The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) announced on Wednesday evening that for the first time Bulawayo, famed as the country’s cultural Mecca, would host the National Arts and Merit Awards (Nama).
Report by Sheryleen Masuku Own Correspondent
Officially opening the eighth edition of the Intwasa Arts Festival at the Bulawayo City Hall car park, NACZ director Elvas Mari said the country’s second biggest city would host the awards on February 16 2013.
“As NACZ, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of Bulawayo for supporting us when we brought Jikinya Dance Festival here,” said Mari.
“Because of that, the NACZ board has been unanimous in reaching the decision to give the city of Bulawayo the right to be the first (city) to host the Nama outside Harare on February 16, 2013. What I have seen at Intwasa so far tells me that the decision was timely.”
The announcement by the NACZ director was met with jubilation. The master of ceremonies at the event, Babongile Sikhonjwa, immediately urged all seated guests to stand up “in honour of the decision to bring Nama awards to Bulawayo”.
Renowned theatre artist Cont Mhlanga said he was delighted with the decision.
“I am one person who has been proactive in challenging the arts council to bring Nama to Bulawayo,” said Mhlanga.
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Mhlanga, however, said he was disappointed that “there were no prominent Bulawayo business people supporting the Intwasa Arts Festival”.
