NAMA to Recognise Legends

 Tsitsi Ndabambi

The 2021 National Arts Merits Awards will be different from the usual annual event as they will be honouring 40 arts legends only, on 27 February 2021 under the theme ‘Our Legacy, Our Pride’.

At a media briefing held at Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation (JCMC) in Harare, the director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Mr Nicholas Moyo said, “dubbed NAMA Legends Awards #NAMAlegends, we shall only honour forty legends as we celebrate 40 years of Independence and 35 years of National Arts Council existence.” 

 “These awards provide for a strategic postponement of the competitive 20^TH NAMA whose hosting hung on the balance due to COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns,” he added. “In reaching the decision to postpone the competitive NAMA, NACZ is cognisant of the fact that a lack of activity in the sector has greatly affected the ability of artists to create in their usual spaces.”

 Their reason for the postponement was because some arts disciplines have not been able to operate under the stringent lockdown conditions. 

“In this regard the postponed NAMA will be held in February 2022. We will reward art works created in the period 1^st December 2019 to 30^th November 2021. This extended period is to allow artists to resume their operations in light of the relaxed COVID19 regulations.  By hosting the Legends Awards we desire to reflect on the developments in the Cultural and Creative Industries over the past 40 years and celebrate our achievements by providing honorary awards to the people who were influential during the period in shaping the various subsectors of the CCIs. The awards are a special honour and recognition to legendary creatives who have raised the Zimbabwean flag high over the stated period,” he said.

 JCMC representative Napoleon Nyanhi said they were already steps ahead with the preparations of the February NAMAs.

 “Beforehand, we are hosting the Inaugural Annual Golf Day to be held on the 4th of December 2020 and we are saying annual in the hope that it will happen every year. We are calling artists and journalists to come on board and be part of the golf day.”

 Present at the media briefing was Mr Elton Kurima from Kayse Connect who are part of the NAMA main partners. He urged other corporates to support these arts awards.