Dzimbahwe Institute Demands Traditional Music Category at NAMA

The Dzimbahwe Institute of Heritage and Culture (DIHC) has formally petitioned the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) to urgently establish a dedicated Traditional Music category at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), arguing that the continued omission of indigenous music forms undermines Zimbabwe’s cultural foundation.

In a letter addressed to the NACZ Director Napoleon Nyanhi,DIHC Executive Director Milcha Maigurira acknowledged the critical role NAMA plays in celebrating artistic excellence. However, she raised concern that the awards structure does not specifically recognise traditional music and indigenous instruments such as the mbira, marimba, hosho and ngoma.

The Institute described traditional music as “the cornerstone and living archive” of Zimbabwean identity, arguing that it forms the primary source from which contemporary artistic expressions draw inspiration and authenticity. It warned that subsuming traditional music under broad or modern categories renders its practitioners invisible and risks gradual cultural erosion.
DIHC reminded NACZ of its statutory mandate to protect, preserve and promote Zimbabwe’s national heritage, stressing that recognition platforms must reflect the full spectrum of the country’s artistic ecosystem — from ancestral forms to contemporary innovation.

The Institute proposed the creation of a “Best Traditional Music” category, saying such a move would provide long-overdue national recognition to master musicians and instrument makers, incentivise youth participation in indigenous arts, and send a clear message about the centrality of Zimbabwe’s cultural roots in the modern creative landscape.

It further requested clarification on the criteria used in establishing NAMA award categories and called for immediate and earnest consideration of the proposal. The letter was also copied to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, as well as the Chairperson of the NAMA Adjudication Committee.

DIHC expressed readiness to provide research, technical expertise and consultation to assist in developing the framework for the proposed category, signalling its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with NACZ.

By formally raising the matter, the Institute has ignited renewed debate over the place of indigenous heritage within mainstream recognition systems, placing pressure on the arts governing body to respond to calls for what DIHC terms “equity and historical justice” for Zimbabwe’s traditional music custodians.

The National Arts Council had not issued a response at the time of publication.