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Tafadzwa Zimoyo : Arts Reporter

Zimpapers head of digital services Delta Milayo Ndou has been short-listed among the nominees for this year’s edition of the African Women Awards (AWA) which will be held on December 3 at a venue to be announced soon. Milayo Ndou has been nominated in the Young Activist Award category together with Precious Ropafadzo Chiduku (Zimbabwe) and Ini Usanga of Nigeria.In the entertainment category, US-based actress Danai Gurira will battle it out with UK-based Zimbabwean Pamela Samasuwo-Nyawiri and Chimamanda Ngozi-Achiche of Nigeria.

Zimbabwe is second on the list with nine local woman nominations while South Africa is leading with 13 nominees across the categories.

Other countries represented on the list are Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, Morocco, Uganda, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, Gambia and Mauritius.

The Awards which are brainchild of two philanthropists Carol Nyazika and Lisa Chiriseri are hosted with the aim of recognising, celebrating and honouring powerful and inspirational women; and using their achievements to inspire the younger generations of Africans across the globe.

In an interview with one of the founder member, Lisa Chirisei said the nomination list is out and there will be no voting process.

“Just like last year, our panel will decide on the winners hence no voting process is involved at this stage.

The selection process for the awards comprised of the public nomination stage which was open from April 15 to the end of June 2016.

Numerous African women were nominated via the AWA Website and social media pages.

After the nominations closed the names submitted were then given to a select esteemed panel comprising of academics, professionals and industry leaders who made decisions based on the profiles submitted for each woman nominated,” she said.

Chiriseri said AWA deliberately avoids a voting system to ensure that nominees and winners are selected based on their work portfolios and impact rather than on their popularity and public pull access through a voting system.

“The official nominees list is now public and the winner of each category shall be announced at the much anticipated second African Women Awards ceremony this December. The nominees list for the African Women Awards is available on the African Women Awards website,” she said.

She said the awards serve not only for the upliftment and inspiration of Africans but as an effective tool in educating the world on what being African really is and tell a story different from the overplayed misconceptions, negativities and ill-portrayed images associated with the African continent and its people.

Last year saw powerful women like Daniella Allen, Jackie Mgido, Natalie Jabangwe Morris and Farai Gundani among others walking away with awards in their respective categories.

Below is the full list:

Business & Enterprise Category

Dynamic Start Up Award

Kasope Ladipo-Ajai (Nigeria)

Lucinda Ockhuizen (Namibia)

Cheurombo Pswarayi (Zimbabwe)

Business Achievement Award

Dambisa Moyo (Zambia)

Njeri Rionge (Kenya)

Isis Nyongo (Kenya)

Living Legacy Award

Pearl Kupe (South Africa)

Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch (Morocco)

Divine Ndhlukula (Zimbabwe)

Industry Excellence Award

Farah Fortune (South Africa)

Lynette Magasa (South Africa)

Koo Govender (South Africa)

Young Entrepreneurial Award

Brenda Katswesigye (Uganda)

Dananai Chipunza (Zimbabwe)

Bayanda Gumede & Buhle Mabanga (South Africa)

Entertainment & Art Category Creative Visionary Award

Danai Gurira (Zim/US)

Pamela Samasuwo-Nyawiri (Zim/UK)

Chimamanda Ngozi-Achiche (Nigeria)

Media Excellence Award

Susan Makore (Zimbabwe)

Joselyn Dumas (Ghana)

Pearl Thusi (South Africa)

Star Power Award

Terry Pheto (South Africa)

Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)

Yvonne Nelson (Ghana)

Promising Personality Award

Nomzamo Mbatha (South Africa)

Adama Ndiaye (Senegal)

Menna Shalaby (Egypt)

Living Legend Award

Connie Ferguson (South Africa)

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Nigeria)

Basetsana Kumalo (South Africa)

Community & Politics Category

Young Change Maker Award

Ruth Nabembezi (Uganda)

Kamdem Magne Roseline (Cameroon)

Nancy Sibo (Rwanda)

Grass Roots Impact Award

Nyasha Mugwagwa (Zimbabwe)

Ndey Mariama Jobe (Gambia)

Manyathi Hlolweni (South Africa)

Young Activist Award

Delta Milayo Ndou (Zimbabwe)

Precious Ropafadzo Chiduku (Zimbabwe)

Ini Usanga (Nigeria/Ireland)

Social Humanitarian Award

Stella Dongo (Zimbabwe)

Nothemba Kula (South Africa)

Cynthis Adaeze Onwuchuruba (Nigeria)

Living Legend Award

Saara Kuungongelwa-Amadhila (Namibia)

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (South Africa)

Ameenah Gurib (Mauritius)