FUNKE OSAE-BROWN
The drive way at Eko Hotel was busy with cars in all shapes and sizes dropping off guests for the 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). Two ladies dressed in green frocks were stepping out of a black SUV and strutted towards the gated entrance for accreditation, when I arrived.
The well-laid red carpet was lined with celebrities who were being interviewed by journalists. Actor Saheed Balogun was the man of the moment, he celebrated his 50th birthday a few weeks ago. Hence, it’s understandable if red carpet hosts want him in front of their cameras. Spotting a grey flowing agbada, he laughed loudly at one of the questions he was asked and dashed off to the adjoining hallway into the cocktail area.
The red carpet was long, stretching far beyond the extensive hallway. Along the way, each TV station had its own designated area with backdrops adorned by their logos. Turning left into the last leg that led into the cocktail area, veteran actress, Taiwo Ajai-Lycette who just walked in was swiftly cornered by NTA for an interview. Another online TV was waiting to interview her. It was a competition of sort among the TV anchors on who gets to interview the film stars walking the AMAA 2017 red carpet.
By 7.45pm, the large convention Hall at Eko Hotel and Suites was getting filled with guests. The show would kick off in a few minutes. The woman of the moment, Peace Anyim-Osigwe, the brain behind AMAA, walked past my seat. One could not help but salute her doggedness to put up the show year-on-year for 13 years. Tonight, everyone looked forward to a good show, and one was not disappointed at all. The selection of artistes, who performed, and the hosts, Nse Ikpe Etim, did a good job except for her goof when she wrongly introduced the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Idiat Ranti Adebule. Etim, was ably supported by Segun Arinze’s baritone voice booming off stage.
The night kicked off with the performance of ‘Eleda Mi Mo Di E Mu’ by Paul Play Dairo. His music puts the hall in the mood for the dramas and accolades that would later unfold. The first award to set the ball rolling was taken home by ‘The Legacy of the Hills’ which won the special jury Prize for outstanding documentary.
Ramsey Noah and awards show host, Nse Ikpe-Etim
AMAA has a rich history. At previous editions, the tussle had always been between, Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana with Nigeria taking home most of the important awards. In 2009, ‘From a Whisper’ a film from Kenya took everyone by surprise with its wins. Then came the thriller from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s, ‘Viva Riva’ in 2011. Jahmil X.T. Qubeka’s South Africa, ‘Of Good Report’ shone at the 2014 edition.
And then this year, Senegalese movie, ‘Felicite’, got the big wins. It was named the Best Film. Directed by Alain Gomis and set in Kinshasha, Congo, it won in five other categories including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film in African Language, Best Soundtrack and Best Editing.
Felicite’s performance was closely followed by ‘Vaya’ a South African film directed by Nigerian Akin Omotoso. It won Best Screenplay, Best Sound and Best Director.
“This is truly the result of hard work,” said a member of the production crew, who received the award. “The movie was written by seven writers and it took seven years to make.”
With the earlier categories won, most people thought there would be no show for Nigeria this time around. But the big announcement of historical drama, ‘76’ starring Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah and directed by Izu Ojukwu, that it won Lagos Best Nigerian Film, dispelled that fear. It also won Best Production Design, Best Nigerian Film and Achievement in Production.
Izu Ojukwu, Madam Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero), Nkem Owoh and Adonaijah Owiriwa, Executive Producer of 76 on stage to receive an award
‘Oloibiri’, featuring Richard Mofe Damijo, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Olu Jacobs won in the Best Make-Up category. For her role in Kunle Afolayan’s ‘The CEO’, renowned musician, Angelique Kidjo took Best Supporting Actress. ‘The Three Wise Men’ by Opa Williams’ won the Tony Elumelu Best Comedy Award.
Celine Loader, a Cameroonian who has mingled with Nigerian elites for so many years received a Special Recognition Award for her contribution to the growth of the film industry in the country and Africa. Jahwar Soudani won the Best Actor Prize for his role in ‘Last of Us’ while Vero Tshanda beats Rita Dominic, Bimbo Akintola, Zimkhitha Nyoka, Khabonina Quebeka and Josette Bushell-Mingo to clinch the Best Actress Award for her role in ‘Felicite’.
Another big win for the night, Life Achievement Award, was presented by film critic and jury member, Shaibu Husseini to veteran actor, Nkem Owoh, for his remarkable contributions to the growth and development of Nollywood.
Speaking at the awards on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the deputy governor, Idiat Adebule, said Lagos was happy to be the host state for AMAA.
“Every film maker sees Lagos as a home,” she said. “A place that provides all the support for the creative industry. We pledge to support the movie industry to achieve excellence. We are supporting the growth of the industry of the industry by creating infrastructure that are entertainment friendly.”
L-R AMAA Jury Members: Shaibu Husseini, Fillippe Savadogo, Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi and Ayuko Babu
In her welcome address, Anyiam-Osigwe emphasised the importance of Africans telling their own stories and the important role film plays in uniting Africa.
“We must continue to use film to show the unity of Africa and the unity of each other; we are all one. Nigeria will do well to adopt the practice of President Paul Kagame whose country Rwanda, has visa on arrival for visitors. All of Africa should adopt the visa on arrival practice because we need to remove the barriers as this makes it easy to be African. We should use motion picture to stop the hate, we are all one. We should use the power that we have.”
Other winners at the well organised ceremony were Ugandan movie, ‘Queen of Katwe’ that got the Best Costume and Best Promising Actor (Medina Molanga). Two movies, ‘A Place for Myself’ (Rwanda) and ‘A Place in the Plane’ (Senegal) were joint winners of the Best Short Film prize; ‘Got Flowers (Nigeria) won Best Animation; ‘Mama Colonel’ (DRC Congo) won Best Documentary; ‘While We Live’ (Burkina Faso/Sweden) took Best Film by African Living Abroad and ‘Kbela’ (Brazil) and ’90 Days’ (US) jointly won Best Diaspora Short. ‘13th’ from the US won Best Diaspora Documentary; ‘Birth of a Nation’ won Best Diaspora Feature; Mali’s ‘Wulu’ won Best Visual Effect and ‘The Last of Us’ (Tunisia) won Best Cinematography.
For this edition of AMAA, African-Swiss filmmaker, Berni Goldblat, chaired the jury which also include Keith Shiri, Ayuko Babu, Asantewa Olatunji, June Giovanni, Hyginus Ekwuazi, Husseini and Filipe Savadogo. Another jury member, Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos commissioner for Information and Strategy is on sabbatical.
The energetic performance by Afro Juju maestro, Sir Shina Peters would signal the end of 2017 AMAA in Lagos. Guess who is hosting AMAA in 2018? Ghanaian actress Lydia Forson and AMAA ambassador, was on hand to let the cat out of the bag: “I am here to make the big announcement that the 2018 AMAA will be hosted in Kigali.”
See you in Kigali next year!
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