Entertainment
Mami Wata, Anikulapo Lead As AMAA Unveils Nominations For 19th Edition
Organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, have announced the nominees for the 19th edition of the prestigious awards ceremony, themed ‘The Renaissance’.
Africa Film Academy (AFA) board represented by Mr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe and the AMAA Jury represented by Mr. Steve Ayorinde, announced the line up of activities for the 2023 edition of the film and movie awards ceremony at a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday.
According to Anyiam-Osigwe, the awards ceremony will be held on October 29, 2023 at The Balmoral Event Centre situated inside Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
He further explained that this edition would redefine the awards ahead of future plans and the 20th edition in 2024.
Also speaking during the briefing, Ayorinde, who represented the president of the AMAA jury, Keith Shiri, stressed that the jury went through a tedious and steadfast process to arrive at the nominees for each of the 26 categories that will compete for the 2023 AMAA coveted plaques.
Ayorinde also said the process, which has always been credited as very transparent by industry heads, began from call for entries submission, to screening by the College of Screeners headed by film critic and journalist, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, followed by its submission to the jury for final nomination after which the official nomination list was unveiled.
During the event, a one-minute silence was observed to honour the late founder and Chief Executive Officer of AFA and AMAA, Peace Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe, who passed away earlier this year.
C. J. Obasi’s 2023 globally-acclaimed film, ‘Mami Wata’, clinched the most nominations this year with a total of 12 while Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Anikulapo’ got nine nominations, slightly ahead of Izu Ojukwu’s ‘4-4-44’ with eight nominations.
The three Nigerian films will compete in the awards two biggest categories, Best Picture and Best Director, where four other strong films across Africa are competing.
Below is the full list of nominees for the 19th AMAA:
AMAA 2023 Nomination List
1. Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film
• Lions – Ethiopia
• Riel – Namibia
• Enmity Djinn – Mauritania
2. Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation
• Lost – Uganda
• Azania Rises – South Africa • Jabari – Ghana
• Bashorun Gaa – Nigeria
3. Best Documentary
• Africa, Cradle of Humankind and Modern Civilization – Senegal/Canada
• Nightlife in Lasgidi – Nigeria
• Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border –
Senegal
• Ifine (Beauty) – Sierra Leone
• Le Spectre de Boko Haram – Cameroon
4. Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language
• Pusha Pressa Phanda – South Africa •
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
• The Kitara Chronicle – Uganda
• Four Walls – South Africa
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
5. Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an
African-Born Director Living Abroad
• Talia’s Journey – Senegal/Belgium)
• Golden Stripes – Nigeria/UK
• KOFA – Nigeria/Canada
6. Best Diaspora Short Film
• We Were Meant To – United States
• The Ballad of Olive Morris – United Kingdom
• Fifty-Four Days – United Kingdom
• Raw Materials – Jamaica
7. Best Diaspora Documentary
• Sound of the Police – United States
• Fantastico Negrito: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? United States
• Black Rio – Brazil
8. Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
• Chee$e – Trinidad & Tobago
• Our Father, The Devil – United States
• The Pastor and the Revolutionary – Brazil
9. Best Achievement in Production Design
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Omen – DRC
• Sira – Burkina Faso
• Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• Gereza – South Africa
10. Best Achievement in Costume Design
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Xalé – Senegal
• Omen – DRC
• Sira – Burkina Faso
11. Best Achievement in Make-Up
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Omen – DRC
• Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
• Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
12. Best Achievement in Soundtrack
• Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• L’Axe Lourd (The Highway) – Cameroon
• Gereza – South Africa
• Omen – DRC
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
13. Best Achievement in Visual Effects
• Omen – DRC
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• The Trade – Nigeria
• Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
14. Best Achievement in Sound
• Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
• Sira – Burkina Faso
• Omen – DRC
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Xalé – Senegal
15. Best Achievement in Cinematography
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Omen – DRC
• Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• Talia’s Journey – Senegal/Belgium
• Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
16. Best Achievement in Editing
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Omen – DRC
• Sira – Burkina Faso
• Gereza – South Africa
• Fight like a Girl – Rwanda
17. Best Achievement in Screenplay
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Xalé – Senegal
• Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
18. National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award
for Best Nigerian Film
• Mami Wata
• Anikulapo
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
• Gangs of Lagos
• The Trade
• L.I.F.E.
