203 more NAMA entries

The 7th Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMA) has received a total of 802 entries compared to the 599 entries received for the 2016 event and the sponsors anticipate it to be best awards show yet. With the date and location undisclosed to the public, Namibian musicians seem to have gone out of their way and come out in numbers to take part in the prestigious and most-watched music awards show. The annual entries submission process for the 7th NAMAs which was open to Namibian music artists and music professionals had entries commencing on 15 October and closing on 2 December last year with the NAMA vetting committee set to commence the compliance process for the judging phase.Since then, the organising committee has been hard at work over the entire festive season to tally entries and load them onto the electronic system, after which the vetting committee will now start with their duties.A total of 24 categories were open for entry with the Best Collaboration category receiving the highest number of entries with 120 entries, followed by the Best Single category which raked in 92 entries, in a distant third it was Best Song with a message category with 75 entries, whilst Best Music Video have 68 entries and Best Gospel 63.The categories with the least number of entries are Best Afrikaans and Best Entertainment Journalist of the Year with five entries each, followed by Best Damara Punch, Best Oviritje and Best Acapella with seven entries, whilst Most Socially Responsible Artist got eight entries. John Ekongo said the numbers speak differently about the NAMAs. “This means that the artists have realised the power of producing quality music and they are indeed playing a greater role in the positive development towards Namibian arts and culture. We are very delighted by the number of entries with the best collaboration category attracting the most entries,” said Ekongo.The steering committee will now immediately commence with the vetting exercise, i.e.: going through every entry to check whether it complies with the rules. Entries that are not compliant with the rules will be disqualified while all entries that comply will go through to the judging phase, where a vigorous judging exercise is to be undertaken by an independent panel of judges. “The committee will be starting with the judging phase towards February and we hope to conclude by March so that the artists who entered the public vote categories scan have ample time to get their voting campaigns on,” said Ekongo.The vetting committee consists of an independent panel of experts drawn from within the music industry and are drawn from various music labels, shows and production houses, broadcasters and within the music media landscape and experts in the music industry that volunteered to serve on the committee. The number of entries received per category are: Best Afrikaans = 5, Best Damara Punch = 7, Best Oviritje = 7, Best Shambo = 18, Best Soukous/Kwasa = 21, Best Afro Pop (incl. Township Disco) = 54, Best Collaboration = 120, Best Gospel = 63 , Best Kwaito = 38 , Best R&B = 33, Best Rap/Hip Hop = 50, Best House = 31, Best Traditional = 18, Best Reggae = 17, Best Kizomba = 17, Best Acapella = 7, Best Single = 92, Best Music Video of the Year = 68, Best Song with a message = 75, Most Socially Responsible Artist of the Year = 8 , Best Musical Event of the Year =11, Radio DJ of the Year = 20, Entertainment Journalist of the Year = 5 and Best Live Performance of the Year = 17. Artists can keep an eye on the official website www.nama.com.na and social media accounts of NAMA for updates. June Shimuoshili

203 more NAMA entries

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-08

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203 more NAMA entries

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-08

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