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Bongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
JAZZ songstress Dudu Manhenga is no longer the chairperson of the adjudication board of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) as her term of office has expired.Manhenga has been the chairperson of the adjudication board for the past three years and her term ended last year. A new head will be appointed in the coming week.
The adjudication panel made up of 24 members and an independent entity is responsible for coming up with the nominees for the awards.
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) deputy director, Nicholas Moyo confirmed that Manhenga has left.
“Dudu is no longer the chairperson of the adjudication board. The NACZ board has to appoint a new overseer of the adjudication process. The adjudication panel is independent and the NACZ board appoints an overseer from among themselves,” said Moyo. “By February 28 all should have been finalised.”
NACZ spokesperson Cathrine Mthombeni said the panel of 24 judges were made up of experts in the arts industry.
“There are 24 judges who are experts in different arts genres that are being awarded. The names, however, of these judges are confidential,” said Mthombeni.
She said artistes who will perform would be announced in due course.
“What I can assure you is that those artistes from the host province will be there at the awards ceremony as part of entertainment. I cannot give you the list, but as soon as the artistes sign contracts with us I will give you details,” said Mthombeni.
The 13th edition of the Namas will be held in Bulawayo for the second year running at a city hotel on February 15. Mighty Movies are the official organisers of the awards. Nama has 35 categories, which include music, literary works, dance, visual, film and television and theatre.
Online Reporter