adminNkululeko Nkala
When it comes to arts awards Nama is the ultimate arts show case.
So it must not come as a shock that the postponement is both sad and shocking and yet still understandable.
By the way Nama stands for National Arts Merit Awards and is a brain child of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
The 18th edition of the awards which were to be held tomorrow at the HICC will now be held on the 13 of April.
A press release was passed on Wednesday by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation and it read: The 18th National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) date has been moved to 13 April 2019. As a ministry, together with our parastatal the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, we took the decision based on the current national situation of the effects of the natural disaster, Cyclone Idai that have claimed lives and vastly destroyed properties. Cognisant that we are a culture Ministry that values unhu/ ubuntu, we saw it noble that we move the awards ceremony and join the rest of fellow Zimbabweans in assisting the affected families.
My ministry sincerely apologises to the sector, corporates, events manager AB Communication, the public and nation at large for inconveniences caused by this development. We assure that the ceremony will be held accordingly as had been planned at Harare International Conference Centre. Nama is a platform where National Arts Council of Zimbabwe recognises excellence in creativity and talent.
The major aim of the awards is to stimulate artistic creativity and originality. Besides, the awards aim to inspire artistes to strive for higher and original forms of creativity and provide an opportunity for arts disciplines to jointly market and publicise the arts locally, regionally and internationally. Also, I take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the nation at large. We are together as a family in this difficult time of immense losses of human lives as well as properties. It is a sad period, we honour and respect all the efforts that are on course to assist the affected.
Hon Kirsty Coventry MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, ARTS AND RECREATION
So it hit me. Wait a minute, the ministry actually stood up and postponed the great Nama. Does it mean finally the ministry will support our arts? I know the stresses of running an event and I am certain by now Nama was doing final touches. Not to be insensitive, could we not have dedicated parts of the show to the Cyclone and its effects? In actual fact done better and made it a platform to mobilise for those affected? Could we not observe moments of silence just like the national football team will do on Sunday? I mean there are a lot of what if’s, but my real attraction is that maybe finally the ministry is standing up. Nonetheless I know it’s more time to plan until the 13th for Nama organisers , meaning an even glitzier show. So Sunday 24th is my birthday, feel free to send me a birthday message.
Until next week, be safe @nkuenkala 0772214373
derick.khumalo