Zim: Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards postponed to November

The annual event, which was scheduled for 29 August, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show seeks to recognise and honour exceptional individuals as well as groups in Matabeleland region.

“This public health emergency will likely result in a global economic crisis, which will hit the poorest and most marginalised communities the hardest,” RoilBAA organisers said. “With this in mind, we will postpone the main RoilBAA ceremony and direct our efforts towards this strategic stimulus programme.”

The organisers also announced the launch of RoilBAA Conscious Citizenship Strategy, which is a response to the devastating consequences of COVID-19.

RoilBAA spokesperson Nkululeko Nkala said: “RoilBAA is redoubling its efforts to help, protect and sustain our creatives and their families and ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable creatives are prioritised. It is to this effect that we launch the RoilBAA Conscious Citizenship Strategy, a strategy that can play a critical role in supporting the arts sector and help their efforts in creating work in these trying times.”

Meanwhile, the sponsors of the event – United Refineries Limited – have pledged COVID-19 food relief packages to previous RoilBAA winners. “In partnership with our main sponsor, United Refineries Limited, we will issue vouchers or stimulus food packages to our 77 previous winners plus 13 of our core RoilBAA team to make it 90 recipients.”

He added: “We will also identify a further 10 vulnerable artists who are not necessarily past award winners, for example, elderly artists to make the figure 100 recipients. The process will involve delivery of stimulus packages to the artists’ homes and places of work and will be documented for a delayed video programme to be aired online and on TV. This will be supported by a mini online concert to feature a few artists abiding by COVID-19 safety regulations.”