2025 Pumula Royal Arts and Community Awards nominees

Langalakhe Mabena,Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub

Nominees for this year’s Pumula Royal Arts and Community Awards (Praca) have been unveiled, with organisers confident that the sixth edition will deliver a bigger, more refined and more glamorous celebration than any of its predecessors.

The awards, which honour individuals and organisations excelling in arts, culture and community service in Bulawayo, are scheduled for December 20, with the venue to be announced in Pumula North Hall.

Below is the full list of nominees

1. Outstanding Newcomer (All Genres)
* Noxie
* Mandisa
* Vega420
* Noxzie
* Babylions
* Willo Beats
* Soul Master
* Samfana x Dynamite

2. Best Male Artist
* Mlue jay
* Toksiq Balaclava
* Ntix The Vocalist
* Gabriel French
* Blag Ego
* TCK
* Blaqk Fauza
* DRLOVENJ
* Dubcee

3. Best Female Artist
* Acquillah K
* Noxzie
* Mandie Mae
* Regina Ashie
* Starlight

4. Best Music Producer / Studio
* Gabriel French
* Klyve Beats
* Willow Beats
* Maask DJY
* Fuel The Don
* Leemzy Beats
* Senseii

5. Music Video of the Year
* Chilisi –Klyve Beats ft Various Artists
* Move – Mandie Mae
* Ngene Motweni – Vegas420 ft Asaph
* Hamba Juba – Acquillah ft Dj Lax

6. Song of the Year
* Impumelelo – Mjikelwa
* Move – Mandie Mae
* Ngisemathandweni – Msheli Wentombi ft Gazelimnyama
* Umuntu Omthandayo – Ntix The Vocalist ft Ndustoz

7. Best Maskandi Artist
* Msheli Wentombi
* Ukhathazile Isokalendawo
* Insindamazi
* Mjikelwa
* Collen Moyo
* Balancer

8. Best Gospel Artist
* Pastor Vee
* Ndustoz
* Collen Moyo
* Onesimo Ngcotsha
* Madala Hits
* Oh Dah Grt
* Cecil Tashy

9. Best Alternative Artist
* YungGlow Dzet
* Peacemaker
* Proud Mlilo
* Scino
* Jonas Brown

10. Best Amapiano / House / Gqom Artist
* Yung Nust
* Ndustoz
* DRLOVENJ
* YungGlow Dzet
* Mjava
* Blaqk Fauzza
* Nkosana

11. Best Hip Hop Artist
* Mlue Jay
* AOK Prontoe
* Briza
* King Virus
* Gabriel French
* Blaq Ego
* Vegas420
* Fuel The Don
* Tever N

12. Best Dancehall Artist
* Bovas
* Teekay Gee
* Peacemaker
* Flame B Vinly

13. Best Afro-Pop Artist
* Dubcee
* Acquillah K
* Noxzie
* Leander Lee
* Ntix The Vocalit
* Max O The Musician
* Scino

14. Outstanding DJ (All Genres)
* The Infinity Djs
* DJ Maramzie
* YungGlow Dzet

15. Best Collaboration
* Ngenxa Yakho – Mandie Mae ft Msiz’’kay
* Ngifunukuyalobola- Ukhathazile Isokalendawo ft Umsheli Wentombi
* Ngingowakho – Max O The Musician ft Dubcee
* Amadamara- Ntix The Vocalist FT Ndustos X Prokleim X Stormza
* Creamtata – Nkompomi Kulture ft Ingwebu
* Umaqondana Wami -La Dee ft Kaykid Umfanomsotho
* Chilisi – Klyve Beats ft Various Artists
* Ngiyavuma – Scino ft Regina Ashie
* Lotto- Mlue Jay ft Flash Ikumkani

16. Best Duo / Group
* The Infinity Djs
* P_Sonic and Tever N
* Rappid 7 F.L.O.W
* YungGlow Dzet & Poplee
* TCK & Balaclava (PBM)
* Bulawayo Children ‘s Choir
* Amabutho Amahle

