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Melissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
Nominees for the 14th National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) will be unveiled on Thursday next week ahead of the ceremony taking place at 7 Arts Theatre in Harare on February 14. The awards meant to recognise excellence in creativity and talent, also stimulating artistic creativity and originality, will run under the theme: “Pride of Zimbabwe”.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) — organisers of the awards said the adjudication process was now being finalised. Artistes and individuals will be awarded in nine categories; Music, Literary, Dance, Visual, Film and television, Theatre, Media, Spoken Word and Special awards.

NACZ communications and marketing officer, Catherine Mthombeni said seminars would be held in Harare and Bulawayo as a build up to the main ceremony. The first seminar will be held in Harare on Wednesday next week followed by a Bulawayo one on February 2.

“As part of value addition to previous Nama nominees and winners as well as artistes who will be nominated for the forthcoming Nama 4th edition, two seminars are being organised. They will focus on mindset transformation, fundamentals of strategic thinking and personal strategy formulation among other areas,” Mthombeni said.

She said the awards aimed to provide an opportunity for arts disciplines to jointly market and publicise the arts locally, regionally and internationally.

“The awards premise is to show pride in the arts, its versatility and diversity. It’s also to instil pride in artistes as individuals and to celebrate with them their achievements in being nominated and winning the awards.

“The intention is also to empower the artistes as individuals and as artistes to take pride in their assorted works that not only reflect on their power in creativity, but also reward artistes that have helped shape and define Zimbabweans and give them a collective identity through artworks that are proudly made in Zimbabwe,” Mthombeni said.

Last year, contemporary musician Jah Prayzah emerged the big winner after bagging four awards in the four categories he was nominated in.