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.
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.”
Below we present winners and finalists for Creative Writing Category part of the Literary sector.
2024
| Award | Winner | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond Ngoma Award for Creative Writing - Male Contributor | Weston Mutale Bowa | Henry Joe Sakala, Dr Cheela Chilala, and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe |
| Diamond Ngoma Award for Creative Writing - Female Contributor | Monde Sifuniso | Anna Zgambo, Mulenga Kapwepwe, and Natasha Omokhodion |
| Diamond Friend of the Arts | Zambian Educational Publishing House (ZEPH) | Bookworld Zambia, The University of Zambia - UNZA Press |
2023
| Award | Winner | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Chongo Award for the Most Outstanding Male Creative Writer | Ruminations by Chishimba Mukonde Lumbwe | Kaliloze (Rain Dance) by Bwanga ‘Benny Blow’ Kapumpa; The Walk by Sydney Muponda |
| Florence Nyondo Award for the Most Outstanding Female Creative Writer | Hymn of the Womb by Ingrid Nayame | Treasonous Paragons by Pauline Chaze Manze; Woman Up by Memory H. Chainda |
| Luka Mwango Award for Most Outstanding Prose | Hymn of the Womb by Ingrid Nayame | Her Sweetie, Her Sugar Cane by Natasha Omokhodion; The Make of Break by Ritsha Bernard |
| Gwendoline Konie Award for the Most Outstanding Poetry | The Canvas of the Truth by Sheba Lishika | I Am My Own Painting by Chipo Chama; Venues by Jimmy Kayika |
| Maurice Tembo Award for the Most Outstanding Script | God We Need to Talk by Lee Kabongo Sendford | The Last Kiss by Bizwell Mudenda; Tribes Gone Babel by Clive G. Nyirenda |
2022
3rd December 2022
| Award | Winner | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Florence Nyondo Award for the Most Outstanding Female Creative Writer | The Entitled by Chobela Ndilila | Joy Mwiinga, Anna Zgambo and Salifyanji Simwanza |
| The Julius Chongo Award for the Most Outstanding Male Creative Writer | My Brothers' Keeper by Chishimba Lumbwe | |
| Luka Mwango Award for the Most Outstanding Prose | Mazuba Mwiinga | |
| Gwendoline Konie Award for the Most Outstanding Poetry | Reuben Phiri | |
| Maurice Tembo Award for the Most Outstanding Script | Kelvin Mulenga |
2019
In 2019, the Ngoma Awards returned to Zambia after a six-year hiatus. Ngoma Award winners were announced in December 2019.
| Award | Winner | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
2012
Prior to 2019, the Ngoma Awards were last held in 2012. According to the available evidence, only male writers were recognised in the creative writing category of the Ngoma Awards 2012.
| Award | Winner | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| THE PATU SIMOKO AWARD FOR THE BEST POET | 'Orgasm' by Moffat Gankhanani Moyo ‘Race to Plot 1’ by Rodgers Malenga ‘Develop That Child’ by Chris Mulenga |
|
| THE JULIUS CHONGO AWARD FOR THE BEST FICTION WRITER | ‘Poison of Love’ by Samuel Zulu ‘The Breaking Pot’ by Anthony Lupeke ‘Shattered Dreams’ by Jonas Mumba |
|
| THE KWALEYELA IKAFA AWARD FOR THE BEST DRAMA SCRIPT | ‘The Ultimate Nightmare’ by Mazuba Mwiinga ‘Fwaka Na Menshi’ by Joel Kapungwe |
2011
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
2010
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| The Julius Chongo Award for The Best Fiction Writer | "Woman of My Dream" by Isaac Sosala "The Choice" by Nicholas Boma "Dangerous Power Games" by Geoffrey Musonda |
2009
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| The Julius Chongo Award for the Best Fiction Writer | "Deflowered" by Pamela Sinkamba "Granny's Love" by Nicholas Boma |
2008
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| The Julius Chongo Award for the Best Fiction Writer | Grieve Sibale – The Hand in the Sun Umba Soko – I Married a Stranger Francis Xaviour Musonda – Agenda of a Thief |
|
| The Kwaleyela Ikafa Award for the Best Drama Script | Eric Kasomo Junior – The Merchant of Sex Barney Kanjela – The Unfaithful Leonard Koloko – Whispers in the Closet |
Julius Chongo held a law degree from India and worked as a magistrate. He became popular with airing of Nyanja stories "Pochedza Mmadzulo" from 1960 till his death. He was a creator of popular children's stories for TV and radio.