17. Album of The Year
* Impumelelo – Mjikelwa
* Dealing with Anxiety – Toksiq Balaclava
* Ngifunukuyolobola – Ukhathazile Isoklendawo
* Drill Nema Feeling – Blaq Ego
* Umsaphazi – Mlue Jay

1. Dance Awards
18. Outstanding Male Dancer
* Bhekumuzi Mathe – Pumula Junction
* Joaquim Siphosami – Iyasa
* Denzel Dube – Pumula Junction

19. Outstanding Female Dancer
* Liane Ndlovu – Khaya Arts
* Dorcas Moyo- Pumula Junction
* Dynamite

20. Outstanding Duo / Dance Group (All Genres)
* Soul Steppers
* Pumula Junction Dance Crew
* BlackOppS
* No Name Dance Crew
* Dance Kings
* BYO Ama2k Vibes Art
* Creartive Culxure

2. Poetry & Literature Awards
21. Outstanding Male Poet
* Anele Nkundlande
* Nhlanhla Da Poet
* Onesimo Ngcotsha
* Mthunzi Da Poet

22. Outstanding Female Poet
* Noxie The Poet
* Mecury Ngwenya
* The Lioness

23. Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
* Phakemenkosi Princess Moyo – The Student Body
* Lorna Ndlovu Nikkani – Lose Lips Sink Ships
* Premier High School Arts Club – The Unsung Song
* The Death Messenger – Andisiwe Sibindi
* No Bridge Is Impossible To Cross – Alice Mbewe
* Tinashe Walter – Dating and Courtship

24. Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction

* Is It The Key – Trust Gwasunda
* The Group Admin – Lorna Ndlovu Nikkani
* ⁠
3. Film & Theatre Awards
25. Best Upcoming Actor / Actress

* Character Moyo as Sondo in uMbali
* Michael S Mpofuas Razo in Blood Debt
* Queen Gwetshwayo as Thandeka in Ulutsha
* Sganondo on BYO Ama 2k Vibes Art
* Musawenkosi Ncub as Amahle in Umngane
26. Best Actor
* Shelton Maseko as Mthandazo in Umngani
* Simba Matyarutya
* Ezra k Ngwenya – as Switch in Blood Debt
* Mduduzi Gwebu – as Vuyo in Umbali

27. Best Actress
* Sharmaine Nkala – as Mbali in Umbali
* Laura Wedzerai as Luba in Umngani

28. Best Short / Feature Film
* Blood Debt – Black Nation Films
* Umngani – Intsha Yakusasa Arts

4. Visual Arts Awards
29. Best Cinematographer
* Praise L Nkala – Zizo Motion Pictures
* Ezra K Ngwenya – Black Nation Films
* Dalubuhle Muziwethu Ncube – Chung Nation Media

7.. Media & Podcast Awards
30. Best Production / Media House
* Chung Nation Media
* Zizo Motion Pictures
* Black Nation Films

31. Best Online / Print Media
* BANO
* Ibrah Magazine
* Inside ZimCulture

32.. Outstanding Journalist / News Reporter
* Dalubuhle M Ncube – The Midlands Standard
* Nelia N Mutema – The Midlands Standard
* Mkhokheli Zibengwa – BANO News

33. Best Podcast Production / Talk Show
* Bulawayo Connect
* Unscripted Podcast
* Vibes With Dee
* ToK Tuesday – Romeo Ndlovu NustFm

34. Best Podcaster/Presenter
* Romeo Ndlovu Nust Fm
* Onesimo Ngcotsha – Skyz Metro Fm
* Dinel Makwesera – Nust Fm &YGT ZBC
* Dat Bouy Muzie – Unscripted Podcast

