The National Arts Council pulled off the 8th edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) on Friday evening (13 Feb 2009) without any major hitches. Neither were there any real surprises or disappointments among the winners.

^ Cast and crew members of the TV Drama Legacies celebrate their award.

In a night where the arts industry in Zimbabwe converged at the international conference centre in Harare, the performing arts lit up the evening with song and dance from various groups that included South Africa’s Afro-fusion music group, Freshly Ground.

The most popular prize, the Outstanding Musician for the year 2008, went to Oliver Mtukudzi, leaving ther other nominees in this category, Alick Macheso and Tongai Moyo to battle it out for next year.

NAMA also recognised the efforts of people or groups that have contributed significantly to the arts industry in Zimbabwe. Under the special awards category the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) and ZBC-TV were recognised for their efforts to promote the arts and artists and honoured with Arts Service awards. Douglas Vambe, composer of the ZBC news drumbeat was given the Arts Personlity award.

Below is the full list of Nominees with the winners in red:

1. DANCE

Outstanding Male Dancer
Norman Mukege- Air Force Dance Group
Philani Mabasa- Hloseni Arts
Ganizani Banda- Hwange Dancers

Outstanding Female Dancer
Iris Mangoye- Mambokadzi
Isabel Nkau- Hloseni Arts
Viola Sibanda- Mambokadzi

Outstanding Dance Group
Mambokadzi
Hloseni Arts
Ngoma Dzepasi Dance Group

2. LITERARY ARTS

Outstanding Children’s Book
Tudikidiki by Memory Chirere (Priority Projects)
Children Writing in Zimbabwe by Zondo es al (The Standard)

Outstanding First Creative Published Work
Dancing with Life by Christopher Mlalazi (AmaBooks)
Izaga Lezitsho Zalamuhla by B. Madlela & G. Muyambo (College Press)
Special Mention: Izaga Lezitsho Zalamuhla by B. Madlela and G.N.C. Muyambo

Outstanding Fiction Book
My Children, My Home by Wonder Guchu (Arts Juihates)
Long Time Coming: Short Writings from Zimbabwe by Jane Morris (AmaBooks)
Ndafa Here? By Ignatius Mabasa (College Press)
Laughing Now by Irene Staunton (Weaver Press)

Left: An assistant holds a NAMA trophy at the ceremony on Friday.

3. THEATRE

Outstanding Actor
Greg Mizon- Treats
Tafadzwa Muzondo- Loupe
George Gukuta- Christmas Carol

Outstanding Actress
Chipo Chikara- Christmas Carol
Thea Cutler- Treats
Anne Fischer- Christmas Carol

Outstanding Theatrical Production
Loupe- Produced by Mandisi Gobodi
Chisi Hachiere- Pagomo Theatre Productions
Treats- Theory X

4. VISUAL ARTS

Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work
‘Illegal Diamond Panners’ by Joseph Mutsura
‘Togetherness’ by Dumisani Ndlovu
‘2 Buses and a 1000 People by Resta Nyamwanza

Outstanding Mix-Media Work
‘Mama Africa’ by Takesure Benhura
‘The African Village’ by Hodgeson Maera
‘Zingizi’ Gonyera Pamwe by Victor Nyakauru
‘The Identity of African Women’ by Collen Chitaka
Special Mention: The Identity of African Women by Collen Chitaka

Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work
‘Monkey Bird’ by Josiah Manzi
‘Aiming High’ by Washington Matafi
‘Dancing Flame’ by Peter Gwisa
‘Dancing Taylor’ by Brian Banda
Special Mention: Dancing Flame by Peter Gwisa

5. MEDIA AWARDS

Print
Beaven Tapureta- Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe (BWAZ) Magazine & Freelancer
Joshua Nyapimbi- The Chronicle (Columnist)

Television
No Nominees

Radio
Joseph Mandizvidza- Voice of Zimbabwe
Nqobile Malinga- ZBC News

6. FILM & TELEVISION

Outstanding Actor
Charles Kapfupi in- I Want a Wedding Dress
Gordon Pakanengwa in- Legacies
Anthony Tamangani in- Legacies

Outstanding Actress
Plaxedes Wenyika in- Sharing Day
Bacoliwe Mthupha in- Saga
Sandra Chidawanyika in- Sharing Day

Left: Imelda Mahaka receives the outstanding music video award on behalf of her husband Ben.

Outstanding Music Video
Rute by Olivia Charamba
Roots by Ben Mahaka
Ndabvuma by Ben Mahaka

Outstanding Screen Production (Film)
Thicker than Blood by Nowell Mvura
Bitter Pill by Ben Mahaka
I Want a Wedding Dress by Tsitsi Dangarembga

Outstanding Screen Production (Television Drama)
No Nominees

Outstanding Screen Production (Telelvision Soap)
Studio 263
Legacies
Saga

7. MUSIC

Outstanding Choral Group
Amasala Harmony
International Apostolic Faith Church
Vabati Vevhangeri

Outstanding Song
Jehovha Ndibatsireiwo (Chikwambo) by International Apostolic Faith Church
Chidzoka by Rockford ‘Roki’ Josphats
Jobo Achikwenya-kwenya by Vabati Vevhangeri

Outstanding Album
Estoy Esperando by Dino Mudondo
One Drop by Xtra Large
Chamungarwire by Taruvinga Manjokota aka Sugar Sugar

Outstanding Musician/Group
Tongai Moyo
Oliver Mtukudzi
Alick Macheso

8. SPECIAL AWARDS

Arts Personality- Douglas Vambe
Arts Service- Harare International Festival of the Arts
Arts Service- Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation TV

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DD   |2009-02-16 08:58:56 Very deserving winners! MAny thanks to the National Arts Council for pushing NAMA further despite the tough times. Reply 1   0

Amanda   |2009-02-16 09:05:31 About time HIFA got some accolades. Those guys pull off some major miracles every year. Reply 0   0

Gugu   |2009-02-16 09:13:12 Congratulations vaMabasa. I haven't read your latest book but I loved Mapenzi and the Gospoetry CD is tight. Reply 0   0

Flossy   |2009-02-21 13:32:10 I saw the 1st steps dat Viola Sibanda danced tanga tichishanda tese papurazi Selby muri mumusha we Zebra Dancing Queens all i cn say de girl had a passion 4 art.Well done gal zvirambe zvakadaro Reply 0   0

tinashe   |2009-02-24 04:57:29 what about best gospel artist did i miss it or wat Reply 0   0

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