Story by Patience Nyagato
Organisers of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) have partnered with the Miss Deaf Zimbabwe Trust for this year’s event as part of efforts to ensure people with disabilities are represented in the arts sector.
In a move expected to boost participation of talented artists with disabilities at major events, the partnership will include sign language interpretation during NAMA events and performances by persons with hearing impairments.
“The collaboration between Miss Deaf Zimbabwe Trust and NAMA can significantly enhance participating of deaf people in the arts sector in various ways like providing sign language for arts events, workshops and training programmes showing that arts venues can be physically accessible equipped with necessary facilities for the deaf.
“Developing and supporting deaf led arts initiatives such as theatre productions, arts exhibitions and music performances, organising arts festivals that celebrate deaf culture and provide a platform for deaf artist to show case their talents,” said Miss Deaf Zimbabwe Trust founder, Ms Madeline Yohane.
The gesture is a deliberate move by event coordinators to promote inclusivity in the arts sector.
NAMA director, Mr Tinashe Kitchen said, “NAMA is committed to trying to ensure that we include as many people in the celebration of arts as we can.
We try to ensure that we reach as many people across the country as we can. We also try to ensure that many people from different background or differently abled participate in different ways as well.
“This year not only are we going to have sign language on the main show, all of our promotional events will also include sign language interpretation in some way shape or form.
The same time we are also trying to include performances and artist who are also differently abled at different events leading up to NAMA, to show that more and more people engaged in Zimbabwes biggest celebrate in arts.”
The 23rd edition of the National Arts Merit Awards is slated for the 1st of March at a venue yet to be announced.
