Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
POPULAR musician and comedian Madlela Skhobokhobo has received his first-ever nomination at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), marking a significant milestone in his career.
Renowned for his witty skits that have captivated social media audiences, Madlela has been nominated in the Outstanding Social Media Skits category.
He will compete against fellow content creators Mama Vee and Moojaya, both of whom have also enjoyed a successful and impactful year.
The awards ceremony is set to take place on 1 March at the Harare Hippodrome. The event will be hosted by television personality Nabeelah Jogee, who will anchor the main stage, while Charlene Mangweni-Furusa will provide voice-over commentary.
According to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), the nominations for the 2024 awards were based on works submitted between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024.
“The adjudication process began on 1 December 2024. A total of 2,371 entries were received for the 23rd NAMA, including 814 physical submissions and 1,073 online entries, while 484 entries were submitted by monitors,” NACZ stated.
In an interview, Madlela expressed his excitement and gratitude for the recognition at a national level.
“This is my first time being nominated for the NAMAs. It’s an honour, and we truly appreciate it, though I would have loved to be nominated for Best Actor under Madlela Comes Home Season 1 and 2, not just for skits. Nonetheless, we’re very grateful for finally receiving this recognition.
“I believe this nomination came as a result of consistency. Winning would mean so much, and I would dedicate the award to everyone who has supported us from the beginning,” he said.
Madlela’s nomination comes at a time when he has been vocal about the need for better recognition of Matabeleland artistes, arguing that they are often overlooked when it comes to securing major gigs. —@mthabisi_mthire
Online Reporter