adminYeukai Karengezeka Entertainment Reporter
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has opened the public voting system for the People’s Choice category of the National Arts Merit Awards. The 13th edition of Nama takes place in Bulawayo at Rainbow Hotel on February 15 and nominees for the rest of the categories will be announced today.
NACZ communications and marketing officer Catherine Mthombeni said people can now vote for their favourite artist to be considered for the People’s Choice award.
“To those who have been waiting for the opportunity to vote for their favourite ones, NAMA People’s Choice voting began on Saturday February 1 and will run until the awards night on February 15,” said Mthombeni.
The People’s Choice Award is a special award given to an artist or arts organisation selected by the public.
“As the name suggests the People’s Choice Award is given to an individual or institution that would have received the most votes from members of the public.
“The public is at liberty to select an artist of their choice from the NAMA categories of Music, Literary Arts, Dance, Visual Arts, Film and Television, Theatre and Spoken Word.”
Voting is open to all local mobile phone networks through the code 39436. To vote one types: nama # name of artist (eg:
nama#tapiwamoyo) and send to 39436. The artist with the most votes will be honored on the day of the awards.
Meanwhile, Nama nominees for the other categories will be announced today.
The 13th edition of the awards is running under the theme “Unite, Excite and Educate”.
A total number of 664 NAMA entries were submitted for this year’s edition from all provinces. Those who submitted included production
houses, studios, stables, galleries, organisations and associations.
The nominees will be in the following categories:
LITERARY AWARDS
Outstanding Fiction Book
Outstanding Children’s Book
Outstanding First Creative Published Work
DANCE AWARDS
Outstanding Dance Group
Outstanding Female Dancer
Outstanding Male Dancer
THEATRE/DRAMA AWARDS
Outstanding Actress
Outstanding Actor
Outstanding Theatrical Production
MEDIA AWARDS
Print Media
Electronic/Television Media
Radio Media
VISUAL ARTS
Outstanding Mix Media Work
Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work
Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work
FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS
Outstanding Actor
Outstanding Actress
Outstanding Music Video
Outstanding Screen Production (Television Soap)
Outstanding Screen Production (Television Drama)
Outstanding Screen Production (Film)
MUSIC AWARDS
Outstanding Musician/Group
Outstanding Song
Outstanding Choral Group
Outstanding Album
Online Reporter