Kunle Afolayan’s 2022 epic movie, ‘Anikulapo’, and C.J. Obasi’s multiple award-winning ‘Mami Wata’ were among the winners at the 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), which took place on Sunday, October 29.

Both film made Nigeria proud at the event that was hosted at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos by Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau, and Ghana’s Richard Ato Turkson.

‘Anikulapo’ won the Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language, and also earned Afolayan an award for Best Production Design, while ‘Mami Wata’ won the Precious Arebamen Prize for Best Achievement in Make-Up, Achievement in Cinematography and Best Nigerian Film.

However it was the Senegalese 2022 thriller ‘Xale’ that went home with the highly-coveted Best Film plaque, in addition to three other awards.

The ceremony also produced its first Best female director as the Best Director award went to 47-year-old talented Byrkinabe filmmaker, Apolline Traore, for her film ‘Sira’. The film also won in the Best Sound category.

The event featured touching tributes to the late founder of AMAA, Peace Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe, who passed away earlier in January.

The colourful ceremony witnessed performances by Nigeria Idol’s superstar, Zadok and Kcee among others. It also honored a few veterans, including actor Charles Olumo, popularly known as Agbako, with a lifetime achievement award for more than 60 years of contribution to Nigeria’s film industry.

Here are the Winners of the Academy Awards (AMAA) in various categories:

Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film
– Winner: “Lions” – Ethiopia
Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation
– Winner: “Jabari” – Ghana
Best Documentary
– Winner: “Le Spectre de Boko Haram” – Cameroon
Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language
– Winner: “Anikulapo” – Nigeria
Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-born director Living Abroad
– Winner: “KOFA” – Nigeria/Canada
Best Diaspora Short Film
– Winner: “Raw Materials” – Jamaica
Best Diaspora Documentary
– Winner: “Sound of the Police” – United States
Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
– Winner: “Our Father, The Devil” – United States
Best Achievement in Production Design
– Winner: “Anikulapo” – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Costume Design
– Winner: “Xalé” – Senegal
Best Achievement in Make-Up
– Winner: “Mami Wata” – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Soundtrack
– Winner: “Fight Like a Girl” – Rwanda
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
– Winner: “Gangs of Lagos” – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Sound
– Winner: “Sira” – Burkina Faso
Best Achievement in Cinematography
– Winner: “Mami Wata” – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Editing
– Winner: “Omen” – Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Best Achievement in Screenplay
– Winner: “Xalé” – Senegal
National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Award for Best Nigerian Film
– Winner: “Mami Wata”
Best Young/Promising Actor
– Winner: Maleek Sanni for “Gangs of Lagos”
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
– Winner: Jimmy Jean-Louis for “Rise” – United States
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
– Winner: Rokhaya Niang for “Xalé” – Senegal
Best Actor in a Leading Role
– Winner: Tobi Bakre for “Brotherhood” – Nigeria
Best Actress in a Leading Role
– Winner: Nse Ikpe-Etim for “4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)” – Nigeria
Debut Feature by a Director
– Winner: Baloji for “Omen” – DRC
Best Director
– Winner: Apolline Traore for “Sira”
Best Film
– Winner: “Xalé” – Senegal