Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
For acclaimed author Ericah Gwetai, the saying “third time is the charm” has failed to ring true. Even a fourth nomination has ended in disappointment, leaving the veteran writer questioning the fairness of the adjudication process at the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAAs).
Gwetai, whose book Living Memories was nominated in the Pathisa Nyathi Outstanding Literary Work Award category, lost out at the 2025 ceremony to Philani Amadeus Nyoni’s The Testament of Black Jesus. The result marked her fourth nomination in the same category without a win, a pattern she now views as troubling.
“It’s the fourth time that I’ve been nominated for the same category, but I haven’t won in any of the editions and I’m wondering what could be the problem. Surely, if I’m that good, then I should have won the award at least once.
“I wonder who adjudicates these awards because clearly, they have something against me,” Gwetai said.
She expressed frustration at what she sees as repeated recognition without reward, saying the experience has left her feeling sidelined rather than seriously considered for the top honour.
“I feel used as a ‘placeholder’ rather than a ‘competitor’,” she said. “Why am I always nominated if I’m not that good? That’s the question they need to answer.”
Gwetai’s history with the BAAs spans several years. Her first nomination came in 2018 for The Other Side, followed by Where Were You in 2021, Is This Love? in 2022, and this year’s Living Memories. The consistent nominations, she argues, point to sustained literary output that should, at some point, translate into a win.
Adding to her frustration is the fact that she was honoured by the BAAs in 2023, when she received an honorary Icon award at the ceremony’s seventh edition. The accolade recognised her contribution to the arts and placed her alongside notable figures such as broadcaster Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda, jazz guitarist Simbarashe Hudson, the late rapper Cal Vin (posthumously), arts educator and playwright Thabani Hillary Moyo, Thandanani Women’s Ensemble and Black Umfolosi.
While appreciative of the recognition, Gwetai sees a clear distinction between an honorary award and a competitive literary prize.
“The two are not the same,” she indicated, suggesting that being celebrated as an icon does not address her concerns about the adjudication of literary work.
Efforts to get a response from the BAAs organising committee were unsuccessful, with officials declining to comment on Gwetai’s allegations regarding the adjudication process or her “placeholder” remarks. — Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
