The much anticipated 12th edition of the National Arts Merit Awards nominees are finally out and all is set for the award ceremony slated to take place on the 16th of this month at Bulawayo's Large City Hall.

This year's Nama nominations list is loaded with surprises as it features new categories while the existing ones have been expanded.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe board member and chairperson of the adjudication panel Dudu Manhenga said the selection process was a challenging task for the adjudicators who described the entries as highly competitive.

"This year 35 people will receive the Nama accolade consisting of the coveted trophy and accolade. Selecting the nominees was a worthy and exciting process.The adjudicators have done a commendable job in going through all entries and the works they have selected are the ones they considered for recognition in their particular fields," she said.

From the nominees list it is easy to note that there was fair representation of the different arts disciplines with categories like the "Outstanding Comedian" where Carl Joshua Ncube is battling it out with rivals Clive Chigubu and Ntandoyenkosi Moyo.

The music category is interesting with Plaxedes Wenyika, who is back in the game locking horns with divas Hope Masike and Cindy Munyavi for the Outstanding Female Musician.

The male category in the music category is a battle among last year's outstanding artistes Donald Chirisa known as Sniper Storm, Sulumani "Sulu" Chimbetu and Enock "Knox" Guni of the "Ndinonyara" fame for the Best Male Musician title.

Sniper Storm's "Love yeMusoja" battles it out again with Jah Prayzah's "Gochi Gochi" and Knox's "Ndinonyara" for the outstanding song.

Sniper and Sulu clash again and this time with gospel artiste Blessing Shumba for the outstanding album. Sniper's "Love yeMusoja", Sulu's "Syllabus" and Shumba's "Shongwe" albums will be scrambling for votes in what seems to be a battle of genres.

Roki has surely made a comeback with his song "Mativenga" sitting on the nomination for Outstanding Music Video together with Jutal's "Amai Bhoyi" and flamboyant Energy Mutodi's "Ruvimbo".

Many other categories like the outstanding media personalities in print, television and radio and surprisingly there were no nominees in the radio category.

Meanwhile, Nama is inviting members of the public to select an artiste or art product of their choice based on the nominees released today. This is done through sending an sms from an Econet number, prefixed by the word "Nama" to 15626.

Nama is finalising arrangement with other networks in order to afford all cellular subscribers an opportunity to vote. The People's Choice Award will also be awarded to the winning artiste on the awards night.

The rest of the 12th Nama Nominees:

DANCE

Outstanding Dance group

Magesh

IYASA

National Ballet

Outstanding Female Dancer

Melany Caruthers - Titanium

Loveness Mambakwa - Bembera Arts Ensemble

Siphephiso Magonya - IYASA

Outstanding Male Dancer

Peter Lenso - Mi Works

Arthur Ndlovu - Magesh

David Machowa - Apama

Outstanding Choreographer

Tinashe - Magesh

Alfonis Ndlovu - Abatsha

Brian Geza - National Ballet

THEATRE

Outstanding Actor

Teddy Mangava in Diamonds in His Son's Grave by Rooftop

Charles Matare in Wusiku by Rooftop

Zenzo Nyathi in Stitsha by Amakhosi

Outstanding Actress

Rumbidzai Karize in When Angels Weep

Caroline Mashingaidze in Ten Bush

Nothando Nobengula in Wusiku and Ten Bush

Outstanding Theatrical production

Eclipsed by Reps Theatre

Wusiku by Rooftop Promotions

When Angels Weep by MNK Production

Outstanding Director

Zane Lucas for Eclipsed - Reps Theatre

Eunice Tava for Diamond's in His Son's Grave - Rooftop

Styx Mhlanga for The Burrow - Amakhosi Theatre Productions

VISUAL ARTS

Outstanding Mix Media Work

Humming Bird by Johnson Zuze

Melodies from the Mermaid by Forbes Mushipe

Ecosystem by Richard Mpumha,

Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work

Cloud Nine by Taurai Dhliwayo

Ceremonial Dancers by Itai Njangu

Morning Light by David Chinyama,

Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work

Unto Us a Child Is Born by Israel Israel

Family in Mind by Raphael Machinjili

Never Ending by Washington Matafi

Outstanding Exhibition

Spirit of Friendship by National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo

The Cycle by Davina Jovi

Inhlama by Nonhlanhla Mathe

SPOKEN WORD

Outstanding Comedian

Clive Chigubhu

Carl Joshua Ncube

Ntandoyenkosi Moyo

Outstanding Poet

Tatenda Chinoda

Sithandazile Dube

Isaac Lambada

MUSIC

Outstanding Female Musician

Plaxedes Wenyika

Hope Masike

Cindy Munyavi

Outstanding Male Musician

Donald Chirisa aka Sniper

Enock Guni aka Knox

Sulumani Chimbetu aka Sulu

Outstanding Song

Gochi Gochi by Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah

Love YeMusoja by Donald Chirisa aka Sniper Storm

Ndinonyara by Enock Guni aka Knox

Outstanding Album

Love YeMusoja - Donald Chirisa

Shongwe - Blessing Shumba

Syllabus - Sulumani Chimbetu

FILM AND TELEVISION

Outstanding Actor

James Mariseni "Jingo" in The Kiss

Lloyd Kurima in Bag Rabvaruka

Cyril Sadat Sanhewe in Kiriboni The Menace

Outstanding Actress

Qeqeshiwe Mntambo in Suku

Sara Mpofu in Tshuz Mazikhethela & in Reunite

Locadia Matenga in Delete

Outstanding Music Video

Ruvimbo by Energy Mutodi

Amai Bhoyi by Jutal

Mativenga by Roki

Outstanding Screen Production (Television)

Delete by Shupai Kamunyaru

One family Can by Animators In Action

Tshuz Mazikhethela by ZBC Production

Outstanding Screen Production (Full Length film)

The Kiss by Cyril Sadat Sanhewe

Suku by Gugulethu Ndlovu

Simbimbino by Von Tavaziva

Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)

Inhlanhla by Fortune Tazvivinga

Ivevane by Black Toe Productions

Mind games by Charles Mawungwa

LITERARY ARTS

Outstanding fiction Book

Taking The Lead by Sibongile Mnkandla

Chioniso And Other Stories by Shimmer Chinodya

The Incubus by Samachai Kawengo

Outstanding Children's book

Panic On Fun Day by Farai Nyandoro

My Daughter by Albert Nyathi

Meri Nebhutsu Tsvuku by Ignatius Mabasa

Outstanding First creative Published Work

From Where The Wind Blows by Oliver Nyambi and Tendai Mangena (Eds.)

Once A Lover Always A Fool by Philani Amadeus Nyoni

MEDIA

Outstanding Journalist (Print)

Margaret Chinowaita

Raisedon Baya

Mthandazo Dube

Outstanding Journalist (Television)

Sifiso Mpofu

Terrence Mapurisana

Leonard Mabvara

Outstanding Online Media

The Writers International Network

Three Men On A Boat

Zimbojam

Outstanding Journalist (Radio)

No nominees

SPECIAL AWARDS

Outstanding Promoter of the Year

C & A Entertainment

Brumat t/a Horizon Bar and Restaurant

Chipaz Promotions