The nominees for the 23rd NAMA Awards were revealed by the National Arts Council & the Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation in a video announcement on Wednesday, 12 February via social media. The nominees announcement was presented by Charlene Mangweni Furusa, with the nominees revealed by multiple disciplinary artist Hope Masike, the chairperson of the NAMA adjudication committee.
Set for the first of March at the Harare Hippodrone, this year's awards will be running the theme "Afrofuturism," a celebration of who we are and who we are becoming as Africans and as Zimbabweans.
This year's nominees feature works done between 1 Dec 2023 and 30 November 2024. The NAMA adjudication committee received a staggering 2371 entries this year, with a record breaking 600 submissions under the film category. Noted in the announcement was the impressive nature of works under theatre, with a wide range of plays being submitted.
Omitted last year, the category of Outstanding Stand Up Comedian made a return, however it was noted that the advert driven nature of most skits under spoken word was undermining creativity and the quality felll short of standards.
Public opinion, along with radio charts, social media and digital statistics carried a larger weight (compared to other categories) in deciding the nominees under music. This saw the domination of urban music on the airwaves, translating to a domination of NAMA nominees. The likes of Shashl, Nisha Ts, Young Gemini, Voltz JT, Kae Chaps, 216Whisky and Chillmaster, all earned nominations across various categories.
If there's said to be a glaring omission from the nominees this year, it would have to be Holy Ten. The artist once again had a phenomenal year (releasing 2 notable albums: Risky Life 2 & Proud Father) but surprisingly his name is missing from nominations and it was a similar story last year.
This year's NAMA Awards are supported by CBZ Holdings, Chicken Inn, ZiFM, Greygate, CultureFundZim & the European Union, InnBucks, Nash TV, ZLG, Blackshark, Wild Africa Travel and Rhi Media.
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2025 NAMA Awards:
DANCE AWARDS
Oustanding Female Dancer
Tanaka Machikicho in Into The Light
Ellain Ncube in Black Fever
Celine Madziva in Respect My Team
Oustanding Male Dancer
Ngonidzashe Mudyarwa in Ndichatarisa
Tichaona Chikara in Into The Light
Terrence Kapesa in Respect My Team
Oustanding Dance Group/Production
Salt 'N Light for Into The Light
Khaya Arts Productions for UniAfrica
Afrikera Arts Trust for Ndichatarisa
Oustanding Choreographer
Future Dube (Khaya Arts Productions)
Hillary Indir (Ellysium Magna)
Tichaona Chikara (Salt 'N Light)
VISUAL ARTS AWARDS
Oustanding Male Visual Artist
Ishmael Maposa
Gareth Nyandoro
Moffat Takadiwa
Oustanding Female Visual Artist
Portia Zvavahera
Shamila Aasha
Sinqobile Shamiso Dube
Oustanding Upcoming Visual Artist
Fungai Marima
Kundai Nathan
Nothando Chiwanga
Oustanding Exhibition
Our Father's Inheritance Does Not Allow Us To Rest - Admire Mudzengerere curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwz
A Woman's Yoke - Sinqobile Shamiso Dube curated by Doris Kampira
6th Venice Biennale - Various Artists curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa
SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
Oustanding Poet
Sithandazile Dube aka Um'Afrikazi
Kuda Rice
Mighty Mahembe aka General Fire Collosso
Outstanding Social Media Skits
Admire Mushambi aka Mama Vee
Panashe Gurende aka Moojaya
Bashimane Mothusi Ndlovu aka Sikhobokhobo Madlela
Outstanding Stand Up Comedian
Nigel Tha Slick Pastor
Mbongeni Ignatius Ndlovu
King Kandoro
THEATRE AWARDS
Outstanding Actress
Chidochangu Tenga as Molly in Molly Street
