Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena
After nominations were revealed early this week, art enthusiasts from Bulawayo are pinning their hopes on Khaya Arts as the cultural ensemble is tipped to scope the two awards they were nominated for at the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama).
An initiative by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), in partnership with the Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation (JCMC), the awards are scheduled for Harare on March 3.
This year’s ceremony will run under the theme “Afrofuturism” which celebrates the arts and culture of Zimbabwe, and envisions the future of the arts sector over the next century.
Khaya Arts’ production UniAfrican got them nominated for Outstanding Dance Group/Production alongside Salt ‘n’ Light (Into the light) as well as Afrikera Arts Trust (Ndichatarisa).
The group’s founder and director Future Dube is nominated with Ellysium Magna’s Hillary Indie and Salt ‘n’ Light director Tichaona Hero Chikara for Outstanding Choreographer.
Other artistes from Bulawayo who are nominated at the Namas are Madlela Skhobokhobo, Sithandazile “Um’Africakazi” Dube, John Mabuyane, Nobert Makoche, Sinqobile “Shamie Art” Dube, Ronald Sigeca, Chelesile Mpofu as well as Mbongeni Ignitious Ndlovu.
John Mabuyane’s film production Inkaba received three nominations. The production is nominated for Outstanding Screen Production (Television) alongside The November Promise by Derby Beta and The DNA Show by Tinashe Mugabe.
Thespians from Inkaba Chesesile Mpofu who played Tabitha Dube and John Mabuyane who played Tembani Dube are nominated for Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Actor respectively.
Shamie Art has been nominated two times. She is nominated for Outstanding Female Visual Artist. In the category, she will clash with Portia Zvavahera and Shamila Aasha.
Her works on A Woman’s Yoke curated by Doris Kampira got her nominated for Outstanding Exhibition.
For the particular award, she is nominated with Admire Kamudzengerere (Our Father’s Inheritance Does
Not Allow Us to Rest) and an exhibition by Various Artists’ work on 6th Venice Biennale curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa.
Um’Africakazi is nominated for Outstanding Poet alongside Kudakwashe Rice and Mighty Mahembe.
Madlela Skhobokhobo is nominated for Outstanding Social Media Skits. He will lock horns with Admire Mushambi also known as Mama Vee and Panashe Gurende, who is also known as Moojaya.
Ronald Madodana Sigeca’s thespian efforts as Factual Gumunyu in Promise got him nominated for Outstanding Actor under the Theatre category. He is nominated alongside Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi (for the character of Morris and multi characters in Haywire) as well as Michael Kudakwashe (who starred in Family Riots as Sidney).
For Outstanding Stand-Up Comedian, Mbongeni Ignatius Ndlovu is nominated with Nigel Maritinyu (Nigel Slick Pastor) and Mukudzei Majoni (King Kandoro).
Nobert Makoche (Aftermath) is nominated for Outstanding Director alongside Teddy Mangawa (Promise) and Everson Ndlovu (Haywire).
The director of Khaya Arts Future Dube said they are looking forward to scooping the awards and fully representing the city of Kings.
“It feels great that our work is being recognised nationally by the biggest awards in the country.
Discipline, dedication, persistence and hard work I believe got us nominated. We promise to represent our region very well by dressing to the occasion and raising the Bulawayo flag high with Ubuntu. We hope to bring all the accolades home,” said Dube.
Peter Tanyanyiwa