The nominees of Zimbabwe’s National Arts Merit Awards 2024 were announced in Bulawayo on Friday, February 9, 2024. Here are those in the literary arts categories.
The National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA Awards) is a set of awards granted by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in recognition of outstanding achievements in the arts and culture annually. The categories have differed over the years. The winners in the literary categories in 2023 were David Chasumba, Costa Chayambuka, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, and Samantha R. Vazhure.
The finalists for the 2023 edition which will be happening for the twenty-second time were announced by the chairperson of the adjudicator’s committee Hope Masike on Friday. The following are in the running in the literary categories;
First Creative Published Work
- The Train House on Lobengula Street, Fatima Kara
- A Somber Graveyard Tale, Christopher Madala
- UQondisile MaKhumalo, Kephas Sibanda
Outstanding Children’s Book
- Sloba and The Crocodile Tears, Martin Chayambuka
- A Day in The Park, Audrey Chirenje
- The Haunted Pumpkin, Mai Sarungano Folktales
Outstanding Fiction Book
- Whatever Happened to Rick Astley, Bryony Rheam
- The Magic and Masala, Violette Kee-Tui
- UKhethiwe, Zibusiso Mabonisa
Outstanding Poetry Book
- Looking For Mother, Nosiyazi Kan Kanjiri
- Shamhu Yezera Renyu, Memory Chirere
- Tesserae: a mosaic of poems by Zimbabwean women, Compiled and edited by Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure and Marian Christie.
Outstanding Poet
- Ngonidzashe Paradza aka Mambo Guramatunhu
- Shanay Wood
- Chioniso Tsikisayi
The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on Saturday, February 24 in Bulawayo.
You can watch the full announcement on Facebook by clicking here.
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