Artists enter themselves in categories of choice at no charge on an annual basis on a stipulated date. The due date for this year’s call for submissions is 11 September 2026. No entries will be accepted after this date and all entries are encouraged to be submitted online via the digital dashboard. Physical submissions can be accommodated under strict regulations and must be submitted in hard copy with an attached application form available at www.nama.com.na
1. Submissions are encouraged to be made through the NAMAs online dashboard available www.nama.com.na Artists and creators must ensure that all mandatory fields are completed and that all required supporting documents are uploaded before submitting their application. Submissions will be unsuccessful if any mandatory fields are left incomplete or if any required supporting documents are missing or incorrectly uploaded.
2. Applicants are required to create a single online profile. Once registered, applicants may submit more entries/application through their profile, provided that each entry is submitted separately using the online entry form and complies with the eligibility requirements for the selected award category.
3. Online submissions may be completed by the artist or creator or by an authorised representative such as a manager, record label or designated agent. However, all submissions must be made with the full knowledge and consent of the artist and the artist remains fully responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all information provided. By submitting an entry, the representative confirms that they are duly authorised to act on behalf of the artist.
4. Supporting documents, including certificates, letters, declarations and other supporting evidence, must be submitted in PDF format. Where supporting documents are submitted in another file format, the Vetting Committee may request that the entrant resubmit the documents in PDF format within the prescribed timeframe. Failure to comply with such a request may result in the disqualification of the submission.
1. Physical submissions may be accommodated for artists who do not have access to digital submission methods. All physical submissions must be submitted in a sealed envelope and must contain:
i. A completed application form – available at www.nama.com.na
ii. All required supporting documents and
iii. A clearly labelled USB containing the submission material for the category or categories entered into.
The USB must be clearly labelled with:
i. The artist's/creator’s legal full name.
ii. The artist's stage or professional name (if applicable); and
iii. The category or categories being entered.
2. Applicants must submit one (1) physical application form per award category entry. Each application form may only be used for one category and one eligible submission. Applicants submitting entries in multiple categories must complete a separate application form for each category. Multiple completed application forms may be compiled and submitted together in one envelope/package, provided that each application form is complete and all required supporting documents are attached to the relevant submission. Each submission will be processed separately and assigned its own entry reference number.
3. Each category for submission must have its own application and USB folder.
The sealed envelope must be clearly labelled with:
Please note the following:
1. Khomas Region: National Theatre of Namibia (NTN)
Head Office, Windhoek, Khomas Region
Location: 12 John Meinert St, Windhoek
Phone: +264 61 37 44 00
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
2. MICT - Erongo Regional Office
Physical Address: Corner of Rakotoka and Dusch Street, Swakopmund
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
3. MICT - Hardap Regional Office
Physical Address: 388 Katrina Himarwa Hanse Street, Mariental
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
4. MICT - ǁKharas Regional Office
Physical Address: Cul de Sac Street, Old President Building, Keetmanshoop
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
5. MICT - Omaheke Regional Office
Physical Address: Portion 59 Thlabanelo Street, Gobabis
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
6. MICT - Otjozondjupa Regional Office
Physical Address: 5 Polisie Street, Otjiwarongo
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
7. MICT - Kunene Regional Office
Physical Address: Vita Thom Street, Opuwo
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
8. MICT - Oshikoto Regional Office
Physical Address: Penda ya Ndakolo Street, Omuthiya
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
9. MICT - Ohangwena Regional Office
Physical Address: Hifikepunye Pohamba Street, Eenhana
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
10. MICT - Oshana Regional Office
Physical Address: 850 Robert Mugabe Street, Oshakati
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
11. MICT - Omusati Regional Office
Physical Address: Isack Pondo & Namaungu Street, Outapi
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
12. MICT - Kavango East Regional Office
Physical Address: Eugene Kakukuru Road (Ndama), Rundu
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
13. MICT - Kavango West Regional Office
Physical Address: 824 Ext 2 Behind Mass Housing, Nkurenkuru
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
14. MICT - Zambezi Regional Office
Physical Address: 333 Soweto Street, Portion Y, Katima Mulilo
Working hours: 08H00-13H00, 14H00-17H00, Monday - Friday
5. The 11th NAMAs are open for entry from 10 August 2026 to 11 September 2026. A formal announcement is made at the official launch prior to the opening date through the media, direct communication to the members and music labels, Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (NASCAM), as well as social media platforms. The closing date for both online and physical submissions is strictly 11 September 2026 at 17H00.
