Zimbabwe 2024 NAMA Awards: Full List of Winners

The 22nd Zimbabwe National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), were held on Saturday 24 February 2024 under the theme #KWAN22 in appreciation of their return to Bulawayo - the city of kings and queens. Earlier this month, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe announced the nominees for this year's Nama Awards via Facebook, in a video presented by the Chairperson of the Nama Adjudication Committee, Hope Masike.

The nominees were selected from submissions and work identified by individual and institutional monitors appointed to track excelling artists. 1280 entries were received, with Bulawayo Province having the most submissions. The music categories had the most submissions, followed by the visual arts.

The Stand-up Comedy category received very few submissions and as a result, it has been scraped from this year's award show.

Here is the full list of winners and nominees for the 2024 National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA):

DANCE AWARDS

Outstanding Female Dancer

• Ellain Ncube (The Chronicles)
• Deborah Kabongo (Fame in a Frame) [Winner]
• Vanessa Nyoni (Street Battles)

Outstanding Male Dancer

• Tichaona Chikara (The Hero)
• Sean Mambwere (The Chronicles) [Winner]
• Terence Kapesa (A man from Bulawayo)

Outstanding Dance Group

• Elysium Magna Dance Theatre
• Guruve Marimba Arts Ensemble
• Salt and Light [Winner]

Outstanding Dance Choreographer

• Deborah Kabongo
• Terence Kapesa [Winner]
• Sean Mambwere

VISUAL ARTS AWARDS

Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work

• My Daughter by Crystal Vimbanashe Beseni
• Shiriyabvutarekeni by Sea Mpetwa
• Wire Car by Christwish Malunga [Winner]

Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work

• Cultural Dancer by Chenjeri Chiripanyanga
• Humility by Priviledge Garade
• Charging Gorilla by Ray Chataira [Winner]

Outstanding Mixed Media

• What's Next by Fizani Nkomo
• Scaffolding on Site by Ishmael Marirofa
• Dhunamutuna by Tawanda Takura
• Sins of our forefathers [Winner]

Outstanding Exhibition

• Katundu Katurikwa - Solo Exhibition at National Gallery of Zimbabwe (Harare): Curated by Zvikomborero F. Mandangu
• Pamoyo Sihlengeni - Solo Exhibition at National Gallery of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo): Curated by Doris Kamupira [Winner]
• Connections - Group Exhibition at National Gallery of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo): Curated by Hajee Ismail Mposa, Sinqobile Shamie Dube, and Doris Kamupira

SPOKEN WORD AWARDS

Outstanding Poet

• Ngonidzashe Paradza aka Mambo Guramatunhu [Winner]
• Shanay Wood
• Chioniso Tsikisayi

Outstanding Social Media Skits

• Admire Takudzwa Mushambi aka Mama Vee [Winner]
• Theophilus Chigumira aka Mai Kirifodhi
• Kudzanai Chengedza aka Mbuya VaPiyasoni

MEDIA AWARDS

Outstanding Journalist – Print

• Sharon Zebra - Alpha Media
• Sindiso Dube - Alpha Media [Winner]
• Mthabisi Tshuma - Chronicle

Outstanding Journalist – Radio

• MisRed - ZiFM Stereo
• KVG - Star FM
• Chamvary - ZiFM Stereo [Winner]

Outstanding Journalist – Television

• Collete Musanyera - Ztv [Winner]
• Mr Dobbie - NRtv

Outstanding – Online Media

• Khumbulani Muleya - Heart and Soul [Winner]
• Plot Mhako - earGround Africa
• Jonathan Mbiriyamveka - Gem Nation

THEATRE AWARDS

Outstanding Actor

• Farai Clarence Borerwe as Augustine in Beautiful Men
• Douglas Bramsen as Jafar in Aladdin
• Dean Jones as Lage in Aladdin [Winner]

Outstanding Actress

• Charmaine Mujeri as Faith Nehura in Zuva Crumbling 
• Musawenkosi Sibanda as ALL MOTHER: We are One WINNER in Simunye [Winner]
• Nosizo Gumede as Runyararo I am/was Marah

