Luanda — Angolan Ministry of Culture, Friday in Luanda, released the list of the winners of the 2008 edition of the National Culture and Arts Award, with highlight to Paulo Flores, José Luandino Vieira and Grupo Elinga Teatro.

The first mentioned won in the category of music, while the two other were awarded the literature and theatre prizes, respectively.

Besides the two artists and the theatre group, the jury, presided by historian Samuel Aço, mentioned the late Angola Public Television director, Carlos Henriques, in the category of Cinema and Audiovisual.

Carlos Manuel Lopes won the category of Research, Human and Social Sciences, while Francisco Van-Dunem won the Plastic Arts class.

The Dance prize has gone to Kamatemba group, from Humpata, southern Huila province.

The ceremony, presided over by the deputy minister of Culture, Cornélio Calei, was attended by his fellow-deputy minister, Luís Kanjimbo, the national director of Arts and Cultural Action, Carlos Vieira Lopes, the Luanda provincial director of Culture, Manuel Sebastião, members of jury and other people associated with the national culture.

The amount for the award is Usd 35,000 per category and will be handed over at a gala set for November 7.

The yearly National Culture and Arts Award is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and is intended to stimulate artistic creativity, promote quality in cinema and audio-visual production.