Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu,Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Excitement is building across Bulawayo’s arts and community sectors following the official release of nominees for the sixth edition of the Pumula Royal Arts and Community Awards (Praca). The announcement comes alongside major news: a landmark collaboration that resolves a scheduling clash that had raised concerns among artistes and patrons.
Praca and the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAAs) have joined forces to ensure both prestigious events are fully accommodated on December 20. The 2025 Praca festival will become a three-day showcase, running from December 18 to 20. The main Praca awards ceremony will be held during the day on December 20 at Pumula North Hall, while the broader festival programme unfolds at Isilwane Youth Centre. This arrangement paves the way for the BAAs to take place seamlessly in the evening, creating an unprecedented day-long celebration of Bulawayo’s creative excellence.
The extensive list of nominees across 52 categories reveals the depth and diversity of talent thriving in Pumula and beyond. Several artistes and entities have emerged as frontrunners, demonstrating outstanding versatility and impact.
Front-runners:
Mandie Mae leads the pack with nominations for Best Female Artiste, Song of the Year (“Move”), Music Video of the Year (“Move”), and Best Collaboration (“Ngenxa Yakho” ft Msiz’kay). Her strong showing across key categories positions her as one of the most dominant figures this year. Close behind is Mlue Jay, who secured nods for Best Male Artiste, Best Hip Hop Artiste and Album of the Year (“Umsaphazi”).
Ntix The Vocalist also features prominently with nominations for Best Male Artiste, Best Afro-Pop Artiste, Song of the Year (“Umuntu Omthandayo” ft Ndustoz) and Best Collaboration (“Amadamara”). In the community sphere, Dynamic Waste Management is recognised across Outstanding Youth-Led/Community Organisation, Outstanding Green Initiative/Job and Outstanding Youth-Led Organisation in Climate Action.
Newcomers to watch:
The Outstanding Newcomer (All Genres) category is one of the most competitive, featuring eight emerging talents: Noxie, Mandisa, Vega420, Noxzie, Babylions, Willo Beats, Soul Master and the duo Samfana x Dynamite. Their inclusion underscores PRACA’s commitment to discovering and uplifting new voices. Vega420 also appears in the Best Hip Hop Artiste category, while Noxzie secures nominations in both the newcomer and Best Afro-Pop Artiste categories.
Highly competitive fields:
Key categories promise tough contests. Best Male Artiste features nine contenders – Mlue Jay, Toksiq Balaclava, Ntix The Vocalist, Gabriel French, Blag Ego, TCK, Blaqk Fauza, DRLOVENJ and Dubcee. Best Collaboration includes nine diverse pairings, reflecting the growing culture of creative partnerships. The Best Duo/Group category presents an eclectic mix of DJ collectives, musical duos and choirs, including the Bulawayo Children’s Choir.
Community-focused categories such as Outstanding Youth in Community Engagement and Entrepreneur of the Year also feature strong, varied nominee lists.
The nominations cut across music (including Maskandi, Gospel, Amapiano, Hip Hop, Dancehall and Afro-Pop), dance, spoken word, literature, film and theatre, visual arts, media, podcasting, content creation, modelling, community service, business innovation, entrepreneurship, climate action, sports and fashion/handwork. The “Out of Pumula” categories ensure that national talents such as Bhila, Floppy Flaws and Proff The Maze also receive recognition.
Praca’s expansion into a three-day festival reflects its growing stature and ambition. Beyond the awards, the festival will offer performances, exhibitions, workshops and community engagement activities leading up to the main ceremony on December 20. The collaboration with the BAAs cements that date as one of the most important on Bulawayo’s cultural calendar.
