Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards Postponed to 2025 Due to Limited Genre Representation

By Pronellah Lunga

The 8th edition of the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards, originally scheduled for this year, has been postponed to August 2025, following a decision by organizers to address limited representation across certain artistic genres.

In a statement released by the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards Trust, the organizers explained that the extra time would allow them to ensure a broader and more inclusive selection of works for the awards. The event will now take place in August next year, coinciding with the Heroes Holiday, and will carry the sub-theme “Celebrating Our Heroes.”

“While we recognize and appreciate the exceptional quality of work produced by many artists over the past calendar year, we also noted a limited representation across certain genres,” the statement read.

The delay reflects the desire to create a more comprehensive and diverse platform for showcasing local talent across music, dance, poetry, film, and other disciplines.

The postponement is also meant to be an opportunity for the organizers to secure additional partners and sponsors, as well as to rebrand and reenergize the event.

“This additional time will also allow the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards to rebrand, introduce new faces, incorporate fresh ideas, and work toward delivering an exciting and dynamic awards ceremony in 2025,” the Trust added.

Since its inception in 2017, the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards have celebrated and recognized the creative spirit of Bulawayo and its surrounding areas. The decision to postpone underscores the commitment of the awards to continue evolving and representing the full spectrum of artistic talent in the region.

The 2025 edition promises to be a revitalized celebration, one that balances the recognition of artistic excellence with a broader and more inclusive vision for the future.