And the nominees are ...

ARE the annual National Arts Merit Awards elitist or a simple reflection of the status quo of our arts industry?

The nominees for the 16th edition of Nama, to be held on February 18 at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare, was released late last week. Sadly, the list easily leaves one with more questions than answers.

For instance, how is it possible that one of the most popular actors in the country, Eddie Sandifolo, is not nominated under Film and Television?

Sandifolo, who was first introduced to the public in the 2004 ZTV drama series “Tiriparwendo” as lead actor Chabvonga, has since starred in many movies and TV productions.

And he has proved to be a force to reckon with on the local film scene in the process walking away with the Best Actor award for his role in the movie “Escape”, at the last edition of the annual Zimbabwe International Film Festival held in 2016.

Furthermore, is it by default or design that artistes like Leonard Zhakata, resurgent sungura king Alick Macheso and his counterpart Tatenda Pinjisi, who occupied the top spots on the popular end of year Radio Zimbabwe Coca-Cola Top 50 and National FM charts after amassing hundreds of thousands of votes, have not been nominated for anything? Are we missing something here? Certainly, Takura Shonai, who finds himself in the Outstanding Male Musician category together with Winky D and Jah Prayzah, has not done better than sungura singer Pinjisi.

Similar glaring anomalies are present in the Dance and Theatre categories.

Perhaps the nominees are selected based on the “quality” of crowd or following that one attracts. Or is it that the guys are not on the list because they did not enter?

Statistics released early this year by the national arts council of Zimbabwe show that only 775 entries were submitted across the country ahead of the November 30 deadline, a drop of 329 from 1 104 entries submitted for last year’s edition. Could these visible double standards be the reason why artistes have developed apathy in these supposed premier arts awards event in the country ?

But for the sake of credibility and transparency, one would expect the adjudicators to carefully follow market trends without bias and nominate deserving artistes. This is what we all hoped would happen when the NACZ announced last year that they “…appointed individual and institutional monitors who have been monitoring the work of excelling artistes throughout the year and are still monitoring until the 30th of November”.

Sadly market watchers do not feel the adjudication team was thorough in the nominees selection criteria.

Below is the full list of the Nama nominees. 1. THEATRE AWARDS Outstanding Actor Fortune Ruzungunde in Untikolotshi Mehluli Dube in Warrior Everson Ndlovu in Liberation Outstanding Actress Rumbidzai Karize in Liberation

Tsitsi Farirai Gumbo Mukumbain Untikolotshiin The Graduate OutstandingUntikolotshi by TheatricalTheatre for ProductionEveryone Liberation by Savanna Trust Warrior by Umkhathi Theatre Works Special Mention The Dream by Chaplin High School Drama Club Outstanding Director Charles Munganasa for The Graduate Styx Mhlanga for Untikolotshi Matesu Dube for Warrior 2. SPOKEN WORD AWARDS Outstanding Poet Tinashe Tafirenyika Lerato Ndlovu aka Nqindi Desire Moyo Outstanding Comedian

Ntandoyenkosi Moyo aka Ntando Van Moyo Samantha Kureya aka Gonyeti Nqobizitha Dube aka Q Dube 3. LITERARY ARTS AWARDS Outstanding First Creative Published Works

Tears and Scars by Penjeni Madzikangava (Harp Bookz International)

Behind the Wall Everywhere by Farai Mungoshi (Mungoshi Press)

Misodzi Yerombe by Kelvin Mangwende (Pen Featherz Media) Special Mention Vicious Circle by Stephen Mutsago Outstanding Children’s Book

My Son by Albert Nyathi & Ignatius Mabasa (Imbongi Arts)

A Magical Adventure in Chewore by Chellie Conlon

The Unwelcome Visitor by Farai Nyandoro (Jomo Kenyatta Foundation) Outstanding Fiction

Judas Files by Robert Mukondiwa (Publish Nation)

