RUTENDO CHIRUME
MASVINGO-Ngoni Paradza aka Mambo Guramatunhu a spoken word artist based in Masvingo is nominated outstanding poet for the coming 21st edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA).
The 2023 NAMA will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre, Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare on February 25.
The awards are held to honor creative works produced in the period from 01 December 2021 to 30 November 2022.
For the outstanding poet Masvingo’s own word smith will be competing against Prince Ryanne Chidzvondo from Harare, two Bulawayo based poets, Sithembile Siqoza and Obert Dube.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch, Guramatunhu, who could not hide his excitement said the nomination is a sign of growth and shows that he is making a positive contribution to the society with his works.
“Artists from Masvingo Province barely get nominated fpr national awards and the fact that my name is on that list means growth to me as an artist. It is harvesting time reap the rewards of my hard work at national level and I am proud of that.
“Often times people laugh at us because of our chivhitori language but today I am proud it gave me a platform with which I am earning a living from coupled with my skills. Kumberi takamirirwa ,the best is yet to come,” said a bubbling Guramatunhu.
Guramatunhu is a recent graduate at Great Zimbabwe University with a degree in Media and Cultural Studies.
Also in the NAMA nominations from Masvingo Province is Mbuya vaPiyasoni real name Kudzanai Chengedza for Outstanding Social Media Skits , Sydney Taivavashe in the Outstanding Screen Production Film category where he entered ‘Days in March’ which he directed and Braveman Chizvino Mawanza aka Baba Harare for the Outstanding Make Musician.
