The 2026 National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) celebrated achievements across various artistic fields during a ceremony in Harare on Saturday. Winners were recognized in categories ranging from visual arts to music and digital content. The event highlighted both established and emerging talents in Zimbabwe's creative scene.
The National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) for 2026 were presented at a ceremony in Harare, honoring excellence in Zimbabwe's arts community. The awards covered diverse disciplines, with recipients announced across multiple categories.
In visual arts, Sabina Mutsvati won Outstanding Female Visual Artist for Ndishonongoreyiwo, while Pardon Mapondera took Outstanding Male Visual Artist for Dotipaiwo Mwenje. Tadiwanashe Joel Mafuta received the Upcoming Visual Artist award for Dismas, and the Cheuka Harare Art Fair, curated by Laura Ganda and Merilyn Mushakwe, was named Outstanding Exhibition.
Theatre highlights included Cadrick Msongelwa as Outstanding Actor for his roles in Zi Animal Farm, and Thandolwenkosi Nkiwane as Outstanding Actress in Ipi Ntombi. In Search Of A King by Celebration Church won Outstanding Theatrical Production, directed by Leonard Matsa for Can We Talk? and written by Tatenda Mutyambizi for These Humans Are Sick.
Literary awards went to Sipho Mpofu for Outstanding Fiction Book, My Affair with Misfortune; Morden Tavarwisa for Non-Fiction, Gonan’ombe Retsika Nemarairo eChivanhu; Gerald Shorayi for Children’s Book, Mukanyawashe’s Big Adventure; and Entourade Usayi for First Published Work, The Killer Pastor.
Film and television saw Leroy Siyafa as Outstanding Actor in God Sleeps on Sundays, Charity Dlodlo as Actress in Forget Me Not, and Winky D’s “Fake Love” music video, directed by Jusa Dementor, as Outstanding Music Video. Magweja by Dexter Fundire won for TV production, with God Sleeps on Sundays by Naishe Nyambuya for short film and Dilemma by Joe Njagu for full-length.
Dance awards recognized Diamond Girls for Outstanding Group/Production in Unseen Stars, Celine Madziva as Female Dancer, Prince Mbisa as Male Dancer, and Tanaka Machikicho as Choreographer.
Spoken word featured Nigel Tha Slick Pastor as Stand-Up Comedian and Sithandazile Dube as Poet.
Music winners included Nisha Ts as Female Musician, Jah Prayzah as Male Musician and for Album Ndini Mukudzeyi, Atenda Chinx as Breakthrough, Joyful Praise as Group, and Nutty O for Song “Too Much”.
Fashion honors went to Ishmael Tsakatsa as Male Designer for Zargue’sia, Danayi Madondo as Female for Haus Of Stone, and Joyce Chimanye as Industry Contributor.
Digital arts awarded Pot Tradition as Female Social Media Creator, The African Finder as Male, The Ollah 7 Podcast as Podcast, and Tokoloshi for Social Media Skits.
Special awards included Nitefreak as Artist in the Diaspora, Plot Mhako as Arts Journalist, Odyssey Entertainment as Promoter, Nkululeko Dube as Arts Personality, Delta Beverages – Chibuku for Service, Stephen Chigorimbo for Lifetime Achievement, and Winky D for People’s Choice.