The Latter Rain by Phillip K Chidavaenzi (New Heritage Press)

Whose Land is it Anyway by Benjamin S Sibanda Special Mention Mars His Sword by Philani A Nyoni 4. VISUAL ARTS AWARDS Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work

Gumbeze Renherera by Anthony Bumhira

Eyes on Tobacco by Webster Mubayirenyi Special Mention Together Enjoying by Resta Chikomo Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work Happy Times by Rufaro Murenza Welcome Kiss by Andamiyo Chihota Washing Hair by Edson Kangadza Outstanding Mixed Media Work Mhodzi Dzemusango by Semina Mpofu Burning Three Witches by Voti Thebe Father’s Bull by Victor Nyakauru Outstanding Exhibition

Eye Report by Percy Manyonga at Village Unhu

Woman by Miriro Mwandiyambira at First Floor Gallery

It is Without by Helen Teede at First Floor Gallery 5. DANCE AWARDS Outstanding Female Dancer Ndomupeishe Chipendo in Namaste

Christina Jenkins in Ghost Chaleen Chimara in Power of Love Outstanding Male Dancer Stephanie Thomas in Phantom John Cole in Dancing with John Peter Lenso in Mukati Outstanding Dance Group Ezimnyama Dance Ensemble Breakthrough Productions Kinkini Dance Company Special Mention St Peters Tokoyo School – Antalia Expo in Turkey Outstanding Choreographer Peter Lenso - Internal Vibrations Ketan Nagar - Rengeela Power of Dance Timikha Fisher - Listen 6. FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS Outstanding Actress Jesesi Mungoshi in Muzita Rababa

Charlene Mangweni in Conflicts

Donna Ncube in Insuku Zokucina Outstanding Actor Ishmael Muvingi in Insuku Zokucina Anthony Tongani in Conflicts Admire Kuzhangaira in Muchaneta Outstanding Music Video MaObama by Walter Chawota ft Takura Shonhai

Mari Yangu by Nico Abote ft Eve Kawadza

Zino Irema (Ndirikukuwonai Zvangu) by Andy “Cutta” Sobhuza ft Takura

Outstanding Screen Production (TV)

Simba Savannah directed by Tommy Deuschle

The Arthur C Evans Show directed by Trey Ncube

Tiriparwendo directed by Aaron Chiundura Moyo

Outstanding Screen Production — Short Film

All We Need directed by Mhle Nzima

Seiko directed by Sydney Taivavashe

The Way It Is directed by Daniel Lasker

Outstanding Screen Production — Full-Length Film

Muzita Rababa directed by Nick Zemura

Mwanasikana 2 directed by Beauty Nakai Tsuro

Escape directed by Joe Njagu and Agnieszka Piotrowska 7. MEDIA AWARDS Outstanding Journalist - Print Vasco Chaya — Daily News Tinashe Muchuri - News Day Sindiso Dube - News Day Outstanding Journalist — Radio Tawanda Gudhlanga — SFM Nyaradzo Makombe — Star FM Chila Mutimbanepasi — ZiFM Outstanding Journalist - TV Jesina Kuwana - ZBC Andrew Neshamba — ZBC Nkosana Vuma — ZBC Outstanding Online Media Fokus Magazine Onvi TV Zimbuzz 8. MUSIC AWARDS Outstanding Female Musician Ammara Brown Thamsanqa Moyo aka Tamy Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave Outstanding Male Musician Wallace Chirimuko aka Winky D Takura Shonai Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah Outstanding Album Gafa Futi by Wallace Chirimuko aka Winky D

Huya Uone Zvaakuitika by Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave

Mdhara Vachauya by Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah Outstanding Song Takangodaro by Kelvin Kusikwenyu aka Killer T

Mukoko by Tytan ft Ammara Brown

Mdhara Vachauya by Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah 9. SPECIAL AWARDS Outstanding Promoter Xtratime Entertainment 2 Kings Entertainment Divine Assignments