Categories announced for Mbokodo Awards 2014

The theme for the third annual Mbokodo awards, to be held on 24 October, 2014, at the Theatre on Track, Kyalami, Midrand, is to be 20 years of free artistic expression. The awards celebrate and acknowledge women who have not only articulated the aspirations of the South African people but have also fortified their democracy by empowering communities and individuals through their art.

The awards, presented annually to recognise women in art, are an initiative by Carol Bouwer Productions and the Department of Arts and Culture. "Mbokodo aims to acknowledge the immense contribution that women, especially those working in art and culture, have made to rebuild a cohesive society in South Africa. For the task of transforming a wounded and divided nation falls not only to government and legislatures, but to those who give the deepest expression to our hopes, fears and ideals," said Bouwer.

The awards celebrate women in 18 different categories, including women in music, indigenous art, creative photography and poetry.

Peer review mechanism

Nominees from different parts of the country are judged using a peer review mechanism. According to Bouwer the peer review judging method was chosen over public nomination processes to focus on quality of work by drawing on the opinion of diverse experts in the arts, culture and heritage sector.