Kumbulani Bandula Muleya Reflects on the 2022 NAMA AWARDS

 

HARARE, ZIMBABWE: It was all glamour and glitz at the recent National Arts Merit Awards held at Rainbow Towers on Friday last week in what National Arts Council of Zimbabwe - NACZ Executive Director Mr Nicholas Moyo said was an event to 'celebrate artists who have continued to subscribe to NAMA'. The 20th edition of the prestigious awards was themed 'Zimbabwe and Beyond' with the hash tag #Amalevels.

Emerging from a dormant state of seasons spent away from the night life due to Covid 19 people came out in droves dressed to kill and some to 'reveal' a lot of skin, as they strolled and sashayed down the red carpet.

Inside the venue what struck me as I took my seat was the visual aspect of the production on the LED backdrop screens and how the stage was set up making it more spacious, stage design is art, good visual composition is a necessity.

Kudos to Leroy Gopal the official master of ceremony of the night for his enthusiasm and great sense of humor which kept the crowd engaged.

There is so much room for improvement as far as curating a flawless awards ceremony, free from some of the few glitches that popped up during presentations.

A couple of scenes caught my attention by force though, the first is when the accurate, neat, consistent, thoroughly skilled Mokoomba stepped up onto the stage led by the extra ordinary vocal range of Mathias Muzaza.

I have been working with the band for the past 10+ years but every act is always a new experience. The crowd was charmed by tracks like Njawane, Nyasola amongst other hits as the internationally acclaimed band warmed up for a European tour scheduled for early July.

I’m inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and I could not help but admire the tenacity of Barney Mpariwa who was awarded the Outstanding Journalist Television award for the first time after thirty two years. You could tell as he walked off the stage clad in a creamy white suit, gong in hand that it was an emotional moment for the veteran producer known for envisioning and bringing to life the local talent show Star Brite way back in the late 80s.

I was equally inspired by Mercy Dhliwayo who has been previously nominated twice at NAMA but got to win on her third attempt in the Outstanding First Creative Published Work category with her book titled ‘Bringing Us Back’. “To have your first published works nominated for a national award such as the NAMA Awards is beyond reaffirming” she said on her page.

If the night belonged to anyone then it should be ten year old author Onald Gwiriri who won a NAMA award for his book ‘The Cursing Tortoise’ in the Outstanding Children’s Book category. The young writer is son to Oscar Gwiriri a member of Intanga Hub and author of more than twenty five publications written in both English and Shona languages. There has been a surge of adult writers writing children’s stories however there is little or no attention given to children’s literature (literature written by children themselves), and one hopes that Onald’s recognition will inspire adults to give children opportunities to respond to literature.

I also noted Spoken word poet Obert Dube The African Poet who graced the stage wearing traditional regalia complete with a head band known as ‘umqele’. Dube walked away with the Outstanding Poet award in the Spoken Word category. I was moved and enthralled by his act when he received his prize and burst out chanting in Imbongi fashion as he delivered a short but powerful and emotive praise poem in IsiNdebele leaving the whole crowd screaming in ecstasy.

Being recognized in a nomination is equally an achievement, it was pleasurable to note members of Intanga Hub amongst the NAMA nominees with Kwanele Khumalo Mntungwa being nominated in the Outstanding Poetry Book category with his book ‘Who killed Grandfather’ published by Under Class Books and Films whose creative director Onai Mushava is also a member of Intanga Hub. Amongst the nominees in the Outstanding Children’s Book category was another member of Intanga Hub Tinashe Muchuri with his book titled ‘Auntie Mazvita’ a book published by Essential Books Publishing Company led by Mr Aleck Kaposa another member of our literary initiative which functions as a conscious raising tool designed to assist local poets and writers to evolve by constantly jogging their creative writing skills while reaching out to a broader demographic audience through consistent visibility in both print and electronic media.

As we march forth relentlessly we hope that the wins and nominations will be enough motivation to writers and creatives to assist in generating a momentum that will contribute to the evolutionary process of our local book industry.

It takes a community to plant a forest!