7.B Content Creation Awards
35. Best Social Media Content Creator
* Carlos Mabiza as Eriah
* Bunandi Mdala
* SaJakhobe
* Khalanga LeNkosi
* Nessa Nobz
* Leandra Lilly
* Spikiri Mzukulu Kagogo & Gogo Nasingijo

36. Best Educational / Informative Content Creator
* Dinel Makwesera
* Dat Bouy Muzie
* Walter Tynash
* Premier High School Arts Club – The Unsung Song

30 Modeling Awards
37. Outstanding Male/Female Model
* Nessa Nobz
* Moxxy Jay
* Ashantia Mpofu
* Nomagugu Gumede

31 Community Awards
38. Outstanding Youth-Led / Community Organization
* Dynamic Wastee Management
* Creartive Culxure
* All Smiles
* Vision Arts Foundation
* F.A.B.G Foundation
* Youth Community Development Forum

39. Business of the Year
* Pumula Arts and Crafts Centre
* Sunshine Electricals
* Crunchalicious
* All Smiles
* Nkompon Kulture

40. Outstanding Youth-Led Organization in Climate Action / Advocacy
* Dynamic Waste Management
* Glass Recycling Designers
* Makokoba Youth Led DRR Committee
* Adopt A Tree Legacy Project

32 Individual Awards
41. Outstanding Youth in Community Engagement

* Nonsikelelo Moyo
* Lawson Khiwa Chiwayi
* Nokuzola Mbele
* Andile Ntutha
* Natasha Lwandle Dube

42. Entrepreneur of the Year
* Dedication Marasha
* Simbongeni Ncube
* Sanelisiwe Ncube
* Dalubuhle M Ncube
* Bekithemba Nkala

43. Upcoming Entrepreneur
* Ndumiso Mpofu
* Phumzile Ntonisani
* Prosper T Maregere
* Bhekumuzi Mathe

44. Outstanding Youth Leader
* Denzel Mathe
* Pius Lwandile Nleya
* Shepered Ncube
* Nokuzola Mbele

45. Outstanding Youth in Climate Advocacy

* Gamelihle Thabo Thwala
* Sanelisiwe Ncube
* Tafadzwa Matare
* Siphathisiwe Jodo
* YolandaV Moyo
* Sukoluhle Ndlovu

46. Outstanding Green Initiative / Job
* Dynamic Waste Management
* Glass Recycling Designers
* Jodo Interior

33 Sports Awards
47. Outstanding Sportsman / Sportswoman
* Stanford Moyo – East Rovers FC
* Thokozani Dube – Western Ranger Sports Academy
* Veronica Nyathi – Western Rangers Sports Academy
* Yvette Tadiwanashe Tsaukai – Thandanani Netball Club

11 Creative Handwork Awards
48. Outstanding Creative Hand Worker

* Praise Ndlovu – Phants Designs
* Sihlobo Bukhosi Moyo
* Sanelisiwe Ncube
* Dean Muchenje

49. Outstanding Fashion Designer/Label
* Monique James- Fabrique Monique
* Nqabelo Ngwenya – Money Greetings
* Praise Ndlovu – Praise Phants
* Emkay Brizzy – Limitless Designs
* Nkompon Kulture
* All Smiles
–
12 Out of Pumula Categories
50. Outstanding Musician
* Bhila
* Floppy Flaws
* Proff The Maze
* Talecy
* Alloe The Rapper
* Yamikani Banda

51. Outstanding Poet
* Duduzani Sibanda
* Riley G

52. Outstanding Youth in Community Engagement
* Dylan Khanye
* Enerst Hove
* Coach Nigel T Mapfumo
* Wesley Gandary

Special Recognition Awards
* Lifetime Achievement
* Special Awards (Presented by Partner Organizations)PRACA 2025 0FFICIAL NOMINEES
1. Outstanding Newcomer (All Genres)
* Noxie
* Mandisa
* Vega420
* Noxzie
* Babylions
* Willo Beats
* Soul Master
* Samfana x Dynamite