Namibia: Record entries for 2018 NAMAs

This is the highest number of entries the event has received since it was founded in 2011.

However, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation chief commercial officer Umbi Karuaihe-Upi said 282 entries were disqualified.

She said reasons why some entries were disqualified included duplicate entries, no physical material delivered and that some release dates were outside the required period.

"All approved entries will now be sent to the judges who will immediately commence the judging for phase 1 and 2," Karuaihe-Upi said.

A panel of judges, comprising various arts and media professionals from Ghana, Kenya and Zambia, has already been announced.

Meanwhile, preparations for the 2018 NAMAs are at an advanced stage, although the organisers are yet to announce the host city. They have, however, hinted Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay as prospective host cities.

NAMAs executive member Tim Ekandjo said the event had spent 37% of its $316 000 budget on venue hire, hospitality, travel, accommodation, security and other local expenses. He said 35% of this figure was spent on local suppliers alone. The budget also included staging, equipment, lights and audiovisual equipment.

Technical consultancy fees to Rockstar4000 took up 21% of the total budget, he said.

"These are our technical consultants on the project that together with the organisers render their expertise on the design and concept of the entire event,” Ekandjo said.

“We recruit the technical consultants via an open and transparent tender process after every three years. This tender was run twice in our seven years of existence. The first time only three companies tendered, two being South African and one Namibian and then three years ago only two South African companies tendered."