Nabeelah Jogee and Charlene Mangweni-Furusa to Host the 23rd National Arts Merit Awards
The countdown to the 23rd edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) is on, and the excitement is building as Jacaranda Culture Media Corporation, the official hosts of the prestigious event, has revealed that popular radio personalities Nabeelah Jogee and Charlene Mangweni-Furusa will take the reins as hosts. Set to take place on March 1, the event promises to be a night to remember, celebrating the best of Zimbabwe’s arts and culture.
Tinashe Kitchen, the director of Jacaranda Culture Media Corporation, confirmed the announcement in an interview with NewsDay Life & Style, noting that preparations for the event are well underway. While the venue has yet to be disclosed, Kitchen assured the public that the results of the people’s choice awards nominations, which closed recently, will be revealed soon.
A press release from Nama outlined the significance of this year’s hosts. Nabeelah Jogee, a seasoned television presenter best known for her work on the “Good Morning Zimbabwe” show, will serve as the main host of the event. Her dynamic presence is expected to bring energy and flair to the proceedings. Joining her will be Charlene Mangweni-Furusa, a former Nama award winner, film actress, director, and radio presenter, who will serve as the voice-over host for the event. This marks a historic moment, as the 23rd Nama will be the first edition to be hosted by an all-female duo.
In line with the event’s forward-looking theme of #Afrofuturism, Kitchen expressed his excitement about the dynamic pairing. He explained that the theme aligns with the vision of Nama and the broader Zimbabwean arts scene, which is continuously evolving. He noted that #Afrofuturism is a creative movement that fuses African culture, history, and identity with futuristic concepts such as technology and innovation. This theme is timely, as it resonates with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030, which aim to position the country as an upper-middle-income economy.
Kitchen further emphasized that the number 23 holds significant symbolism in the creative industry, representing creativity, transformation, and growth. As the 23rd edition of Nama approaches, the event is poised to showcase the maturation of the awards and Zimbabwe’s cultural industries, while embracing new paradigms that look toward the future.
For Jogee, being chosen as the main host is a dream come true. She expressed her excitement and gratitude, highlighting the importance of the arts in shaping the future of the country. “I have always been amazed at the brilliance that is consistently brought to the stage, year after year,” she said. “Now I get to be part of the platform that honours the hard work and passion of Zimbabwean artists.” Jogee also discussed the broader importance of nurturing talent and creating sustainable wealth for artists, echoing the #Afrofuturism theme of innovation and progress.
The partnership between Jogee and Mangweni-Furusa is set to bring a new energy to the Nama stage. With both hosts having established themselves as prominent figures in Zimbabwe’s entertainment industry, the duo is expected to raise the standards of the awards to new heights, making the 23rd edition one to remember.
As the nation eagerly anticipates the event, the 23rd Nama promises to be more than just a celebration of Zimbabwe’s artistic achievements—it will be a glimpse into the future of the arts, a future that is shaped by African culture, creativity, and innovation.
