aka Nqindi
Desire Moyo
Outstanding Comedian
Ntandoyenkosi Moyo aka Ntando Van Moyo
Samantha Kureya aka Gonyeti
Nqobizitha Dube aka Q Dube
- LITERARY ARTS AWARDS
Outstanding First Creative Published Works
Tears and Scars by Penjeni Madzikangava (Harp Bookz International)
Behind the Wall Everywhere by Farai Mungoshi (Mungoshi Press)
Misodzi Yerombe by Kelvin Mangwende (Pen Featherz Media)
Special Mention
Vicious Circle by Stephen Mutsago
Outstanding Children’s Book
My Son by Albert Nyathi & Ignatius Mabasa (Imbongi Arts)
A Magical Adventure in Chewore by Chellie Conlon
The Unwelcome Visitor by Farai Nyandoro (Jomo Kenyatta Foundation)
Outstanding Fiction
Judas Files by Robert Mukondiwa (Publish Nation)
The Latter Rain by Phillip K Chidavaenzi (New Heritage Press)
Whose Land is it Anyway by Benjamin S Sibanda
Special Mention
Mars His Sword by Philani A Nyoni
- VISUAL ARTS AWARDS
Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work
Gumbeze Renherera by Anthony Bumhira
Eyes on Tobacco by Webster Mubayirenyi
Special Mention
Together Enjoying by Resta Chikomo
Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work
Happy Times by Rufaro Murenza
Welcome Kiss by Andamiyo Chihota
Washing Hair by Edson Kangadza
Outstanding Mixed Media Work
Mhodzi Dzemusango by Semina Mpofu
Burning Three Witches by Voti Thebe
Father’s Bull by Victor Nyakauru
Outstanding Exhibition
Eye Report by Percy Manyonga at Village Unhu
Woman by Miriro Mwandiyambira at First Floor Gallery
It is Without by Helen Teede at First Floor Gallery
- DANCE AWARDS
Outstanding Female Dancer
Ndomupeishe Chipendo in Namaste
Christina Jenkins in Ghost
Chaleen Chimara in Power of Love
Outstanding Male Dancer
Stephanie Thomas in Phantom
John Cole in Dancing with John
Peter Lenso in Mukati
Outstanding Dance Group
Ezimnyama Dance Ensemble
Breakthrough Productions
Kinkini Dance Company
Special Mention
St Peters Tokoyo School – Antalia Expo in Turkey
Outstanding Choreographer
Peter Lenso – Internal Vibrations
Ketan Nagar – Rengeela Power of Dance
Timikha Fisher – Listen
- FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS
Outstanding Actress
Jesesi Mungoshi in Muzita Rababa
Charlene Mangweni in Conflicts
Donna Ncube in Insuku Zokucina
Outstanding Actor
Ishmael Muvingi in Insuku Zokucina
Anthony Tongani in Conflicts
Admire Kuzhangaira in Muchaneta
Outstanding Music Video
MaObama by Walter Chawota ft Takura Shonhai
Mari Yangu by Nico Abote ft Eve Kawadza
Zino Irema (Ndirikukuwonai Zvangu) by Andy “Cutta” Sobhuza ft Takura
Outstanding Screen Production (TV)
Simba Savannah directed by Tommy Deuschle
The Arthur C Evans Show directed by Trey Ncube
Tiriparwendo directed by Aaron Chiundura Moyo
Outstanding Screen Production — Short Film
All We Need directed by Mhle Nzima
Seiko directed by Sydney Taivavashe
The Way It Is directed by Daniel Lasker
Outstanding Screen Production — Full-Length Film
Muzita Rababa directed by Nick Zemura
Mwanasikana 2 directed by Beauty Nakai Tsuro
Escape directed by Joe Njagu and Agnieszka Piotrowska
- MEDIA AWARDS
Outstanding Journalist – Print
Vasco Chaya — Daily News
Tinashe Muchuri – News Day
Sindiso Dube – News Day
Outstanding Journalist —Radio
Tawanda Gudhlanga — SFM
Nyaradzo Makombe — Star FM
Chila Mutimbanepasi — ZiFM
Outstanding Journalist – TV
Jesina Kuwana – ZBC
Andrew Neshamba — ZBC
Nkosana Vuma — ZBC
Outstanding Online Media
Fokus Magazine
Onvi TV
Zimbuzz
- MUSIC AWARDS
Outstanding Female Musician
Ammara Brown
Thamsanqa Moyo aka Tamy
Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave
Outstanding Male Musician
Wallace Chirimuko aka Winky D
Takura Shonai
Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
Outstanding Album
Gafa Futi by Wallace Chirimuko aka Winky D
Huya Uone Zvaakuitika by Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave
Mdhara Vachauya by Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
Outstanding Song
Takangodaro by Kelvin Kusikwenyu aka Killer T
Mukoko by Tytan ft Ammara Brown
Mdhara Vachauya by Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
- SPECIAL AWARDS
Outstanding Promoter
Xtratime Entertainment
2 Kings Entertainment
Divine Assignments
