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Jah Prayzah

Bongani Ndlovu Saturday Leisure Reporter
THE National Art Merit Awards (Nama) are on tonight at the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel and Zimbabwe’s top artistes will be battling for honours in the various categories.
If last year’s event is anything to go by, tonight promises more glam and glitter, with the who-is-who in the arts sector descending on the city of kings. Artistes like Dorothy “Aunt Dot” Masuka treat people to a night filled with jazzy tunes.

Tonight people are looking out for winners in the Outstanding Male Musician, Outstanding Female Musician, Outstanding song and Outstanding Album categories.

The People’s Choice Award where fans have been voting for this past two weeks is also highly anticipated. Last year Sulumani Chimbetu walked away with it.

Chimbetu who won a total of three awards last year is back this year in the Outstanding Male musician category with man of the moment Jah Prayzah, alongside Majahawodwa “Jeys Marabini” Ndlovu, who has also won a Nama before.

Jah Prayzah made waves last year and his album Tsviriyo has been a hit on local radio stations and has a good chance to walk away with the award.

Sulumani Chimbetu is still riding high on past glory as people have not forgotten his hit Batai Munhu (Sean Timba).
Jeys Marabini will relish a chance to win an award in the city as this would boost his confidence.

His album released last year has tracks like the tile track Silo, Ndwandwe and Khumbula Ekhaya have been received well by fans.
Jah Prayzah is nominated in the Outstanding Song Award for Tsviriyo, alongside Mechanic Manyeruke’s son, Emmanuel aka Guspy Warrior. He is up for his song Seunononga, while gospel sensation Mathias Mhere is up for Zino Irema in the same category.

Their songs have been well received and are popular with fans. Tsviriyo literary became an anthem on radios, while Seunononga made people stay on the dance floor countrywide. Most weddings and social gatherings had Mhere’s song accompanying them.

Visible absentees in this category are highflying songs Wayawaya by Shinsoman and WeMaNcube by Khuxxman.
Jah Prayzah has the highest chances of scooping an award if his form in the last half of the year is anything to go by he might bag all the and also the People’s Choice Award.

Three female artistes Mai Charamba debutant, Selmor Mtukudzi and Edith Katiji aka Edith “WeUtonga” Katiji of the Amakhosikazi fame will be in the running for the Outstanding Female musician Award.

It will be add icing to the cake for Selmor Mtukudzi if she walks away with the award as she has had a notable year, with an album release and an international award nomination. Her song Nguva yangu (Space Yeyi) did tremendously well for her. This saw her being booked at various venues across the country. She even performed at Bulawayo’s Intwasa Festival and fans asked for three encores for Nguva yangu.