Entertainment
AMAA Rewards Outstanding Stars
Patience Uzokwor (2nd left), Kenneth Okonkwo and other actresses.
Though the 10th edition of
the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at the Gabriel Okara Civic Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has come and gone with various awards won and lost, the events of the memorable night still echoe loud and clear in the minds of those who were opportuned to witness the continental awards as well as critics of AMAA.
It was indeed a night of glitz, glamour razzmatazz and unadulterated fun. The event paraded a constellation of stars from the African movie industry, showbiz personalities, government officials and distinguished ladies and gentlemen from all walks of life across Africa and beyond.
The event turned out to be unique in various ways from previous ones. In this edition, new award categories were introduced. They include Madeba Achievement Awards for the promotion of the ideas of late Nelson Mandela of South Africa, President Joyce Banda Achievement Award for women empowerment and Jury special prize for short film as well as first time entries from the three African countries like Mauritus, Gabon and Croatia.
South Africa clinched 10 awards at the event which include Award for Best film of Good Report), Award for Best Director, AMAA Award for Best Actor in a leading Role (mothusi magano: of Good Report), Best Actor in a supporting role (Thapelo Mofeken) Best Young/Promising actor and Achievement in screen play as well as Best Child actor.
Others are: Achievement in cinematography (Forgotten Kingdom), Achievement in sound, Achievement in make-up and Best Animation (Kumba).
Nigeria won 8 Awards which include Best actress in supporting role (Patience Ozukwor-After the proposal) Best film in an African Language(B for Boy), Visual effect (A mile from Home), Best Actress in a leading role (Clarion Chukwura-Apaye), Co-Winner in Best Documentary, Bayelsa State Government Best Nigerian Film endowment award (Accident) and President Joyce Banda Award for Film that promotes women empowerment Award.
Others include Jury special prize for short film. While the lifetime Achievement award went to Kenneth Okonkwo. Mali won in the category of Best Documentary with Nigeria, Kenya clinched the awards for achievement in costume design (Nisisi) and the Madeba Awards. Award for Best Diaspora short film went to Bahamas (Passage).
While Ghana won in Editing (Potomanto), Achievement in production design (A Northern Affair) with Mauritius as winner in first feature film by a director, among others.
The led carpet which commenced at 7.00pm with all the rituals duely observed was indeed a constellation of gorgeously dressed stars from all parts of Africa.
The Bayelsa State Government officials were led by Air Vice Marshal Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd). The Bayelsa State deputy governor who represented the state governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, he also read the governors keynote address.
Others include Mrs Ebizi Ndioma Brown, DG Bayelsa State Tourism board among others as well as the founder of AMAA Mrs Peace Aniyam Osigwe who announced her decision to step aside as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AMAA to assume the office of founder and executive chairman of AMAA to enable her concentrate more on creative endeavours for the organization.
Mrs Anyam Osigwe who announced this in her welcome address seized the opportunity to eulogise some of her departed colleagues in the make believe industry who include Amaka Igwe, Justus Esiri, Enebeli Elebuwa, Sam Loco Efe, J.T. Tom West, Ashley Nwosu and Pete Eneh.
The large audience that attended the event were thrilled by entertainers including top Naija artistes, comedians and professional dancers. Among the artistes were Bayelsa State born Gospel artiste Timi Dakolo, Edge, J. Martins and flavor, while the stand up comedians that thrilled the crowd with their hilarious jokes include Stanley Chibunneaka Funny Bone and MC Aproko among others.
Meanwhile, a critic of the AMAA Awards, Pastor Bannerman Embiowei has condemned the awards. In a recent report made available to The Tide Entertainment, he noted that “the unholy marriage between the Bayelsa State Government and AMMA is now given a lot of Bayelsans some concerns.”
According to him, the Bayelsa State Government has been hosting the AMAA awards for the past 10 years.
He observed that the hosting started since the tenure of the former governor, Alameiseigha who handed over to Goodluck Jonathan, then Timipre Sylva and now Seriake Dickson. He noted that Bayelsans are not known for film production or acting, while states like Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Abia who are the major stakeholders of the Nollywood empire have never hosted the AMAA even for once.
