Full List Of National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) 2026 Winners And Nominees

NAMA 2026 Complete Winners List With Full Nominees In Every Category

Zimbabwe’s biggest night in the creative calendar has revealed the Full List Of National Arts Merits Awards (NAMA) 2026 Winners, with musicians, actors, writers and visual artists taking centre stage at the prestigious ceremony held on March 1, 2026.

The 24th edition of Zimbabwe’s most prestigious arts honours ran under the theme “Fearless Creativity” and saw a staggering 2,382 submissions from across the country’s creative community. The Harare International Conference Centre transformed into a dazzling spectacle of colour and sound as the nation’s finest artists battled for supremacy across fifteen competitive categories.

Below is the complete list of winners and nominees for the 2026 National Arts Merit Awards.

Visual Arts

Outstanding Female Visual Artist

Winner: Sabina Mutsvati — Ndishonongoreiwo
Nominees: Amanda Shingirai Mushate — Chimoro neHukoshwa Part 1, Shamila Aasha — Healing Alchemy

Outstanding Male Visual Artist

Winner: Pardon Mapondera — Dotipaiwo Mwenje
Nominees: Confidence Zinyeka — Intimate conversation, Tinotenda Chivhinge — Nonsense Hit Song

Outstanding Upcoming Visual Artist

Winner: Tadiwanashe Joel Mafuta — Dismas
Nominees: Claire Munjoma — Shanduko, Crystal Vimbainashe Beseni — Maps of everything

Outstanding Exhibition

Winner: CHEUKA Harare Art Fair curated by Laura Ganda and Merilyn Mushakwe
Nominees: Ndishonongoreyiwo (Solo Exhibition) by Sabina Mutsvati curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa, Perfection is not always reality (Solo Exhibition) by Tinotenda Chivhinge curated by Doris Kamupira

Theatre Awards

Outstanding Actor

Winner: Cadrick Msongelwa as Squealer/StoryTeller/Mr Jones in Zi Animal Farm
Nominees: Elroy Takunda Musiiwa as Benjamin/Storyteller One in Zi Animal Farm, Ronald Sigeca as Prophet in These Humans are Sick

Outstanding Actress

Winner: Thandolwenkosi Nkiwane as Multi-characters in Ipi Ntombi
Nominees: Chidochashe Joanne Tenga as Bope in Can We Talk?, Tsungirirai Chenjerai as Snowball/Clover/Storyteller in Zi Animal Farm

Outstanding Theatrical Production

Winner: In search of a king by Daniel Deuschle and Benjamin Deuschle (Celebration Church)
Nominees: Can we talk by Almasi Collaborative Arts, Zi Animal farm by Savanna Trust

Outstanding Director

Winner: Leonard Matsa — Can We Talk?
Nominees: Daniel Deuschle — In search of a king, Sandra Braddock — Ipi Ntombi

Outstanding Playwright

Winner: Tatenda Mutyambizi — These Humans Are Sick
Nominees: Batsirai Chigama — Can We Talk?

Literary Awards

Outstanding Fiction Book

Winner: My Affair with Misfortune by Sipho Mpofu Published by Elane Publishing Consultancy
Nominees: Iluba lika ntunjambila by Polite Sibanda Published by Pre-dawn Publishers, The Toppling by Cynthia Rumbidzai Marangwanda Published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Ltd

Outstanding Non-Fiction Book

Winner: Gonan’ombe Retsika NamararamiroeChivanhu by Morden Tavarwisa Published by Miamuty
Nominees: Kurasika MuAfurika by Rumbidzai Caroline Kahari Published by Essential Books Publishing Company, The Essentials to Faithful Living by Michael H. Nyahwera Published by Beyond Today

Outstanding Children’s Book

Winner: Mukanyawashe’s Big Adventure by Gerald Shorayi Published by Essential Books Publishing Company
Nominees: The adventures of Dafi and Rize by Wadzanai Tadhuvana by Kunda kids Publishers, The old river woman by Shakemore Dirani Published by Essential Books Publishing company

Outstanding First Published Work

Winner: The Killer Pastor by Entrodge Usayi Published by Soar Publishers
Nominees: Hanzi Huchi Hwenduri, Kubva Mukatikati by Ushehwedu Kufakurinani Published by Carnelian Heart Publishing Limited, Zvamuri Ndaimbova Zvandiri Muchava by Josiah Muchada Published by Sahara Publishers

Film & Television Awards

Outstanding Actor

Winner: Leroy Siyafa as James in God Sleeps on Sundays
Nominees: Calvin Madula as Stan “SK” Khumalo in High School Diaries, Charles Kamara as Mike in Nhai Maiguru

Outstanding Actress

Winner: Charity Dlodlo as Maria in Forget Me Not
Nominees: Wizzy Mangoma as Chirongoma in God Sleeps on Sundays, Natasha Dlamini as Beauty in Totem