Outstanding Theatrical Production

• Simunye We are One - Directed by Mongi Wekhaya Mthombeni, Produced by Shearwater [Winner]
• I am/was Marah - Directed by Lloyd Nyikadzino 
• Zuva Crumbling - Directed by Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi

Outstanding Director

• Sandy Bradrick for Aladdin
• Lloyd Nyikadzino for I am/was Marah [Winner]
• Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi for Zuva Crumbling & Beautiful Men

LITERARY AWARDS

Outstanding First Creative Published Work

• The Train House on Lobengula Street by Fatima Kara [Winner]
• A Somber Graveyard Tale by Christopher Madala
• UQhondisile MaKhumalo by Kephas Sibanda

Outstanding Children’s Book

• Sloba and the Crocodile Tears by Martin Chayambuka
• A Day in the Park by Audrey Chirenje
• The Haunted Pumpkin by Mai Sarungano Folktales [Winner]

Outstanding Fiction Book

• Whatever Happened to Rick Astley by Byrony Rheam
• The Magic and Masala by Violet Kee-Tul
• UKhetiwe by Zibusiso Mabonisa [Winner]

Outstanding Poetry Book

• Looking for Mother by Nkosiyazi Kan Kajiri
• Shamhu yezera renyu by Memory Chirere [Winner]
• Tesserae: A mosaic of poems by Zimbabwean women - Compiled and edited by Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure and Marian Christie

FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS

Outstanding Actor

• Everson K. Chieza as Jabulani in The November Promise [Winner]
• Alex Ayanda Marova as Sgora in High School Diary
• Felix Machingambi as Comrade in Comrade

Outstanding Actress

• Auxillia Mucharevei as Nomsa in Destiny
• Munashe Goromonzi as Tsitsi in The November Promise 
• Bonakele Agnes Ncube as Dudu in High School Diary [Winner]

Outstanding Music Video

• Famba - Anita Jaxson, directed by Taurai Zidya
• Harare to Mutare - Shingai ft Bryan K, directed by Jonathan Samukange
• Damage - Tahle We Dzinza, directed by Jonathan Samukange [Winner]

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)

• The November Promise - Derby Bheta
• High School Diary - John Mabuyane [Winner]
• DNA Show - Tinashe Mugabe 

Outstanding Screen Production (Short Length Film)

• Maoko akandirera by Tinashe Dhorobeni
• Daughter of the Soil by Derrick Manieca [Winner]
• A few dollars more by Jabu Mudzvova

Outstanding Screen Production (Full-Length Film)

• White Yet Black by Steve Chikosi [Winner]
• Comrade by Stephen Mutsago & Abel Silungwe

MUSIC AWARDS

Outstanding Newcomer

• Mbida-D
• Kinah the Music [Winner]
• Bagga

Outstanding Female Musician

• Feli Nandi [Winner]
• Janet Manyowa
• Vuyo Brown

Outstanding Male Musician

• Saintfloew
• Msiz'kay
• Enzo Ishall [Winner]

Outstanding Song

• One by One - Julian King ft Saintfloew
• Raroorwa - Enzo Ishall [Winner]
• Chiremerera - Jah Prayzah  

Outstanding Album

• Season 4 Jesus - Joyful Praise Choir
• Chiremerera - Jah Prayzah [Winner]
• Trophy - Freeman

SPECIAL AWARDS

Promoter Of the Year

• Chipaz Promotion [Winner]
• Xmo Squad
• Stratosphere Events
• Prunella Investments

Outstanding Artist In The Diaspora

• Learnmore Jonasi (Stand-up comedy, USA) [Winner]
• Wiina Musamati (Visual Artist, USA)
• Ernest Ndlovu (Film & Television Actor, South Africa)
• Masimba Hwati (Visual Artist, Austria)

Arts Service Award

• Robert Malcom McLaren

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Dr Thompson Kumbirayi Tsodzo

People's Choice Award

• Voltz JT
• Saintfloew
• Holy Ten
• Winky D [Winner]
• Mai Kirifodhi