Caroline Mashingaidze Zimbizi as Tete Sabina in Family Riots
Munashe Goromonzi as girl's mother and a girl in The Aftermath
Outstanding Actor
Ronald Madodana Sigeca as Factual Gumunyu in Promise
Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi as Moris and multi characters in Haywire
Michael Kudakwashe as Sidney in Family Riots
Outstanding Theatrical Production
The Aftermath (Patsimedu Trust)
Promise (Savanna Trust)
Family Riots (Almasi Collaboration)
Outstanding Director
Ted Mangawa for Promise
Everson Ndlovu for Haywire
Nobert Makoche for Aftermath
Outstanding Playwright
Leonard Matsa for Promise
Peter Churu for Molly Street
Gideon J. Wabvuta for Family Riots
LITERARY AWARDS
Outstanding First Published Work
Zagamo The War Within by Ray Mawerera, published by Royalty Books
Mafuta Enguruve by Trust Mutekwa, published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Limited
A Father's Agony and Other Stories bu Takudzwa Chiwara, published by Royalty Books
Outstanding Children's Book
The Tale Of Jackal and Man by Joseph Matose
Chimbira Nedzimwe Ngano by Primrose Dzenga, published by Torch Bearers Trust Books
Cartoonist by Hleko Vuma, published by Essential Publishing Company
Outstanding Fiction Book
The Full Moon Rises At Sunset by Susan Hubert, self published
Weeping Tomato by Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure, published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Limited
Aziwelanga Phansi by Welshman Dube, published by Dawundethi Publishers
Outstanding Non-fiction Book
Engage Zimbabwe: A Cultural Intelligence Handbook For Effective Diplomacy Volume 1 - Shona Culture by Lovemore and Chido Kuwana, published by Kuwana Media and Consultants (Pvt) Ltd
Your Guide To Adulting by Rumbidzai Munyaradzi, self published
Entrepreneurial Success: Insights on growing business in a fluid economy by Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula PhD, self published
FILM & TV AWARDS
Outstanding Actress
Chesesile Mpofu as Tabitha Dube in Inkaba
Munashe Goromonzi as Tsitsi in the November Promise
Eunice Tava Chikoore as Mamoyo in Nhoroondo
Outstanding Actor
John Mabuyane as Tembani Dube in Inkaba
Tapiwa Mavindidze as Tawanda in Nhoroondo
Skanyiso Ngwenya as Rise in Rise
Outstanding Music Video
Masahwira by Enzo Ishall, directed by AJV Entertainment
Nhemamusasa by Bagga, directed by Leoy V
Machina by MulaNation, directed by Taurai Zidya Dollar
Mvura by Bagga, directed by KMANE
Outstanding Screen Production (Television)
Inkaba by John Mabuyane
The November Promise by Derby Beta
The DNA Show by Tinashe Mugabe
Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)
Taxi by Jonathan Samukange
Dollar by Tawanda Vombo
Emuva - The Battle Of Emotions by Siphosetu Sibadze
Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length Film)
See Me by Charlene Mangweni-Furusa
Nhoroondo by Vusa Hlatswayo
Neria by Trust Sayi
MUSIC AWARDS
Outstanding Female Musician
Shashl
Janet Manyowa
Tamy Moyo
Outstanding Male Musician
Freeman HKD
Master H
SaintFloew
Outstanding Breakthrough Musician
Nisha Ts
Young Gemini
Chillmaster
Outstanding Music Group
Joyful Praise
Shower Power
The Unveiled
Outstanding Song
Madiro by Kae Chaps
Kana Ndanyura by Killer T
Gore Rino by Tembalami ft The Unveiled
Denga by Hwinza
Gore (Remix) by 216Whisky ft Various Artists
Outstanding Album
Me vs Me
N.O.P Makoni
Trap Yevafundisi
SPECIAL AWARDS
Promoter Of The Year
Nash TV
Event Hulks
Ngoma Nehosho
Outstanding Artist in the Diaspora
Annatoria (Music)
Wina Musamati (Theatre)
Ernest Ndlovu (Film & TV)
Masimba Hwati (Visual Artist)
People's Choice Award
Voltz JT
Dorcas Moyo
Mai Kirifodhi
Winky D
Master H
You can vote for the People's Choice Award here.
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