He stressed that about N200,000.000 (two hundred million naira) was raised by the state government from different sponsors who donated money which was used to host the AMAA award this year, but AMAA does not have a single office space in Yenagoa and had never tried to help train youths of Bayelsa to become actors and actresses. So, after raising over two hundred million naira to host AMAA, what next? He asked. According to him the hosting of AMAA is a misplacement of priority, he said if the state government must host AMAA, it must have infrastructure that will help to train youths of the state, roaming the streets on film making music and other areas related to Nollyhood as well as address other areas crying for attention like the peace park.
He maintained that Bayelsa State should not be seen as a state that hosts all kinds of event that has no meaning to Bayelsans, Bayelsans money should not be wasted on frivolities he stressed.
The Garden City of Rivers State Port Harcourt at the weekend joined other parts of the world to celebrate the World Music Day, 2025, as Alliance Française showcases talents.
The event which is internationally known as Fête de la musique was held at cultural hall of the Alliance Française was a remarkable concert with memorable experience.
The event brought together music lovers, students, Artistes and members of the community For an exciting evening live performances and cultural exchange.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the world Music Day, which was created 1982 in France by the then Minister of culture, Jack Lang, ‘ Fête de la Musique’ is now celebrated in more than 100 countries every 21st June, marking the first day of summer with free concerts and musical showcases in public spaces.
In Port Harcourt, the Alliance Française honoured the tradition by spotlighting four(4) emerging artistes offering a platform to young talents shaping the city’s contemporary scene.
The audience enjoyed an unforgettable moments as they were entertained by the powerful performances from Preach A, who is known for blending fitness culture with spoken words and rhythm.
Also, artiste Emmayany delivering a vibrant fusion of afrobeat and afro pop. A singer, song writer and a performing artiste with a distinct sound.
Others were Amarachy Uko, a sensational singer with passion for soul , R&B, pop music and afrobeat.
While DJ Prospel closed the night with an energetic DJ set that got the entire hall dancing.
Earlier, the Director, Alliance Française, Port Harcourt Mrs Marina Lacal high lighted the mission of the Alliance Française saying that the event was more than a concert.
According to her, the event was put together by the Alliance Française to promote cultural diversity and foster artistic expression by connecting a long standing French tradition with creativity of the local music scene, adding that the event offerers an avenue for dialogue between culture and generations.
She stated that the event is used to promote professional and bring amateur artistes to limelight via the platform of the Alliance Française which is aimed at promoting the French Language through cultural heritage.
She explained that the celebration is also a broader series of Fête de la musique activities organized by the 10 Alliance Française across Nigeria in sync with concerts held in France and around the world simultaneously.
She further noted that the occasion reaffirms the role of Alliance Française as a cultural bridge, one where French heritage meets the pulses of Nigerian youth.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 19 artistes applied to perform at the event in Port Harcourt, but only four got approval for appearance.
The Governor of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Comrade Moses Mabadeje popularly known as Mozy B said that the body has announced plans to implement performance Levy on artistes in the state with effect from 21st June.
This was carried in a statement released to The Tide Entertainment, yesterday by the Deputy Governor of the association, Comrade Abiye Howells.
According to the Governor, the announcement was made by PMAN, the only governing body that regulates the music profession in Nigeria, as authorized by the Government of Nigeria, in line with the Trade Union Act.
He stated that those affected by the Levy include (Non members)bands, groups, Hotels, Bars, lounges, Event Centres, show organizers, promoters and other stakeholders hosting events which feature live music performances within the State.
However, the Levy does not apply to members of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria. (PMAN).
Comrade Moses Mabadeje, explained that this drive is aimed at financing the association and supporting the welfare and interest of musicians as outlined in Article 8 of the PMAN constitution as amended (2023). Consequently, a PMAN task force has been set up to enforce and swing into action to effect this move.
He further said that event organizers, promoters and owners of event centers are expected to comply with this regulation as the Governor has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the association to ensure the successful implementation of the levy and the peaceful co-existence between PMAN and Stockholders.
Nancy Briggs
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.