Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya Showbiz Correspondent
THE National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) yesterday unveiled nominees for the National Arts Merits Awards (Nama) with Jah Prayzah leading the pack with four nominations.

Jah Prayzah is closely followed by Winky D, Tumbuka Dance Company and theatre productions – The Taking and Chimbwido the Girl of War which have three nominations each and there are 15 acts nominated from Bulawayo.
The awards ceremony which is now in its 15th edition will be held on February 13 at the 7 Arts Theatre in Harare.

Battling against Winky D, Killer T and Mathias Mhere for the Outstanding Male Musician title, Jah Prayzah is also nominated in the Outstanding Album category for his Jerusarema album. The popular Eriza track has also awarded him an Outstanding Song nomination against Winky D’s Disappear, Killer T’s Takuda Kumbofarawo and Rev Togarepi Chivaviro’s Ebenezer. His last nomination is for the Jerusarema music video which is nominated in the Outstanding Music Video category.

Theatre production, Chimbwido the Girl of War also has four nominations – Outstanding Theatrical Production, Outstanding Actor (Tafadzwa Hananda), Outstanding Actress (Nyaradzo Nhongonhema) and Outstnading Director (Stanley Makuwe).

The Taking – one of the best plays ever to come from Raisedon Baya is nominated for Outstanding Theatrical Production. The play’s director, Memory Kumbota is vying for Outstanding Director while one of its actors, Musa Sibanda is competing in the

Outstanding Actor category.

The film – My Lady has three nominations for Outstanding Screen Production as well Outstanding Actor – Nick Zemura and

Actress – Fortune Peruzu.
For Outstanding Screen Production – Short Film are Learnmore Sibanda’s Jane The Ghost and Tswatwa Mutasa’s The Christening. Tonight with Zororo which airs on DStv’s Zambezi Magic is nominated for Outstanding Screen Production (TV) against Wenera, Zambezi News and The Maid. My Lady, Mwanasikana and Far from Yesterday are nominated in the Full

Length Film – Screen Production category.
Umkhathi Theatre’s Mehluli Dube is up against M&M Dance Factory’s Sean Mambwere and Tumbuka’s McIntosh Jerahuni. Dube is no stranger on the Nama platform as this is his second nomination since 2014.

In the Best Female Dancer category is Iyasa’s Sibonisiwe Sithole, who is the longest serving member of the group. Iyasa, an exceptional group which some have dubbed the Kings of dance and drama, is nominated in the Outstanding Dance Group category.

Actor, Philani Nyoni, who already holds a Nama for his book Once a Lover Always a Fool has been nominated in a different category of Outspoken Poet against Barbara Anderson and Freedon Nyamubaya.
Sunday News scribe, Mbongeni Msimanga, a new entry, is nominated in the Outstanding Print Journalist category.

Female musicians – Hope Masike, Selmor Mtukudzi, Tariro NeGitare and Agatha Murudzwa are competing in the Outstanding Female Musician category.

Promoters of the annual Kalawa Homecoming gig – X-Mo Squad have been nominated again in the Outstanding Promoter category, an award they won last year. They are up against Chipaz Promotions, Simmad Entertainment and Danchip Investments (Legends Sports Bar).

NACZ communications and marketing officer Catherine Mthombeni said they were impressed with the quality of nominated work. Over 1,104 entries were submitted.

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