Deadline: 2 October 2025
The National Arts Council of Zambia under the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, in accordance with its statutory mandate, is proud to announce the prestigious 20th Edition of the Ngoma Awards for the year 2025.
The Ngoma Awards invites nominations from artists, and groups to be considered to receive the 2025 Ngoma Awards.
Categories
- Comedy Category
- This category will include stand-up, skit comedy and social media/online comedy that is in public domain.
- Theatre Community Category
- This category shall encompass such theatre forms as popular theatre, theatre for community action, physical theatre, which will include circus, acrobatics, mime, contemporary dance and clowning and theatre for development.
- Writing Creative Category
- The scope shall encompass forms of Creative Writing such as Prose, and Poetry.
- Fashion Category
- This category shall encompass all fashion designers.
- Media Arts Category
- The category shall encompass all audio-visual works that are shot for television, film, online and radio.
- Music Category
- This Scope may encompass:
- Zed-Beats
- Hip Hop
- Rap
- Choral
- Ragga
- Pop
- Acapella
- Jazz
- Reggae
- Rhythm & Blues
- Orchestra
- Kalindula
- Classical
- Gospel
- Brass
- Rock and other indigenous music genres
- This Scope may encompass:
- Stage Theatre Category
- This category shall encompass such theatre forms as those mainly performed in a proscenium arch theatre and/or amphitheater.
- Traditional Music and Dance Category
- This category will encompass all traditional and indigenous Zambian music and dance.
- Visual Arts Category
- This category shall encompass Visual Arts and Crafts. These shall include; Two-dimension (2D) art which constitute mainly drawings, photographs, paintings and prints. Three-dimension (3D) art which constitutes mainly of sculpture and crafts.
Award Information
- Comedy Category:
- Best Male Stand Up Comedian
- Best Female Stand Up Comedian
- Best Skit Comedy Piece
- Theatre Community Category:
- Best Community Theatre Practitioner
- Best in Community Theatre – Innovation
- Best Community Theatre – Projects
- Most Consistent Community Theatre Group
- Creative Writing Category:
- Best Male Creative Writer
- Best Female Creative Writer
- Best Poetry Work
- Best Prose Work
- Fashion Category:
- Best Fashion Designer Male
- Best Fashion Designer Female
- Media Arts Category:
- Best Radio Drama
- Best Director
- Best Feature Film
- Music Category:
- Best Male Musician
- Best Female Musician
- Best Producer
- Stage Theatre Category:
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Director
- Best Production
- Traditional Music and Dance Category:
- Best Dance Troupe
- Best Costume
- Best Male Traditional Dancer
- Best Female Traditional Dancer
- Visual Arts Category:
- Best Male Visual Artist
- Best Female Visual Artist
- Best Two-dimension Work
- Best Three-dimension Work
Eligibility Criteria
- Only Zambian artists, artistic works, groups and organisations, shall be eligible for entry;
- All works submitted should have been published, publicly displayed, and/or performed during the Ngoma Award 2025 cycle (1″ November 2023 to 2nd October 2025);
- All entries shall be in English, Braille, Zambian Sign Language and/or any of the indigenous local languages of Zambia;
- Only members or affiliates of National Arts Associations are eligible to submit;
- Zambian copyright, performance rights, neighbouring rights and all intellectual property laws shall be strictly observed for all Ngoma Awards Entries (Artistic works may include adaptations, rendition and collaborations);
- Individual artists, groups or organisations intending to participate in the Awards shall complete and submit the prescribed Ngoma Awards entry form, individually or through their representatives.
For more information, visit National Arts Council of Zambia.
