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Edith WeUtonga

Godwin Muzari Entertainment Editor
There has been an outcry over the recently held National Arts Merit Awards ceremony in Bulawayo with most observers saying the event was substandard.
Art followers have accused the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe of failure to come up with a product that attracts sponsors.

People cited the overcrowded venue, poor presentation from the masters of ceremony and lack of glamour as some of the issues that dampened the ceremony.

There have also been questions over a few categories with critics saying some artistes that got awards did not deserve the accolades.

The Herald Entertainment reviewed the awards and engaged the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe for explanation on some of the loopholes of the awards ceremony.

Crammed venue
The venue used for the awards was small and could not accommodate all invited guests. Winners of the awards had to struggle to push their way to the stage in the crowded venue. It was such a disappointing scenario and anyone watching the awards on television should have wondered why the organisers invited people that would not fit in their chosen venue.

The NACZ says it booked the venue basing on people that had confirmed attendance to the awards after getting their invitation cards. While it might sound unprofessional that people receive invitations and go on to attend ceremonies without confirming they would attend the venue, such is the general conduct a serious function organiser cannot depend on confirmation of attendance. The deciding factor should be the number of invitation cards given out. Obviously, there are many people that confirmed attendance but could not make it to the ceremony. The situation at NACZ’s chosen venue at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel cannot be justified. It was a job badly done.

Pathetic presenters
The masters of ceremony did a poor job. They were just not up to the standard of national awards. It appeared they had not rehearsed for the ceremony. There was apparent lack of confidence and obvious lack of background knowledge to the categories and awards at large. Audrey Charamba of NACZ said the presenters could have done better because they did well at the same ceremony last year. Maybe there was not enough preparation this year. If the same presenters are to be hired next year, they have a mountainous task of proving they have the capacity to officiate at national awards.

No one that did not watch last year’s awards would believe the same team did a good job last year. Their presentation left a lot to be desired.

Deplorable dressing
It seems artists have a way of getting away with poor dressing at formal events. There is this general feeling among art followers that artists are unique and would never get it right when they are required to dress in a certain way. This perception gives our artists too much room for carelessness. At international awards artists (the same artists as our own) take heed of dressing requirements and put much effort in good looks to an extent that such events sometimes approximate fashion shows.

The situation at Nama was pathetic. They came dressed in all styles and colours when the invitation made it clear that it was a black tie event. The best winner of the night Jah Prayzah came in his trademark camouflage. Other winners tried to be as colourful as they could be.

Well, it was not NACZ’s fault because their invitations specified the dress code. It is time our artistes know that there is professionalism in dressing.

Problematic envelopes
This might sound like a minor issue but time-wasting and inconvenience resultant of tightly-sealed envelopes that contained winners’ names was jut boring. It was as if the award organisers feared that some awards presenters would smuggle other names than the selected winners to the stage.

Most of the presenters of the awards were not amused by the process of extracting winners’ names out of the envelopes. It is funny how such a minor issue can dampen an event that is supposed to be flawless.

NACZ says the cumbersome envelope-opening process built anxiety but they also admit it was an oversight on their part. They have promised a better process next time.

Lack of glitz and glamour
The stage manager of the event did not do his or her role at all. Stage decoration and lighting were very poor. There is this aura that goes along with awards ceremonies that Nama missed. Just the venue and stage design should speak volumes of the level of the awards but the Nama setting was dull and unexciting.

NACZ blames it on lack of appropriate funding to give attention to the nitty-gritty, but such a ceremony, especially when it is being screened live on television, should have a true reflection of colourful environs.

Even performances by guest or winning artistes should be well-choreographed. It is high time Nama moves back to its original plan on performances on the awards night.

Nominees and winners
In many awards ceremonies, this is the most problematic area in the aftermath of accolades. Critics and art followers will always have mixed feelings over the outcomes of the awards.

The thorny issue at this year’s awards revolved around the recognition of Mai Charamba as the outstanding female musician of the year. Many observers felt she did not deserve the award because she last released an album in 2009.

Critics advancing this notion were misled because the choosing an outstanding musician is not based on albums. NACZ made it clear that the category is not based on recent productions. The adjudicators look for physical performance, public appearance and interaction with fans when choosing the outstanding male or female musician.

Mai Charamba’s selection is justified when such attributes are considered. Honestly, neither Edith WeUtonga nor Selmor Mtukudzi (who were up for the award) would match the gospel diva in the mentioned attributes.

Some people felt the song “Tsviriyo” by Jah Prayzah was not supposed to win the outstanding song category judging by its lyrical content and originality.

Not taking away anything from Jah Pryzah, “Tsviriyo” might be popular but it does not fit in the list of some songs that have won the accolade before. We cannot compare the lyrical content in Tsviriyo to Charles Charamba’s “Nyika Zimbabwe” that won the same award two years ago.

A number of nominees asked why they were nominated when they had not entered the awards. These nominees felt Nama humiliated them because their names were on the list without their consent and lost.

Nama claims to have monitors but they should be clear on the difference between how monitors and entries work. It is not in good light that an artist who did not want to be involved with the awards is nominated and becomes a loser.

Prize Money
Some people felt the US$ 500 that Nama awards its winners per category is not enough considering awards in some other sectors and how our artists are living in poverty.

NACZ says it does not have enough sponsors to give away amounts above that amount.

However, it should be understood that, internationally, arts awards are more about celebrating outstanding achievements than monetary value. In most international awards, gongs that artists get make appropriate recognition.