The National Arts Council – NAC has set aside about K300,000 in the bid to re-launched the Ngoma Awards to take place on 7th December, 2019 with 35 awards to be presented in seven categories.
The Ngoma Awards named after the Zambian drum went under the radar since 2012 (6 year) after its launch in 1999 attributing its silence to lack of funds by stakeholders.
Speaking during the relaunch of the Ngoma Awards at Lusaka’s Best Western Hotel on August 13, 2019, NAC Chairperson Patrick Samwimbila explained that the relaunch of the Awards comes after its absence due to lack of sponsorship and investments hence its relaunch is a strategy to bring more stakeholders on board to avoid challenges faced in the past.
He said art is an economic sector which needs critical investments and support from government and other stakeholders hence the need to grow the sector if the country is to develop. Samwimbila added that the council’s determination to rebrand the awards is aimed at raising the bar of excellence and prestige in the industry and has since called on all artists in the country to support and elevate the status of the Ngoma awards to build arts in the country.
“Arts is an important activity to the nation because it brings about creativity and innovation as well as boost the economy hence the council was not comfortable with the absence of the Ngoma Awards and its return is an existing experience for us and the sector”, he said.
Unveiling the rebranded Ngoma awards, acting Minister of Tourism and Arts Joyce Nonde-Simukoko stated that Ngoma awards have been the pride for creative industry for many years and its absence created a huge vacuum.
She said the ministry is delighted at the return of the prestigious awards, which will increase visibility for artists in the country. The minister said government puts arts on top of its developmental agenda and has since pledged its commitment to contribute to the realization of the economic diversification and job creation and further provide an enabling environment for arts and artists to thrive in Zambia.
