HARARE – National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) has announced the nominees for the NAMA 23rd edition awards with the awards gala set for Saturday 1st March 2025 at Harare Hippodrone.
According to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) who are the organizers of the awards, the event for this year will be running under the theme “Afrofuturism”.
The awards are headline by seasoned winners including Freeman HKD, Enzo Ishall, Janet Manyowa and people’s favorite Winky D.
There was room for new acts such as Moojaya, Nisha Ts, Bagga and Young Gemini among others.
Surprisingly, the 23rd edition of the NAMA awards saw the omission of sungura artists Alick Macheso and Mark Ngwazi who dominated the charts and had an outstanding year all round.
Here is the full list of NAMA Awards 2025 nominees:
DANCE AWARDS
Outstanding Female Dancer
- Tanaka Machikicho in Into The Light
- Ellain Ncube in Black Fever
- Celine Madziva in Respect My Team
Outstanding Male Dancer
- Ngonidzashe Mudyarwa in Ndichatarisa
- Tichaona Chikara in Into The Light
- Terrence Kapesa in Respect My Team
Outstanding Dance Group/Production
- Salt ‘N Light for Into The Light
- Khaya Arts Productions for UniAfrica
- Afrikera Arts Trust for Ndichatarisa
Outstanding Choreographer
- Future Dube (Khaya Arts Productions)
- Hillary Indir (Ellysium Magna)
- Tichaona Chikara (Salt ‘N Light)
VISUAL ARTS AWARDS
Outstanding Male Visual Artist
- Ishmael Maposa
- Gareth Nyandoro
- Moffat Takadiwa
Outstanding Female Visual Artist
- Portia Zvavahera
- Shamila Aasha
- Sinqobile Shamiso Dube
Outstanding Upcoming Visual Artist
- Fungai Marima
- Kundai Nathan
- Nothando Chiwanga
Outstanding Exhibition
- Our Father’s Inheritance Does Not Allow Us To Rest – Admire Mudzengerere curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwz
- A Woman’s Yoke – Sinqobile Shamiso Dube curated by Doris Kampira
- 6th Venice Biennale – Various Artists curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa
SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
Outstanding Poet
- Sithandazile Dube aka Um’Afrikazi
- Kuda Rice
- Mighty Mahembe aka General Fire Collosso
Outstanding Social Media Skits
- Admire Mushambi aka Mama Vee
- Bashimane Mothusi Ndlovu aka Sikhobokhobo Madlela
- Panashe Gurende aka Moojaya
Outstanding Stand-Up Comedian
- Nigel Tha Slick Pastor
- Mbongeni Ignatius Ndlovu
- King Kandoro
THEATRE AWARDS
Outstanding Actress
- Chidochangu Tenga as Molly in Molly Street
- Caroline Mashingaidze Zimbizi as Tete Sabina in Family Roots
- Munashe Goromonzi as Girl’s mother and a girl in The Aftermath
Outstanding Actor
- Ronald Madodana Sigeca as Factual Gumunyu in Promise
- Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi as Moris and multi characters in Haywire
- Michael Kudakwashe as Sidney in Family Riots
Outstanding Theatrical Production
- The Aftermath (Patsimedu Trust)
- Promise (Savanna Trust)
- Family Riots (Almasi Collaboration)
Outstanding Director
- Ted Mangawa for Promise
- Everson Ndlovu for Haywire
- Nobert Makoche for Aftermath
Outstanding Playwright
- Leonard Matsa for Promise
- Peter Churu for Molly Street
- Gideon J. Wabvuta for Family Riots
LITERARY AWARDS
Outstanding First Published Work
- Zagamo The War Within by Ray Mawerera, published by Royalty Books
- Mafuta Enguruve by Trust Mutekwa, published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Limited
- A Father’s Agony and Other Stories by Takudzwa Chiwara, published by Royalty Books
Outstanding Children’s Book
- The Tale Of Jackal and Man by Joseph Matose
- Chimbira Nedzimwe Ngano by Primrose Dzenga, published by Torch Bearers Trust Books
- Cartoonist by Hleko Vuma, published by Essential Publishing Company
Outstanding Fiction Book
- The Full Moon Rises At Sunset by Susan Hubert, self-published
- Weeping Tomato by Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure, published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Limited
- Aziwelanga Phansi by Welshman Dube, published by Dawundethi Publishers
Outstanding Non-fiction Book
- Engage Zimbabwe: A Cultural Intelligence Handbook For Effective Diplomacy Volume 1 – Shona Culture by Lovemore and Chido Kuwana, published by Kuwana Media and Consultants (Pvt) Ltd
- Your Guide To Adulting by Rumbidzai Munyaradzi, self-published
- Entrepreneurial Success: Insights on Growing Business in a Fluid Economy by Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula PhD, self-published
FILM & TV AWARDS
Outstanding Actress
- Chesesile Mpofu as Tabitha Dube in Inkaba
- Munashe Goromonzi as Tsitsi in the November Promise
- Eunice Tava Chikoore as Mamoyo in Nhoroondo
Outstanding Actor
- John Mabuyane as Tembani Dube in Inkaba
- Tapiwa Mavindidze as Tawanda in Nhoroondo
- Skanyiso Ngwenya as Rise in Rise
Outstanding Music Video
- Masahwira by Enzo Ishall, directed by AJV Entertainment
- Nhemamusasa by Bagga, directed by Leoy V
- Machina by MulaNation, directed by Taurai Zidya Dollar
- Mvura by Bagga, directed by KMANE
Outstanding Screen Production (Television)
- Inkaba by John Mabuyane
- The November Promise by Derby Beta
- The DNA Show by Tinashe Mugabe
Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)
- Taxi by Jonathan Samukange
- Dollar by Tawanda Vombo
- Emuva – The Battle Of Emotions by Siphosetu Sibadze
Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length Film)
- See Me by Charlene Mangweni-Furusa
- Nhoroondo by Vusa Hlatswayo
- Neria by Trust Sayi
MUSIC AWARDS
Outstanding Female Musician
- Shashl
- Janet Manyowa
- Tamy Moyo
Outstanding Male Musician
- Freeman HKD
- Master H
- SaintFloew
Outstanding Breakthrough Musician
- Nisha Ts
- Young Gemini
- Chillmaster
Outstanding Music Group
- Joyful Praise
- Shower Power
- The Unveiled
Outstanding Song
- Madiro by Kae Chaps
- Kana Ndanyura by Killer T
- Gore Rino by Tembalami ft The Unveiled
- Denga by Hwinza
- Gore (Remix) by 216Whisky ft Various Artists
Outstanding Album
- Me vs Me (Freeman HKD)
- N.O.P Makoni (Voltz JT)
- Trap Yevafundisi (Saintfloew)
SPECIAL AWARDS
Promoter of the Year
- Event Hulks
- Nash TV
- Ngoma Nehosho
Outstanding Artist in the Diaspora
- Annatoria (Music)
- Ernest Ndlovu (Film & TV)
- Masimba Hwati (Visual Artist)
- Wina Musamati (Theatre)
People’s Choice Award
- Dorcas Moyo
- Mai Kirifodhi
- Master H
- Voltz JT
- Winky D
You can vote for the People’s Choice Award here.
