Entertainment
How Nollywood Dominated AMAA Awards
Last Saturday June 11,
marked another milestone in the annals of the African Movie Academy Award AMAA; at Port Harcourt, The Garden City of Nigeria and capital city of Rivers State, the nation’s treasure base hosted the 12th edition of the continental movie awards held at the prestigious Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Elekahia amidst pomp, glamour, glitz and razzmatazz.
Despite losing two of the major awards of the night, best film of the year and best director of the year awards to Burkina Faso and Ghana respectively, nollywood maintained its solid position as Africa’s Biggest film industry at this year’s continental movie awards, the AMAA. Nigeria carted away 10 out of the 24 awards categories given out this year, beating South Africa which won five awards and fast holding Burkina Faso Film Industry which got four awards, while Ghana came fourth with three awards. The event attracted constellation of movie stars and other entertainers and showbiz personalities as well as government officials and captains of industries among other distinguished guests.
The full list of awardees included:
Efere Ozako AMAA 2016 Award for Best Short Film “Meet The Parents” Nigeria/Canada.
Best Animation -“The Pencil” Burkina Faso
Best documentary-“The Fruitless Tree” Niger
Best Diaspora Short Film “Across the Track” – USA
Award for best film by an African living abroad – “Lambadina” Ethiopia/USA
Best Diaspora feature- “Ben and Ara” –USA
Best Diaspora documentary ‘Agents of Change’ USA
Achievement in costume design- “Eye of the Storm”
Achievement in Production Design “The Cursed One” Ghana play
Achievement in make-up “Soldiers Story”- Nigeria
Achievement in Soundtrack “o-Town” Nigeria
Achievement in Visual effects “Oshiminri” Nigeria
Achievement in Cinematography “The Cursed One”
Achievement in Editing “Hear me Move” AMAA 2016 play.
Achievement in screenplay “Tell Me Sweet Something”
Best film in an African language “Missing God” Nigeria
Best actor in a supporting role. Abidine Dioari “Eye of the storm”
Best actress in supporting role Thishiwe Ziqubu – “Tell me sweet something”
Best actress in a leading role Fulu Mugovhani – “Ayanda”
Best actor in a leading role – Daniel K. Daniel – “Soldiers story” Nigeria
Best feature film by a director “Beyond Blood” Greg Odutayo
Life time achievement award – Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva (RMD) – Richard Mofe Damijo
Best film – Eye of the Storm – Burkina Faso
Best director – Nana Obiri – Yaboah, “Maximilian clausse”
Best young/promising actor – Zubaidat Ibrahim Fagge – Dry
Rivers State Government endowed for best Nigerian film – “Dry”
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion included: His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, (CON)
Governor of Rivers State and his wife, Her Excellency Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike, Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, her Excellency, Dr. Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Deputy Governor Rivers State, Rt Hon Adams Dabotorudima, Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly , Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon Justice A. I Iyaya Lamikarika, Hon Commissioner for Culture and Toursim, Mrs Tonye Briggs Oniyide and other members of the Rivers State executive council.
Also present at the event were founder of AMAA, Mrs Peace Anyiam Osigwe, his Excellency, Chief S. Dickson Governor, Bayelsa State, Senator David Mark, Prince Uche Secondus, former Rivers State governor, His Excellency. Barr. Celestine Omehia, members of the entertainment profession such as veteran actor, Pete Edochie, RMD, Stephanie Linus, Harrysong, Arinze Baba, Patience Ozokwor, among several others.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.