# Ngoma Awards

The Ngoma Awards are an annual Zambian arts award ceremony which recognise the nation's artistic talent. The awards are organised by the National Arts Council of Zambia. The Ngoma Awards are Zambia's only official national artistic honours and awards, covering a wide range of disciplines.

## History

The National Arts Council of Zambia is mandated by the National Arts Council Act 31 of 1994 Part 5, Section (e) to “regulate and provide for modalities for the award of national honours for artistic merit.”
In 2019, the Ngoma Awards returned to Zambia after a six-year hiatus. The newly relaunched Ngoma Awards includes 7 categories: creative writing, stage theatre, community theatre, music, traditional music and dance, visual arts, and media arts. Guidelines and Procedures for the Ngoma Awards are provided in booklet and PDF form by the National Arts Council of Zambia.

## 2019 winners

Ngoma Award winners were announced in December 2019.

### Music

| Award | Winner | Also Nominated |
| Most Outstanding Female Musician | Wezi | Bomb$hell Grenade; Esther Chungu Mubanga |
| Martin Mulenga | Martin Mulenga; Ephraim Sekeleti; Chanda Brian | Most Outstanding Male Musician | Ephraim Sekeleti Mutalange | Roberto; T Sean ; Ocazey |
| Song of the Year | Finally by Yo Maps | African King by Wezi; Konkha by Mathew Tembo |
| Album of the Year | Grateful by T Sean | Christ Revealed by Rachael Nanyangwe; Super Star by Roberto |
| Most Outstanding Choir | New Apostolic Choir from Lusaka Central | St Margarets Choir from St Margarets Congregation – UCZ Kaunda Square; St Paul's Choir from St Paul's Congregation – UCZ Kabwata |
| Most Outstanding Ban | Burning Youth | Afro Red; Sappers Band |
| Most Outstanding Traditional Instrumentalist | Joseph Chibiya – Nsombo Malimba Dance Troupe | Derrick Lukona – Likumbi Lya Mize Dance Troupe; Teddy Tembo – Soli Cultural Dance Troupe |
| Most Outstanding Male Dancer | Martin Kabwe – Amaombe Dance Troupe | Moses Kaumba – Likumbi Lya Mize Dance Troupe; Peter Tembo – Nomakanjani Dance Troupe |
| Most Outstanding Female Dancer | Elina Zulu – Zambia National Service Dance Troupe | Mambo Mwinga – Zilile Dance Troupe; Munkana Moola – Likumbi Lya Mize Dance Troupe |
| Most Outstanding Dance Troupe | Kamanga Dance Troupe | Tiyanjane Dance Troupe; Zambia National Service Dance Troupe |

### Visual Arts

| Award | Winner | Also Nominated |
| Most Outstanding 2-dimensional Artwork | Nyami Nyami by Isaac Kalambata | Culture vs Technology by Boyd Bishonga; Shades of Hue by Nukwase Tembo |
| Most Outstanding Male Visual Artist | Ngandwe Mwaba | George Mubanga; Poto Kabwe |
| Most Outstanding Female Visual Artist | Mulenga J. Mulenga | Alice Muyambo; Nukwase Tembo |
| Most Outstanding Artisan | Lawrence Lupiya | Boyd Bishonga; Lackson Mwape |

### Media Arts

| Award | Winner | Also Nominated |
| Most Outstanding Feature Film | Kwacha by Cassie Kabwita | Mushala by Angel Phiri; Payback by Wyclif Mwamba |
| Most Outstanding Television Series | Mpali by Frank Sibuuku | Spoiler by Sidney Chisenga; Zuba by Fred Phiri |
| Most Outstanding Male Media Artist | Monde Mutale as Nguzu in Mpali | Leo Dauty Simukoko as Caesar in Payback; Owas Ray Mwape as Mwiche in Vindanda |
| Most Outstanding Female Media Artist | Anita Munamonga as Mwiza in Mpali | Cassie Kabwita as Kwacha in Kwacha; Grace Rumsey as Mwaka in Fever |

### Creative Writing

| Award | Winner | Also Nominated |
| Most Outstanding Male Creative Writer | Henry Joe Sakala – Khomboni Private Investigator | Chishimba M. Lumbwe – Sundu; Gerry Sikazwe – Words That Matter |
| Most Outstanding Female Creative Writer | Maliya Mzyece Sililo – Despite the Bruises | Esnala Banda – Sketches of Paranoia; Sheeba Lishika – Woman |
| Most Outstanding Prose | Sundu by Chishimba M. Lumbwe | The Catalogue by Mweo Kondolo; Khomboni Private Investigator by Henry Joe Sakala |
| Most Outstanding Script | The Chosen One by Dr Cheela Chilala | The Baby by Lee Kabongo Senford; Shadow of Silence by Maggie Vivian Mbewe |
| Most Outstanding Poetry | Sketches of Paranoia by Esnala Banda | Woman by Sheeba Lishika; Words That Matter by Gerry Sikazwe |

### Theatre

| Award | Winner | Also Nominated |
| Most Outstanding Stage Theatre Actress | Maureen Banda as Mwansa in The Throne | Barbara Mumpanga as Zoe in The Baby; Karen Ndhlovu Chulu as Luciana in Home Sweet Hell |
| Most Outstanding Stage Theatre Production | Banjo – Green Buffaloes | The Baby – Nkhwazi; The Chosen One – Napsa |
| Most Outstanding Comedian | Abel Chungu Musuka | Cheelo Mwanachingwala; Emmanuel Munsaka |
| Most Outstanding Community Theatre Production | Kakhonyonyo – Jere Ensemble Arts Acre | Children of the Dead – Mwazanji Dance Theatre; Umbili – Kanyama Theatre Production Unit |
| Most Outstanding Stage Theatre Director | Bizwell Mudenda for Banjo – Green Buffaloes | Hamalala Hamalala for The Chosen One – Napsa; Samuel Mubita Sikwa for The Baby – Nkhwazi |
| Most Outstanding Male Community Theatre Artist | Jacob Wachata – Chamwaza Performing Arts (Solwezi) | Daniel Ngoma – Tusole Theatre (Livingstone); Sylvester Kasapu – Tasiyana Community Theatre (Kabwe) |
| Most Outstanding Female Community Theatre Artist | Onolina Zulu – Twiza Mobile Theatre (Chipata) | Grace Mudenda – Mwazanji Community Dance Theatre (Lusaka); Theresa Kapasu – Tasiyana Community Theatre (Kabwe) |