Outstanding Music Video

Winner: Fake Love by Winky D Directed by Tawanda Sibotshiwe aka Jusa Dementor
Nominees: Kuno by Jah Prayzah Directed by Blaqs and Director Dave, Nguva NdeyaMwari by Dorcas Moyo Directed by Mr Hasty

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)

Winner: Magweja by Dexter Fundire
Nominees: High School Diaries by John Mabuyane, Love Across the Ocean by Willy Makumire Lilly

Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)

Winner: God Sleeps on Sundays by Naishe Nyamubaya
Nominees: A Future Untold by Prosper Kunyetu, Totem by Nicole Panashe Dzenga

Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length)

Winner: Dilemma by Joe Njagu
Nominees: Loved Out by Tendai Nyeke, Mwana Wangu by Nakai Beauty Tsuro

Dance Awards

Outstanding Dance Group/Production

Winner: Unseen Stars in Diamond Girls
Nominees: Salt ‘n’ Light Dance Company in Still Salty, MnM Dance Factory in African Sunrise

Outstanding Female Dancer

Winner: Celine Madziva in Celine’s work
Nominees: Mandisa Maseko aka Storm zw in The Crown Project, Lisa Tanaka Magwenzi aka Lissa Tanaka in Lissa Tanaka

Outstanding Male Dancer

Winner: Prince Mbisa aka Amazing Prince in The Rise of Amazing Prince
Nominees: Lawrence Sirewo aka Flexxy Smith in Big Brother Mzansi, Shadreck Moyo aka Shaddy Stiffler in The Cowboys

Outstanding Choreographer

Winner: Tanaka Machikicho in Diamond Girls
Nominees: Celine Madzivai in Celine, Terrence Kapesa in Salt & Light Dance Company

Spoken Word Awards

Outstanding Stand-Up Comedian

Winner: Nigel Maritinyu aka Nijo the Slick Pastor
Nominees: Frank Chirisa, Mbongeni Ignatious

Outstanding Poet

Winner: Sithandazile Dube
Nominees: Obert Dube, Thaluso Moyo aka Thaluso the Poet

Music Awards

Outstanding Female Musician

Winner: Anisha Tashinga Shonhiwa aka Nisha Ts
Nominees: Sharon Manyonganise Cherayi, Shashl

Outstanding Male Musician

Winner: Mukudzeyi Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
Nominees: Minister Michael Mahendere, Freeman HKD

Outstanding Breakthrough Musician

Winner: Atenda Chingaira aka Atenda Chinx
Nominees: Junior Spragga, Shone

Outstanding Music Group

Winner: Joyfull Praise Choir
Nominees: The Redeemed Family, VeRutendo

Outstanding Song

Winner: Too Much by Carrington S Chiwadza aka Nutty O
Nominees: Ruzhowa by Jah Prayzah, Admire Kadembo by Nisha Ts

Outstanding Album

Winner: Ndini Mukudzeyi by Mukudzeyi Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah
Nominees: The Notebook by Freeman HKD, Gender iih (The Woman King) by Nisha Ts

Fashion Awards

Outstanding Male Designer

Winner: Ishmael Tsakatsa — Zargue’sia
Nominees: Rangarirai Kenias — Raengah, Brightman Dlamini — Tocar Narrations

Outstanding Female Fashion Designer

Winner: Danayi Madondo — Haus of Stone
Nominees: Nomakhosazana Khanyile Ncube — A Tribe Called Zimbabwe, Yolanda Ngwenya — Bakhar

Outstanding Contributor to the Fashion Industry

Winner: Joyce Chimanye — ZUVVA
Nominees: Amanda Mutangadura — AM Model Management, Priscilla Chigariro — Zimbabwe Fashion Week

Digital Arts Awards

Outstanding Female Social Media Content Creator

Winner: Gracia Bvute — Pot Tradition
Nominees: Blessing Nashe — Nashe the Plug, Tariro Sarudzai Mharapara — Butterphly

Outstanding Male Social Media Content Creator

Winner: Marvellous Nyongoro — African Finder
Nominees: Kelvin Biriot, Prince Sivalo Mahlangu — Magriza Made me cook

Outstanding Podcast

Winner: The Ollah 7 Podcast
Nominees: Zigo Podcast, Pass and Move Podcast

Outstanding Social Media Skits

Winner: Sean Khoza aka Code Red Studios – Tokoloshi
Nominees: Comic Elder, Thugga Thugga

Special Awards

Outstanding Artist in the Diaspora

Winner: Bhekinkosi Mabhena aka DJ Nitefreak– Music Producer/DJ (France & Spain)
Nominees: Manluckerz – Musician (Sweden), Chrispen Nyathi – Film Actor (South Africa)

Outstanding Arts Journalist/Media House

Winner: Plot Mhako

Promoter of the Year

Winner: Odyssey Entertainment (Kadoma Music Festival) Owned by Prince Mharadze
Nominees: Stratosphere Events (Fiesta Fiesta Zimbabwe) Owned by Charles Ayisa, Ngoma Nehosho (Jacaranda Music Festival) Owned by Walter Wanyanya

Arts Personality Award