By Kennedy Nyavaya
Organisers of the annual National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) are battling to secure meaningful corporate support after giving in to incessant calls by artiste for cash prizes to complement gongs at this year‘s edition, it has emerged.
In the recent past years, the nation’s premier and longest running awards show has struggled to tickle the fancy of many artistes, particularly perennial winners, who have had to go home with trophies only without instant financial value to show for it.
But, this year the Nama custodians, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), through their partners Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation (JCMC), are putting more effort in wooing more corporates to bankroll the awards slated for February 28 to 29.
“We are definitely pushing for that because we work with artistes and some of us were once eligible to enter the awards, so we have had the same query as well and we are cognisant of that and hope we will get the corporate support for us to be able to do that,” said JCMC MD Napoleon Nyanhi at press conference recently.
However, JCMC founder Steve Zhao said this new development to put smiles on many artistes’ faces would primarily depend on whether corporates play ball.
“It’s one of our dreams this year that after Nama people go home with one envelope that when they open it they will say ‘wow’, but for this to happen we need sponsors to come in,” he said.
According to NACZ deputy director Josiah Kusena, although the awards are not about cash rewards, the organisation has been willing, but lacked capacity to grant the cash prize wish for the creative community.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We do take note of that, but because of resources constraints as the National Arts Council we are incapacitated especially coming from where we are in terms of the austerity that we had, and [minimal] government support,” he said.
“We do hope probably as we move forward after relaxation of the austerity that more money will be poured into the arts sector.”
Kusena also added that the arts sector should continue to pursue the idea until it comes to fruition.
“In my personal view, assuming that JCMC has raised enough money and they have willing sponsors to give cash, I think it can be considered,” he added.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the arts sector are expectant of an epic show after NACZ roped in JCMC to host the show for the next five years.
