The 21st edition of the National Arts Merit Awards were hosted Saturday night the 25th of February at HICC in Harare. The red carpet affair put on a display of the very best in Zimbabwean fashion, but the night belonged to the performers.
They were a few surprises when winners of various categories were called out but it felt like it had been a long time coming for a lot of the winners. King Kandoro was finally recognised as the funniest man in Zimbabwe as he took home the Outstanding Comedian Award. Freeman HKD finally bagged his first NAMA Award and he quickly doubled his tally as the night went on.
Zimhiphop had it’s crowning moment as Fire Emoji took home the Outstanding Song Award. Dorcas Moyo was the surprise of the night as she beat out competition from Feli Nandi to win the Outstanding Female Musician Award. Skit maker Theophilus Chigumira/Mai Kirifodhi took home the big one, the People’s Choice Award.
Here is the full list of award winners:
DANCE AWARDS
Outstanding Female Dancer
Ndomupeishe Chipendo in Teleunga
Outstanding Male Dancer
Terrence Kapesa in A kid from Bulawayo
Outstanding Dance Group
Elysium Magna Dance Theatre in The Birth of Christ
Outstanding Dance Choreographer
Sean Mambwere in Silently Complicated
VISUAL ARTS AWARDS
Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work
Celebrating Together – Taurai Chinofura
Outstanding Mixed Media
Mysterical Revealer – Terrence Musekiwa
Outstanding Exhibition
A Book that Cannot be Read by Allison Baker curated by Fadzai Muchemwa
SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
Outstanding Poet
Obert Dube
Outstanding Comedian
King Kandoro
Outstanding Social Media Skits
Theophilus Chigumira/Mai Kirifodhi
MEDIA AWARDS
Outstanding Journalist – Print
Nyadzombe Nyampenza – The Standard
Outstanding Journalist Radio
Owen Madondo – Star FM
Outstanding Journalist – Television
Colette Musanyera – ZBC
Outstanding Online Media
Nash TV
THEATRE AWARDS
Outstanding Theatre Actor
Shaun Mundawarara as Cullingwall in The Play that goes Wrong
Outstanding Theatre Actress
Min’enhle Mguni as Renee Stokes in Heartbreak Mafia
Outstanding Theatrical Production
Bayethe Nkosi by Umkhathi Theatre
Outstanding Director
Sue Bolt in The Play that goes Wrong
LITERARY AWARDS
Outstanding First Creative Published Work
The Madman on First Street and Other Stories by David Chasumba
Outstanding Children’s Book
Sloba and the Chameleon by Costa Chayambuka
Outstanding Fiction Book
The Quality of Mercy by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
Outstanding Poetry Book
Starfish Blossoms by Samantha R. Vazhure
FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS
Outstanding Actor
Searchmore Takavada as Husband in 3 days in March
Outstanding Actress
Sylvia Mavezera as Wife in 3 days in March
Outstanding Music Video
Fight For Me – Mann Friday
Outstanding Screen Production (Television)
Intab’enkulu directed by Kuda Brian Bwititi
Outstanding Screen Production (Short Length Film)
3 Days in March directed by Kuda Brian Bwititi
Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length Film)
Ngoda directed by Joe Njagu and Eddie Sandifolo
MUSIC AWARDS
Outstanding Newcomer
Leo Magozz
Outstanding Female Musician
Dorcas Moyo
Outstanding Male Musician
Freeman HKD
Oustanding Song
Fire Emoji – Leo Magozz ft Bling4 and Brian Jeck
Outstanding Album
David and Goliath – Freeman
SPECIAL AWARDS
Promoter Of The Year
X-Mo Squad
Outstanding Artist in the Diaspora
Tafara Nyatsanza (USA)
Arts Service Award
Davison Maruziva
Arts Personality of the Year
Dominic Benhura
Lifetime Achievement Award
Barbara Makhalisa Nkala
People’s Choice Award
Theophilus Chigumira/Mai Kirifodhi
You can find the full list of nominees here.
