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Bulawayo Bureau
FEMALE jazz veteran Dorothy Masuka will headline the 13th annual National Art Merit Awards (Nama) in Bulawayo as preparations for the event gather momentum. The Bulawayo-born jazz muso makes a date with her home city on 15 of February when she is expected to perform at a local hotel.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe spokesperson Cathrine Mthombeni said Sis Dot, as Masuka is affectionately known by her legion of fans, will bring a jazz feel to the annual event that is being held for the second time in the City of Kings.
“I can confirm that Sis Dot will grace the Namas this year. She will not be accompanied by her band but her melodious voice will serenade invited guests at the function,” she said.
Mthombeni said the Namas would be broadcast live on ZBCTv.
“The Namas is a strictly by invitation event ever since its inception 13 years ago.
“That is why we televise the event so that the whole of Zimbabwe can watch from the comfort of their homes,” she said.
Mthombeni said those who are always invited to the Namas were various stakeholders in the arts industry, the corporate world, their sponsors and government.
“The venue carries a certain number of people. At the event, we shall be having our various partners and sponsors, which is why the event is only for those invited. The Namas venue changes from year to year. Last year it was held at the Large City Hall but this year the event will be held at the Rainbow Hotel,” she said.
Dorothy Masuka was born in Bulawayo in 1935 and the 79-year-old is still going strong in her musical career. Masuka’s music was popular in South Africa throughout the 1950s, but when her songs began touching on racial injustices in that country, the government began questioning her.
Her song Dr Malan which listed some of SA’s oppressive laws, was banned. And in 1961 she sang a song for Patrice Lumumba which led to her being exiled for 31 years.
On the first instance of exile, Sis Dot, was in Bulawayo in 1961 when the Special Branch seized the master recording of one song and she was advised not to return until it was safer. Between that time and 1965, Dorothy was in exile, working in Malawi and Tanzania.
In 1965, she came back to Bulawayo but had to flee again and only returned after independence in 1980.
Mighty Movies are the official organisers of the awards.
Nama categories include music, literary works, dance, visual, film and television, theatre, media, spoken word and special awards.
Mthombeni said the nominees would be announced 10 days before the awards ceremony.
Last year, a glamorous event was held at the Large City Hall and it was the first time the awards were held out of Harare.
Online Reporter