NAMAs rebooted with N$10m backing

After a six-year hiatus, the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) are making a highly anticipated return next year, backed by a N$10 million government budget, new management and an expanded vision aimed at strengthening Namibia's music industry beyond a single awards ceremony.

While partnership opportunities remain open, the awards are now under the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture.

The NAMAs are scheduled to take place on 13 March in Windhoek, with the venue yet to be announced.

Launching the awards at the National Theatre of Namibia on Tuesday, arts and culture minister Sanet Steenkamp said entries will open on 10 August and close on 11 September, with artists invited to submit their work through the official NAMAs website.

Steenkamp stressed that while awards recognise achievement, they do not define it, applauding Namibian musicians for continuing to create and grow the industry during the awards' six-year absence.

"Just as we believe that excellence in education starts with strong foundations, we believe that excellence in the creative industry begins with recognising, nurturing and celebrating talent," she said. "Music reminds us that while we may sing in different languages and rhythms, we share one national story."

She also acknowledged long-time partners MTC and broadcaster NBC for their continued support of the awards while recognising former sponsor Sanlam and the many individuals who have worked behind the scenes to revive the event.

New beats

Organisers say this edition of the NAMAs is designed to deliver more than an evening of accolades. NAMAs project administrator Tasneem Klazen confirmed that the awards will feature 23 entry categories and six non-entry categories, with significantly increased prize money across the board.

"This time around, we are definitely going to have a lot more prize money and bigger prizes per category," she told tjil.

Plans are also underway to extend the impact of the awards through a national winners' roadshow, allowing audiences across Namibia to experience performances by award-winning artists after the ceremony. "The aim is to ensure artists are sustained beyond one night of celebration. We want communities across the country to experience the incredible talent our musicians have to offer."

Among the changes is the removal of gender-specific awards such as best male artist and best female artist. These will be replaced with single overall categories.

"We have removed the gender-specific categories because we believe music is for everyone. Whether you are male or female, we are all working towards the same award," organisers said.

Genres including gospel, kwaito and Ma/Gaisa remain among the recognised categories. Award nominees will be announced on 26 January 2027, after which the public will have five weeks to vote via SMS and online in selected categories, including the coveted song of the year award.

Speaking at the launch, National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) chairperson Manna Matswetu paid tribute to the resilience of the country's musicians during the awards' absence. "To the musicians who kept creating, performing and sharing Namibian music throughout the six-year hiatus, thank you for keeping the industry alive and giving us something worth celebrating," he said.

With a new brand identity, renewed government backing, a larger financial commitment and a broader developmental vision, organisers hope the return of the NAMAs will not only celebrate musical excellence but also create meaningful economic opportunities for artists and contribute to the long-term growth of Namibia's creative sector.