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Bongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
BULAWAYO is warming up to hosting, for the second year running, the annual National Arts Merits Awards (Nama).
The event will be held next month under the theme Unite, Excite and Educate.
Following the city’s successful hosting of the 12th edition of the Nama last year, the City  of Kings was given the mandate to host this year’s edition.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Cathrine Mthombeni said all roads will lead to a Bulawayo hotel on February 15 for the 13th edition of the awards.

Last year the awards were held at the Large City Hall and the red carpet was rolled out for the who’s who of Bulawayo.
Mthombeni said:

“By awarding different artistes from various categories that include music, literary, dance, visual, film and television, theatre, media and spoken word, the event will be a reflection of the diversity of cultures in Zimbabwe that are a resemblance of our intrinsic values and norms,” she said.

Mthombeni said going along with the theme, the arts are there to unite and educate the nation at the same time.
“The education aspect that is fundamental in arts creation will be through the Nama content and the series of events that will be lined up to inform the public of the vast and diverse talent that we take pride in as Zimbabweans,” she said.

“This also underscores the notion that arts are not only for entertainment purposes but are also informative as well as educative through their various forms. Hence, the fact those artists’ works mirror the society.”

Mthombeni said by rewarding excelling artists, Nama seeks to stimulate more interest in the arts and raise the profile of the same.
She said: “The awards are a means of encouraging creativity and excellence in the quality of the arts, making Zimbabwe a force to reckon with on the international arena.”

This year’s edition will see artistes being honoured in 35 categories.
Special honours will include the people’s choice award, promoter of the year, arts personality award and arts service award.