By: Vanessa Chibwe
Zambian film critic and arts blogger Elias Mulenga has issued a statement responding to ongoing debate surrounding the outcomes of the 2025 Ngoma Awards in the Film and Television category.
The awards were held 11th December 2025 at Ciela Resort, celebrating outstanding achievements in the country’s creative sector.
Mulenga described the Ngoma Awards as “Zambia’s own equivalent of the Oscars or Grammys,” emphasizing their national importance and the need for stakeholders to treat them with the seriousness they deserve.
His remarks come amid social media complaints from some creatives who allege that certain winners did not deserve their awards.
According to Mulenga, the selection process was transparent, with an online portal created for submissions, followed by public voting. He stressed that winners were determined by fan engagement rather than a panel of judges.
“Numbers don’t vote — people do,” he stated, adding that many creatives failed to campaign for votes despite having strong online followings.
Mulenga defended the winners in the Film and Television categories, saying they earned their victories through active mobilisation of their audiences. He named Paul S. Wilo (Best Director), 10 Tamanga Street – TTS (Best Series), Dixon Mumba Jr. (Best Male Actor), and Blessings Luwisha (Best Female Actor) as deserving recipients who worked for their recognition.
He also criticized individuals who complained about the results despite not submitting their work for consideration.
While acknowledging gaps in Zambia’s creative industry, Mulenga noted that the revival and consistency of the Ngoma Awards mark progress emphasizing that the sector has significantly evolved compared to 20 years ago, with increased government engagement and growing industry conversations.
Mulenga further expressed gratitude to Youth, Sport and Arts Minister Elvis Nkandu and the National Arts Council of Zambia for sustaining the awards platform.
He encouraged creatives to appreciate the progress being made and urged those who did not win to prepare better for future editions.
Mulenga concluded by calling on artists to protect, support, and respect the Ngoma Awards as a national institution.
©️Zambia Reports | December 13th, 2025.