Janet Manyowa & Muzita Rababa Up For The NAMAs 2018

Chart-topping gospel musician Janet Manyowa and Christian-based drama Muzita Rababa are up for the 17th National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA).

The nominations were announced on last Thursday on  NAMAs official Facebook page.

Janet Manyowa is contending with two other riveting musical divas Ammara Brown and Selmor Mtukudzi for the Outstanding Female Musician gong after she successfully held 2017 with her single Zadzisa.

Muzita Rababa along with Muchaneta and Wenera are vying for the Outstanding Screen Production (Television). Kudzai Msungo who is an actress in Muzita Rababa is also contending with Gamuchirai Dube (Kushata Kwemoyo) and Nothando Nobengula (Like a Good Woman Should) for Outstanding Actress.

These three are the acts only operating in the Christian genre this year on the nominations, and as for Janet, it is an odd kind of success story in Zimbabwean gospel. She earned it. She performs to packed venues and owned the charts and she has countless fans that hang on her every song. Her songs have owned the Christian-specific singles rankings, and in 2015 she won the Best Female Artist by the prestigious Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) among other various awards and nominations.

That may sound almost impossible, but there is a reason for this: up until now she’s been labeled almost solely as a Christian artist, and that sometimes scares many people away. But now as she gets ready to release her sophomore album, the star seems like she is actively trying to step around that phrase and make a go for true mainstream glory, slaying while praying the Mudiwa way.

In addition to that, the chart-topper has also opened a new online show entitled The Redeemed. All the success goes to show that the grace of God is present in her things.

As for Muzita Rababa, the case is somewhat similar. The TV drama focuses on church scandals and was inspired by the local trend of fancy prophets. The show which features musicians Ammara Brown and Mudiwa Hood has brought the way Zimbabwean churches are run into the spotlight. Co-directed by Michael and Nick Zemura, the show has become arguably the most watched show on ZBC-TV.

The drama seeks to encourage Zimbabweans to probe how their churches are run.

Here is the NAMAs 2018 full nominees list and we say all the best to our Christian contenders:

1.SPOKEN WORD AWARDS

Outstanding Poet
Tinashe Tafirenyika
Shingirai Manyengavana
Mercy Dhliwayo
Special Mention: Takesure Taringana

Outstanding Comedian
Tinaye Chiketa
Samantha Kureya aka Gonyeti
Mandlenkosi Mathe aka D Comedian

2.LITERARY ARTS AWARDS

Outstanding First Creative Published Works
Blooming Lilies by Dean Murinda
Nei? by Lazarus Sauti
Ndofa Ndisina Mwana by Jesca Rushwaya-Marwiro

Outstanding Children’s Book
Paradise Stories by Eve Nyemba-Mazando
Nomvundla and the Chilli Eating Contest by Fortune Tazvivinga
The Magician by Aleck Kaposa

Outstanding Fiction
Moving On by Jane Morris (editor)
Survivors Café by Stanley Mushava
Live Like an Artist by David Mungoshi
Special Mention: Tsvura Ngoko by Ishmail Penyai

3.THEATRE AWARDS

Outstanding Actor
Gift Chakuvinga in Double Funeral
Leonard Phiri in Ihloka
Julian Tshuma in Double Funeral

Outstanding Actress
Charlene Mangweni in The Incident
Nomvuyiso Mabi in Double Funeral
Edith Masango in Narratives from the Dark

Outstanding Theatrical Production
The Incident directed by Elizabeth ‘Zaza’ Muchemwa
Double Funeral directed by Thulani Mbambo
Ihloka directed by Matesu Dube

Outstanding Director
Zaza Muchemwa for The Incident
Thulani Mbambo for Double Funeral
Matesu Dube for Ihloka

4.DANCE AWARDS

Outstanding Female Dancer
Ndomupeishe Chipendo in Kutamba Zve
Melany Carruthers in Southern Soul
Yeukai Zinyoro in Variety

Outstanding Male Dancer
McIntosh Jerahuni in Fullstop
Malcom E. Chirove in LA Puissance
Sean Mambwere in Online

Outstanding Dance Group
Afro Dance
Breakthrough Productions
M & M Dance Factory
Special Mention: Ezimnyama Dance Ensemble

Outstanding Choreographer
Sean Mambwere – Online
Melany Carruthers – Southern Soul
Malcom E. Chirove – LA Puissance

5. VISUAL ARTS AWARDS

Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work
Twisted Yoke Ropes by Webster Mubayirenyi
Iwe Neni Tine Basa by Calvin Chimutuwah
AU Logo Design by Quentine Nyoni

Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work
Dudu Manhenga by Josiah Chigondora
Loving Memories by Gift Chimufombo
Proud of my Hair by David White

Outstanding Mix Media Work
Recurring Success by Munyaradzi Mazarire
Madam Vebvoda Foni by Evans T. Mutenga
Camel and Friends (Zizi) by Johnson Zuze

Outstanding Exhibition
Dis(colour)ed Margins by Thandazani Dhlakama & Fadzai Muchemwa
Colour Revolution by Gary Thompson
From Line to Form by Helen Lieros

6. FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS

Outstanding Actress
Kudzai Msungo in Muzita Rababa
Gamuchirai Dube in Kushata Kwemoyo
Nothando Nobengula in Like a Good Woman Should

Outstanding Actor
Eddingtone Hatitongwe in Muchaneta
Charles Muzemba in Kushata Kwemoyo
Zolile Makeleni in Wenera

Outstanding Music Video
Ndinokakama produced by Naxo Films ft. Dereck Mpofu
Bhero produced by Studio Art Pictures ft. Shadrick Kwarire
Over Again produced by Vimbai Mukarati ft. Vimbai Mukarati

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)
Muchaneta directed by Eddingtone Hatitongwe
Wenera directed by Zolile Makeleni
Muzita Rababa directed by Shem Zemura

Outstanding Screen Production – Short Film
Ruvimbo’s Wedding directed by Ben Mahaka
Things We Do for Love directed by Derby Bheta
Baba the Joys of Fatherhood directed by Ignatious Matope

Outstanding Screen Production – Full Length Film
Like a Good Woman Should directed by Gilbert Mupiwa
Kushata Kwemoyo directed by Shem Zemura
One Woman and Her Mbira directed by Hope Masike

7. MEDIA AWARDS

Outstanding Journalist – Radio
Nicola Ndoro – Star FM
Lastword Musekiwa – Star FM
Patience Musa – ZiFM
Special Mention: Babongile Sikhonjwa – Skyz Metro

Outstanding Journalist – Print
Vasco Chaya – Daily News
Prince Mushawevato – Sunday Mail
Stanley Mushava – Herald

Outstanding Journalist – TV
Regis Mhako – ZBC
Andrew Neshamba – ZBC
Sifiso Mpofu – ZBC

Outstanding Online Media
Bustop TV
Jera
Blacktoe TV

8. MUSIC AWARDS

Outstanding Male Musician
Enock Munhenga aka XQ
Trevor Dongo
Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah

Outstanding Female Musician
Ammara Brown
Janet Manyowa
Selmor Mtukudzi

Outstanding Album
Inhliziyo by Caleb Msipa
Beyond by Trevor Dongo
Kutonga Kwaro by Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah

Outstanding Song
Pamamonya Ipapo by Soul Musaka aka Soul Jah Love
Ndini Ndamubata by Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
Akiliz by Ammara Brown

9. SPECIAL AWARDS

Outstanding Promoter
X-MO Squad
2 Kings Entertainment
Divine Assignments

The ceremony will take place 17 February 2018 at Reps Theatre.