6. Entries received will be screened for compliance with the rules and regulations to ensure that the entries were submitted in the correct category. The purpose of this process, known as vetting, is to ensure that each entry is eligible and not at risk of disqualification later. The Vetting Committee of the NAMAs will perform this function. No artistic or technical judgments are made at this stage.
7. The qualified entries are then sent to the judges. (Please note: Qualified entries are not the final nominations yet).
8. Entries are forwarded to the judges for adjudication in accordance with defined guidelines and category-specific assessment criteria. Judges apply their music industry knowledge, market analysis and technical expertise in determining the nominees in each category. The public is not involved at this stage.
9. All the categories in the NAMAs, except for the public vote categories, are adjudicated by a panel of independent judges. There might be a different panel for each category, but depending on the particular expertise of a judge, he/she may serve on more than one panel. The panel of judges is reviewed annually. They are selected for their expertise in their respective fields.
10. Final nominations are announced at the Nomination Launch.
11. The winners in each category are announced at the award ceremony, which will take place on a date to be formally announced.
The awards ceremony will take place on a suitable date that will be decided by the NAMAs Steering Committee every year.
1. General rules in section 3.1 must be applied.
2. Entries are open to eligible local artists and creators, including recording artists, directors, producers, engineers and other recognised music practitioners, who meet the following requirements:
- The entrant must be a Namibian citizen, permanent resident, African guest or domicile holder of Namibia at the time of submission, as defined in this Policy.
- Where a master recording is jointly owned by a Namibian and a non-Namibian individual or entity, the entrant must:
- be a Namibian individual with citizenship; and
- own at least fifty per cent (50%) of the master recording submitted for entry
3. In the case of a duo or group, not less than fifty per cent (50%) of the members must meet the eligibility requirements set out in this Policy.
4. The Vetting Committee reserves the right to request documentary proof of citizenship, residency, domicile, ownership, authorship or any other information necessary to verify the eligibility of any artist, producer, director, engineer or creator.
5. Failure to provide satisfactory proof within the prescribed timeframe may result in the disqualification of the entry.
6. Unless the category states otherwise (for example, Best Producer), international collaborations/productions between qualifying artists and international artists are allowed, provided the Namibian qualifying artists’ participation is given star or equal billing and that the song belongs to the Namibian artists and creators.
7. All recordings submitted for the NAMAs must have been commercially released (in other words first made available for sale by any recognised retail trade or online music platform) in Namibia or elsewhere during the period between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2025, but only commercially released recordings during the entry period will qualify for entry on condition that written proof of release details for the entry period is submitted together with the fully completed application. The Vetting Committee is entitled to request further or better proof in its discretion.
8. An artist, creator group or authorised submitter may submit a maximum of two (2) entries per entry-based award category only, provided that each entry independently meets the eligibility requirements of the NAMAs. Entries submitted in excess of this limit will not be considered and only the first two (2) complete and compliant entries reviewed by the Vetting Committee for that category will be accepted.
9. Categories that do not specifically require an album may be entered using an eligible single, EP, performance recording, music video or other qualifying work, as specified for that category. Refer to the Definitions section for the meaning of these terms.
The following categories are excluded from this requirement:
i. Best Song
ii. Most Streamed Song (Special Recognition Award)
iii. Most Radio Played Song
iv. Best Folklore Music Contribution
v. Music Development Award (Premier Award)
vi. International Achievement (Premier Award)
vii. Best Instrumental
viii. Best Music Video
ix. Best Producer
x. Best Live Music Performance (Act)
10. Artists who do not have a commercially released album will not be eligible for nomination in the Top 5 Awards/Premier Awards.
11. Multi-artist compilations comprising previously released recordings are not eligible for submission in any genre category, irrespective of the predominant genre represented in the compilation.
12. Entries in album genre categories must comprise a predominance of 70% of tracks pertinent to the genre entered.
13. Where a song is a collaboration between artists from different genres, the entry shall compete only in the genre that best represents the primary artist and the musical style of the recording. A collaborating or featured artist may not enter the same song into a different genre category solely based on their participation in the recording.
