In celebrating community impact and the spirit of hunhu/ubuntu, the inaugural The List Awards ceremony took place recently.
Organised by Identities Media, the event recognised and honoured individuals making transformative contributions across various fields, including arts, business, social impact, youth, humanitarian efforts, and climate action.
The List Awards aim to restore the prestige of African awards by honoring impactful champions from all walks of life while upholding values of transparency, inclusivity, and integrity.
The awards founder, Nyaradzo “Nyari” Mashayamombe, expressed her gratitude for the success of the first edition of the awards. In her post-event reflections, she highlighted the inspiration behind The List Awards.
“We sought to celebrate people who serve their communities wholeheartedly,” she said.
“If they’re in business, they’re reinvesting in their communities; if they’re in the arts, they’re advancing positive messaging.
“The List Awards were created to shine a light on these community champions who might otherwise go unrecognised.”
Mashayamombe emphasised that Zimbabwe had a remarkable showing this year, securing awards across all ten categories and dominating the two pan-African categories.
She noted the particularly high engagement of Zimbabweans in the voting process and the compelling cases made by nominees on the jury, including Vengai Dzvedere, who won the Pan-African Impact Award for his work in ICT education and crypto-awareness across Africa.
His efforts exemplify the mission of The List Awards, which seek to empower those creating opportunities for African communities.
To maintain the integrity of the awards, The List Awards Board appointed a selection committee comprising experts from various fields to oversee the selection and adjudication process.
This committee’s careful, multi-tiered screening allowed them to evaluate hundreds of nominations and select winners who align with the awards’ ethos of community-centered impact.
The dedication to transparency and inclusivity are key features that set The List Awards apart from other ceremonies.
The ceremony showcased a broad spectrum of talent and commitment, from business and sports figures to humanitarians and environmental advocates.
Hope Masike, recipient of the Entertainment Impact Award, and Fungai Jayaguru, aka Superlady, who was recognised for her work in conserving the Shona language, expressed their deep appreciation for the honour and support they received.
“The List Awards were exceptional in that they acknowledged unsung heroes from various fields,” said Jayaguru.
“Having my accommodation and transport covered made me feel truly valued.”
Leonard Chibamu, a celebrated Zimbabwean creative, shared a philosophy central to his work in uplifting communities and nurturing talent.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Sasha Ndebele, winner of the Social Impact Award, expressed how this award has made her gain respect and support from her family and community, citing that for many years, her immediate family did not understand why she always used her resources to help people who never came back to say thank you.
“This will change my mother’s perspective about my voluntary work, and I will gain the respect and support of my community,” said Ndebele.
For her work with Agape Family Care, Ruth Makandiwa walked away with two awards: The Poverty Alleviation Impact Award and Humanitarian Impact Award.
Her dedication to uplifting communities has made a significant impact, demonstrating the essence of what The List Awards is about.
Jussa Kudherezera and Wellington Bakaimani won the Youth Impact Award together.
Theresa Takafuma, the winner of the Storyteller Journalism Impact Award, thanked the people of her community in Masvingo for allowing her to tell their stories while also thanking The List Awards for recognising her work in such a luxurious and grand way.
The striking #TheListAwards trophy was custom-designed and printed in acrylic to honour these impactful individuals.
Identities Media board chairperson Pastor Philani Nyatsanza said they deliberately invested in a bespoke awards trophy, not an off-the-shelf item, to show how deeply they wanted to honour the change makers.
“They create original programmes and solutions for our communities; they deserve something unique to honor them,” he said.
“Therefore, we couldn’t compromise on the trophy we simply needed to go big for these well-deserving impact makers! We will always go big for them to say thank you as they go big for our communities. This is home for impact makers; this is their award!”
Winners of The List Awards took home financial rewards and other benefits as part of a larger effort to empower and motivate them in their ongoing missions.
In addition to the monetary awards, they received recognition for their service and dedication to uplifting Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole.
For many winners, this was their first award, making the ceremony a memorable and motivational milestone.
This year, many awards were presented to Zimbabweans, with organisers emphasising that the reach of The List Awards will continue to grow across Southern and Eastern Africa.
The List Awards have set a new standard for recognising impact in Africa, with emphasis on celebrating the unsung heroes who are transforming their communities.
By providing winners with not only a platform but also meaningful rewards, The List Awards ensure that the champions of our communities can continue their important work.
“This is only the beginning. We are grateful for this year’s success and are looking forward to next year’s event as we continue to empower those who inspire positive change across the continent,” Pastor Nyatsanza said.