• Brotherhood
19. Best Young/Promising Actor
• Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos
• Jennifer Ewube -L’axe Lourd (The Highway)
• Darisimi Nadi – Obara’m
• Sanou Titiama – Le chant des fusils (The Song of the Rifles)
• Eyiyemi Afolayan – Anikulapo
20. Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• Francis Onwochei – The Trade – Nigeria
• Jeff Jackson Morgianho – Four Walls – South Africa
• Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• Jimmy Jean-Louis -Rise – United States
21. Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal
• Clarck Ntambwe – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
22. Best Actor in a Leading Role
• Richard Mofe-Damijo(RMD) – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Marc Zinga – Omen – DRC
• Fernando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate –Uganda
• Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria
• Justin Murichii – Shimoni – Kenya
• Mike Danon – Sira – Burkina Faso
23. Best Actress in a Leading Role
• Lucie Debay – Omen – DRC
• Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa – Four Walls – South Africa
• Nafissatou Cissé – Sira – Burkina Faso
• Adesua Etomi – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
• Nse Ikpe-Etim – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Ama Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
24. First Debut Feature by a Director
• Baloji – Omen – DRC
• Ery Claver – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
• Jean Elliot Ilboudo (Le Chant des Fusils)The Song of the Rifles- Burkina Faso
25. Best Director
• Moussa Sene Absa – Xalé
• C. J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata
• Baloji – Omen
• Apolline Traore – Sira
• Izu Ojukwu – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
• Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
• Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvaiś Dunn – Four
Walls
26. Best Film
• Xalé- Senegal
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) Nigeria
• Omen – DRC
• Four Walls – South Africa
• Sira – Burkina Faso
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
Veteran Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri has revealed that his wife was aware of his romantic relationships with some actresses in the industry and treated them cordially.
The actor made the disclosure in an interview on the Africanalist Podcast, where he spoke about his personal life and marriage.
Quadri said some of the actresses he dated eventually became friends with his wife, Sadiat Adenike Quadri. According to him, the women would sometimes approach her and share gossip about his relationships with other female colleagues, even though they themselves were involved with him.
“It got to a stage, I won’t mention the ladies’ names in the industry. They would become friends with my wife and start giving gossip to my wife that I am dating so so so in the industry,” he said.
He added that jealousy sometimes arose among the women. Some of those he was dating reportedly went to his home out of jealousy, only to find that his wife already knew about the relationships.
“And there were some of them that we were dating who went home out of jealousy. Meanwhile, my wife would say she was aware already and she doesn’t fight them because of that,” Quadri said.
The actor further disclosed that some actresses occasionally spent the night at his house when movie productions ended late. He said his wife knew about the relationships and still provided food and care for them.
“Sometimes when production ends late, they would sleep in my house. And my wife is aware I am dating them, she would still feed them and everything,” he stated.
Quadri has been married to Sadiat since 1989. The couple have children and grandchildren.
Actress and filmmaker Fisayomi Amodemaja, popularly known as Fisayo Abebi, has urged young actors to build strong personal brands and rely on their talent rather than fame or social media visibility for a sustainable career in Nollywood.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, Abebi, who began acting as a child before moving into filmmaking and production, said having a distinct identity was essential for anyone seeking longevity in the industry.
“As an actor, you should have a brand. You should have something that makes you different. Your talent should be able to speak for you wherever your name cannot speak for you,” she said.
She also stressed the need for dedication and readiness to handle the demands of the profession.
“Any young actor coming into the industry has to know that it is time-consuming, and you have to be fully ready to be diligent and ready for the stress,” Abebi added.
The actress reflected on her own experiences, noting that growing up in the spotlight came with pressure, particularly from being recognised for a character she played as a child.
She credited her family and friends with helping her navigate the attention and remain grounded. Her mother, she said, played a key role by helping her understand that she was separate from the character audiences associated her with.
Abebi also spoke about the challenges of combining her acting career with university education, describing it as stressful at times.
“Sometimes I might have to refund or sometimes I might have to go to the set after finishing my exam. So, that can be very stressful,” she said.
She noted that her journey in the industry had taught her to take risks and build confidence in herself.
Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has revealed that she spent several months struggling with severe pain and mobility challenges that left her dependent on a wheelchair.
The actress shared the details in a video posted on her Instagram page on Saturday as she marked her 25th birthday, which she described as her “Silver Jubilee.”
Appearing in a wheelchair, Daniels explained that her prolonged absence from social media was due to the health difficulties.
“I know many of you may be surprised seeing me in a wheelchair. Well, welcome to another chapter of my life,” she said.
She stated that the problem began as a minor issue but gradually became more serious, eventually limiting her freedom to move around as she pleased.
“For several months now, I lost my freedom to move around as I please. It started as something minor, very minor, but eventually led to this,” Daniels said.
According to her, the condition took a major turn after the last public gathering she hosted, a Children’s Day carnival. She said she underwent repeated medical tests during the period and joked that she had started calling herself a “lab rat.”
“The pain became excruciating. Sometimes I find myself walking well, and sometimes I just can’t move. I cried,” she added.
Despite the challenges, the actress said there had been significant developments in her recovery, which encouraged her to share the update publicly.
“Well, me sitting here today, in front of this camera, sharing this with y’all, it’s because there’s been some really significant developments in my recovery. And I say, thank you, Lord,” she said.
Daniels did not disclose a specific diagnosis or the nature of the treatment she is receiving. She expressed gratitude to God and prayed for calm as she entered a new phase of her life.
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