2006
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| The Julius Chongo Award | Dance of the Derivatives by Grieve Sibale Sai's Big Surprise by Remmie Chisenga |
2005
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Writing Category | Mr. Sibalwa Waanga Dr. Parnwell Munatamba Dr. Fanwell Sumaili |
2003
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
2002
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
2001
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| THE JULIUS CHONGO AWARD For The Best Fiction Writer |
GODRFIDAH KAPENA Ro Union, Anthology "Unearthing Her Story" - Gaborone Ms Kapena has specialised in drama, screen play writing and has oft requested to adjudicate at artistic functions. She has now ventured into for her short story writing. She is currently heading Research English in Mochudi, Botswana. VIOLET MAIMBO NAMUKWAI When The Fight Stopped Anthology "Unearthing Her Story" - Gaborone Formely a lecturer at NIPA in Lusaka, Ms Namukwai is a Senior lecture Comminication Skills at BIAC in Botswana. She has co-written, co-edi of training manuals for the Botswana Public Service. |
|
| THE PATU SIMOKO AWARD - For The Best Poet |
JOHN NJOVU - Life Is Hard, Antholgy- Under African Skies He has over the years collected numerous writings in Poetry. His favourite subjec include feelings of anger, disappointment, sadness, assessment joy and mischiel His poems in this anthology are his first attempt at publication. MUKELEBA SONGISO - The Promised Land, Anthology " under the African Skies An avid poet who does his writing in the spare time outside his schedule as Inspector of Schools at the Ministry of Education. His favourite subject is reflections. MBUYU NALUMANGO - My Inheritance, Anthology" Under The African Skies Has been writing poetry from a tender age. From her own perception of mans landing on the moon in 1969 she has thrilled herself with imaginative poetry. She has written short stories and won the 1998 Ngoma Award for Drama script "Broken Cooking |
2000
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
1999
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
1998
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| The Julius Chongo Award for the Best Fiction Writer | Mulenga Kapwepwe | Dorothy Makasa Lucy Simushi |
| The Kwaleyela Ikafa Award – For the Best Playwright | Mbuyu Nalumango | Samuel Kasankha Getrude Mulako |
| The Patu Simoko Award – For the Best Poet | Hector Banda | Clive Kawana Mary Nkhoma |
| The Steven Mpashi Award – For the Best Local Languages Writer | Costern Hanjalika Kanchele | Chongo D. Mundende John M. Lubinda |
1997
| Award | Winner | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Writing and Literature |
1. Sibalwa Mwaanga Lecturer in Literature in the University of Zambia's Department of Literature and Languages. Playwright and Literary critic. Won the British Council Playwriting Award for the play "Kiss Me Before I Die" in 1993. Currently, Secretary of the Lusaka Theatre Club. Winner Kanyembo Member and founder of the National Adjudicators Panel. Specialist in Create Writing/Literature and Culture. Has been a Chief adjudicator at ZANTAA NATAAZ National Festivals. Poet and presenter of National Poets Corner Rardie Programme on ZNBC. Currently Head, NIPA Burma Road Campus. 3. Panwell Munatamba Lecturer in Literature and Languages, University of Zambia; Poet; Writer, dramatist and adjudicator in Creative writing and theatre arts for many years. |