NAMA CATEGORIES 2025

NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF ZIMBABWE

NATIONAL ARTS MERIT AWARDS (NAMA)

CATEGORIES

Introduction
The National Arts Merit Awards currently comprise nine competitive categories and one honorary category for Special Awards, making a total of 44 awards overall.

The Categories are;

1. Visual Arts

Outstanding Female Visual Artist

Outstanding Male Visual Artist

Outstanding Upcoming Visual Artist

Outstanding Exhibition

NB:

1. In this category, all forms of visual art are considered, including 2-Dimensional work, 3-Dimensional work, Mixed media, Photography, etc.
2. Also, submissions can be in the form of pictures, portfolios, videos and/or booklets.

2. Theatre Awards

Outstanding Actor

Outstanding Actress

Outstanding Theatrical Production

Outstanding Director

Outstanding Playwright

NB:

1. In this category, artistes should submit videos of the full play with high resolution quality (at least 720p)
2. Playwrights are to submit full scripts together with the video of the play.

3. Literary Awards

Outstanding Fiction Book

Outstanding Non-Fiction Book

Outstanding First Published Work

Outstanding Children’s Book

NB: Artistes are to submit 3 hard copies of their books for physical submission, and for online, they are to submit soft copies in PDF form.

4. Film & Television Awards

Outstanding Actor

Outstanding Actress

Outstanding Music Video

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)

Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length)

Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)

NB:

1. The Outstanding Actor & Actress award is not only for the main characters, but also for supporting characters (as they might outperform the main characters).
2. The award for outstanding music video goes to the Director of the music video, not the musician.
3. Short film must be at least 1 minute and not more than 40 minutes long
4. Full-length film should be more than 40 minutes long

5. Dance Awards

Outstanding Dance Group/Production

Outstanding Female Dancer

Outstanding Male Dancer

Outstanding Choreographer

NB:

1. Dance Productions must be at least 10 Minutes & not more than 90 minutes long

6. Spoken Word Awards

Outstanding Stand-Up Comedian

Outstanding Poet

NB:

1. An act for stand-up comedy should be at least 10 minutes long
2. Poets can submit audio albums, and or videos
3. Music Awards

Outstanding Female Musician

Outstanding Male Musician

Outstanding Breakthrough Musician

Outstanding Music Group

Outstanding Song

Outstanding Album

NB:

1. Breakthrough musician – is for rising musician who make a breakthrough during the period under consideration.
2. Outstanding Music group Award – recognizes musical ensembles that perform and produce collectively, where creative contribution and performance are shared among members. It is intended for duos, bands, or groups that operate as a unit rather than being centred around a single lead artist.

Please note that acts led and identified by an individual name, such as Alick Macheso & Orchestra Mberikwazvo or Jah Prayzah & The 3rd Generation Band, do not qualify under this category. Such acts are considered under the Outstanding Male or Female Musician category, as the group primarily supports a single lead performer.

[NEW CATEGORIES]

8. Fashion Awards

Outstanding Male Fashion Designer

Outstanding Female Fashion Designer

Outstanding Contributor to the Fashion Industry

NB:

1. For Outstanding Male and Female Designers awards, designers are to submit
2. Lookbook / Portfolio/Video(s) of the work done during the time under consideration.
3. Summary of the designs
4. In terms of Outstanding Contributor to the Fashion Industry, the artist is to submit a Full Profile or Biography.

9. Digital Arts Awards

Outstanding Male/Female Social Media Content Creator

Outstanding Podcast

NB:

1. This category is broad and the creatives considered include lifestyle and culture vloggers, micro-educators, web series, etc.
2. The videos submitted for the Outstanding Male and Female Social Media Content Creator categories must have a duration of not more than 10 minutes and not less than 1 minute. Any content that is beyond 10 minutes falls under the film & Television category.
3. For all categories creatives are to submit at least 3 videos and include their official social media handle i.e. (X, Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook)

10. Special Awards

Outstanding Artist in the Diaspora

Outstanding Arts Journalist/Media House

Promoter of the Year

Lifetime Achievement Award

Arts Service Award

Arts Personality Award

People’s Choice Award.

NB:

1. a) The People’s Choice Award is the only category nominated and decided by the general public through a voting process.
2. b) The Promoter of the Year Award is assessed based on factors such as increased consumption of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) products and services, sector growth and compliance, as well as cultural, social, and economic impact.
3. c) For the Lifetime Achievement Award, Arts Personality Award, and Arts Service Award, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) engages in consultations with stakeholders, captains of the industry, and representatives from the CCIs to determine the recipients.