The Sunday News
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
THIS time last year, the organisers of the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAAs) were already preparing what they thought would be an even more successful award ceremony.
2020 would be the year in which they beat the cold, moving the ceremony from the harsh winter months to a sunnier, friendlier spring. This would be the year in which the award ceremony would be leaner and meaner, shedding off categories as it made sure that its ceremony did not run well into the night. But the best laid plans of men and mice often go awry, the saying goes, and this is true for this year’s ceremony which has had to change direction. Instead of the initial date of August 28, the ceremony has been pushed inside to November 28.
Instead of the buzz that had come to be associated with the glamorous BAAs, this year’s ceremony promises to be a quiet affair, with fans unable to scream for their favourite stars as they follow events online. The virtual award ceremony will be a first in the arts and organisers are aware of it.
“The thing with this pandemic is that it just didn’t hit Zimbabwe alone,” said awards spokesperson Nkululeko Nkala.
“It is worldwide and we have been learning. Obviously, it would be a first for us in Zimbabwe but BET had already had awards, the Samas have also been held. We have borrowed a few things from those and we know it’s doable. That’s the first.
“We have borrowed a few ideas from the international ceremonies. In terms of organisation not much has changed with the difference being that we have organised with a few thousands in mind. Now we are thinking it’s a TV show more than anything. The audience might not be there but the audience will still be there regardless.”
Nkala said although they were aware of the Covid-19 necessitated restrictions, they still wanted to make November 28 a special night for fans.
“Obviously, the glamour will be a lot less this year because the BAAs are not only about the artistes but the audiences as well, the supporters, the people. So now that the people that dress up for the event will not be coming it will lose a little bit of that glamour but also, we want to keep part of the experience for the sponsors and the artistes. We will still have a red carpet but it will be one that is Covid-19 aware. We will also stagger the awards so that there will be no one time when there are more than 50 people in the venue. Hence the decision to cut down on the number of awards,” Nkala said.
With artistes hit hard by Covid-19 as their most important revenue stream, live performances, was cut, this year’s ceremony will see organisers look back to the past and try to cushion former winners.
“Obviously, the awards have not changed in terms of the monetary reward side. It’s still there. The social awareness is not for the 2020 winners but for the past winners. It’s not for everyone because we have removed groups and international awards and other categories but most of the winners from the past three years will get something. This is us now going back to the artiste and saying thank you for keeping the arts alive because we know that things are hard. Come November however, artistes will still get that monetary reward, Nkala said.
United Refineries’ ROIL will return as the title sponsor of the awards this year, underpinning the company’s support for the ceremony.
Others, according to Nkala, have been sceptical about their support as they adjust to the new way of doing things in a world afflicted by a pandemic.
“We would love to thank ROIL for supporting the awards. We also can’t ignore that a lot of people are trying to get used to the new normal so we have a few partners that are coming in and saying how will our involvement now be useful now that they won’t be people attending the awards.
“However, there are some that have accepted that this thing will not be going away anytime soon so we hope to retain some partners while getting a few new ones to go with the ROIL BAAs. Obviously, it won’t be an easy ride but we are also lucky through the fact that we are already involved in running some of the virtual shows in the city. That has been the case for months now and that should work to our advantage. We have streamed the awards before and so we know what it takes. We just need to make sure that the rollout is bigger and better,” Nkala said.
