Amanda E N Jojo

The Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) has announced the dates of their next awards ceremony which will see them commence on 19 February next year and musicians are expected to submit their entries from the first of November to the end of December this year.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be a hybrid of a virtual and physical event. ZIMA 2022 theme is “Rhythm, Roots and Cultural Diversity” uniting Zimbabwe’s diverse musical roots, rhythm and culture under one strong voice and sound.

In a statement, Zimbabwe Music Awards Roadmap and Partnerships Corporate Communications Executive Benjamin Nyandoro, said PPC Zimbabwe is their headline partner.

“We have cemented our partnership with PPC over the years through their convergence on strong commitment and determination in their respective trades and value systems.

“It is reassuring that corporate giants continue to locate value around recognizing, promoting, celebrating and awarding our musicians, their works and the music support systems. We welcome Wezhaz Executive Cars, Barmlo Investments, Kitchen Link and the Bullion Group for coming aboard,” Nyandoro said.

He highlighted how players in the music industry have over the period of COVID-19 embraced the ‘new normal’ by building smart partnerships between promoters, platform providers, content and sponsorship.

“Eighteen months under lockdown with tight restrictive measures implemented by Government to manage the COVID-19 global pandemic, the music keeps playing. The digital cosmos became the primary platform for performance and distribution of music works,” he said.

He applauded the role of the media of fittingly connecting the music and the people.

Meanwhile, ZIMA commissioned an external adjudication steering committee comprising of 12 qualified persons to oversee and develop the ZIMA Rule Book. The adjudication process will commence 1st – 16th January 2022.