Organisers of the Namibia Gospel Music Awards (Ngoma) have announced nominees across 10 categories, highlighting improved judging transparency and a strong showing for emerging artists.
The Ngoma Awards, returning after a seven-year break, announced the nominees on Friday.
Ngoma chairperson Shalongo ‘Shacks’ Mwandingi said the response from artists and the wider gospel music community has been encouraging.
“Artists, supporters and members of the gospel music community have expressed excitement, appreciation and pride at being part of this year’s awards. We are encouraged by the level of enthusiasm and the positive feedback we have received.
“Overall, we are satisfied with how the nomination process unfolded and believe it has strengthened confidence in the awards,” he said.
To improve the credibility of the awards, Mwandingi said the organisers have appointed an independent nominations and judging committee to assess all eligible submissions.
“This year, we established an independent nominations and judging committee made up of individuals who assessed all eligible submissions fairly and impartially. The committee carefully evaluated artists against the published eligibility requirements and category criteria.
“By separating the judging process from the organising team and ensuring decisions were based on clear guidelines, we aimed to uphold transparency, fairness and credibility throughout the nomination process,” he said.
While some artists have questioned the outcome of the nominations, Mwandingi said concerns have been limited.
“As with any awards programme, we have received a few minor concerns from some artists. However, these have been minimal and are being addressed professionally through the appropriate channels. We remain open to constructive feedback, and the committee is committed to engaging respectfully with anyone who seeks clarification while maintaining the integrity of the awards process,” he said.
The 10 award categories were selected to reflect the current state of Namibia’s gospel music industry, he said, recognising performers, as well as broader contributions to the genre.
Mwandingi said the inclusion of several new artists among the nominees was a direct result of the revised judging system.
“One of the strengths of the revised judging process is that it focuses on merit rather than popularity or experience alone. We are pleased to see several emerging artists earning nominations, because it demonstrates that new talent is making a significant impact in the industry. This reflects a healthy and growing gospel music scene where excellence is recognised regardless of how long an artist has been active.”
He also pointed to improvements in the quality of music submitted for this year’s awards compared with the previous edition in 2018.
“One of the most encouraging trends has been the noticeable improvement in the overall quality of music being produced,” he said.
“Production standards have become more professional, songwriting has grown stronger and more diverse, and artists are investing more in presenting music that can compete at a higher level. We have also seen greater participation from younger artists.”
Ahead of the awards ceremony in October, the awards’ organisers plan to conduct promotional activities, public engagements, and media appearances.
They are also exploring workshops and networking opportunities to support artists’ professional development.
Mwandingi said sponsorship remains essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the awards.
He said the organisers continue to engage potential partners to help expand the programme and maintain the event as an annual platform recognising excellence in Namibian gospel music.