14. Non-entry categories will not involve the public but will purely be based on the independent Judges' scores.
15. Singles and albums previously released and entered into the previous NAMAs and now remixed will not be eligible for entry.
1. Cash prizes are awarded to the winning artists except where the category states otherwise. Artists and creators who are nominated in any category are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
2. Nominees who fail to attend the Awards Ceremony, either in person or through an authorised representative, shall not be eligible to receive the cash component of the award. They would receive the award statuette only.
Exceptions to this rule may be considered only in exceptional circumstances. A nominee seeking an exemption must submit written notice, together with a motivation and supporting documentation where applicable, to the NAMAs Adjudication Committee within fourteen (14) days of the announcement of nominees.
3. Upon notice of unexpected Awards Ceremony absence, the nominee will be required to record an audio-visual interview for each category entered for broadcast purposes, a copy of which must be delivered to the National Theatre of Namibia Head Office no later than 3 weeks prior to the Award ceremony.
4. The cash prizes awarded to the winners for theNAMAs are as follows:
Cash prizes will not be paid earlier than 30 business days after the date of the Main Award Ceremony.
1. To produce the awards ceremony, the NAMAs will require the following from each nominated artist, creator, producer, director and engineer who is nominated as a finalist in any category:
i. The right to use each nominee’s photograph, name, likeness, image, biography, interviews and recorded performance at each event of the awards, for the marketing, advertising, filming, broadcast and commercial exploitation of the awards, including the broadcast production.
ii. The right to use the sound recordings or part thereof embodied in the album entered in the awards for the marketing, advertising, filming, broadcasting and commercial exploitation of the awards.
2. All nominees and invited performers shall, as a condition of participation in the NAMAs Awards Programme and Awards Ceremony, be required to sign the prescribed Participant and Broadcast Release Form issued by the NAMAs and its official broadcasting partner.
The signed release authorises the recording, filming, photographing, broadcasting, livestreaming, rebroadcasting and promotion of the nominee's or performer's participation in connection with the NAMAs across television, radio, digital platforms, social media and other media channels.
The release is intended solely for the promotion, broadcast, archival and commercial exploitation of the NAMAs and related content. Failure to sign the prescribed release form within the required timeframe may result in the withdrawal of a nominee or performer from participation in the awards ceremony, broadcasts, promotional activities or live performances.
1. All entrants hereby waive any claim of whatsoever nature which they have against the NAMAs Secretariat, Committees, Judges, Partners, Stakeholders, Organisers and any affiliated individuals or entities arising out of or in connection with their participation in this competition and will ensure that the nominees will do the same.
2. The Sponsor shall not be liable to an entrant for any reason whatsoever, whether in contract or delict, or otherwise arising out of, or in connection with, the NAMAs. The entrant hereby fully and effectually indemnifies the sponsors and their successors, assigns, licensees and each of their officers, directors, employees and agents and holds them harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, judgments, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal expenses) directly or indirectly due to any breach of these rules by the entrant. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the NAMAs.
3. By submitting a fully completed entry for the NAMAs, the entrant agrees to abide by the rules as stated in this document.
4. The Steering Committee reserves the right to suspend or disqualify an entrant who has provided false information, violated these Rules and Regulations, committed copyright infringement or engaged in conduct that materially brings the Awards into disrepute. Any such decision shall be documented and communicated in writing.
5. No artists will be allowed to withdraw any entry after they have submitted it to the NAMAs.
1. An author, composer, songwriter, performer, producer or any other rights holder may submit a written complaint to the NAMAs Steering Committee where they reasonably believe that their work has been entered into the NAMAs without their knowledge, consent, authorisation or any other lawful right.
The complaint must be supported by sufficient evidence of ownership or legal interest in the work. Upon receipt, the Steering Committee may refer the matter to the Vetting Committee and Adjudication Committee for investigation.
Where the complaint is substantiated, the NAMAs reserve the right to suspend, reject or disqualify the entry, require additional proof of authority or take any other action considered necessary to protect the integrity of the awards and the intellectual property rights of the parties concerned.
Complaints may be forwarded to:
NAMAs Steering Committee
manager@nama.com.na
2. All decisions with respect to the acceptance of any entry and eligibility of entries are made by the NAMAs Secretariat and shall be final and binding upon all entrants.
