By Bada Gbenga
Published October 30, 2023
The 19th annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) that brings together film practitioners and enthusiasts and mass media from Africa, the African Diaspora and the world, has wound up in Lagos, the Nigerian commercial capital, with the announcement of the award winners in 26 categories.
At the awards ceremony that had Ghana’s Camidoh, Nigeria’s KCee and highly talented Yinka Davies serenading nominees, African film enthusiasts, and practitioners, Nigeria’s Tobi Bakre, and Nse Ikpe Etim won big awards of the night for their roles in ‘Gangs of Lagos’ and ‘4.4.44’, respectively.
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Other films that won included Senegal’s ‘Xale’ which won Best Film and Best Costume design categories, Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Anikulapo’ which won Best Film in African Language and Best Production Design as well as CJ ‘Fiery’ Obasi’s ‘Mami Water’ which won the Best Cinematography.
The 2023 edition of the film awards ceremony was held at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja GRA where Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau and Richard Ato Turkson took the host positions.
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Other highlights of the show included the moving tribute to the late founder of AMAA, Peace Marie Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe, who passed away in January 2023. The moving tribute left several members of the Anyiam-Osigwe clan teary as well as AMAA jury members, attendees and other film practitioners
Speaking at the event, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, a director of the board of Africa Film Academy (AFA) that presents AMAA, promised that the family will continue with the legacies of late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe who left a big impact on the African film industry. He stressed that the preparation for the 20th edition of AMAA has begun and promised to continue partnerships that have been created and made since the inception of the continental film award.
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The continental awards ceremony also has had performances from Nigeria Idol’s superstar, Zadok, who left the attendees and guests asking for more with his sterling performance.
Also flying the Nigerian flag high with films by Nigerians, Jude Idada’s ‘Kofa’ won the Film by an African Abroad category. Cameroonian documentary film ‘Le spectre de Boko Haram’ also won the Best Documentary category while ‘Lions’ and ‘Jabari’ won the awards for Best Short FIlm and Best Animation categories.
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Another highlight of the night was the honour given to veteran actor Charles Olumo aka Agbako. He was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to Nigeria’s film industry as an actor of over 50 years of experience.
Tony Anih, the Chief Operating Officer of AMAA, also expressed delight at the turn out of leading film practitioners saying it was fulfilling seeing all plans come to fruition.
The event had in attendance incumbent Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture in Lagos state, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, former commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Pharmacist Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, George Anyiam-Osigwe, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, and Kite Anyiam-Osigwe.
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AMAA 2023 Winners
1. Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film
• Lions – Ethiopia
2. Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation
• Jabari – Ghana
3. Best Documentary
• Le Spectre de Boko Haram – Cameroon
4. Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
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5. Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad
• KOFA – Nigeria/Canada
6. Best Diaspora Short Film
• Raw Materials – Jamaica
7. Best Diaspora Documentary
• Sound of the Police – United States
8. Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
• Our Father, The Devil – United States
9. Best Achievement in Production Design
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
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10. Best Achievement in Costume Design
• Xalé – Senegal
11. Best Achievement in Make-Up
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
12. Best Achievement in Soundtrack
• Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
13. Best Achievement in Visual Effects
• Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
14. Best Achievement in Sound
• Sira – Burkina Faso
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15. Best Achievement in Cinematography
• Mami Wata – Nigeria
16. Best Achievement in Editing
• Omen – DRC
17. Best Achievement in Screenplay
• Xalé – Senegal
18. National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Award for Best Nigerian Film
• Mami Wata
19. Best Young/Promising Actor
• Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos
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20. Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• Jimmy Jean-Louis -Rise – United States
21. Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal
22. Best Actor in a Leading Role
• Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria
23. Best Actress in a Leading Role
• Nse Ikpe-Etim – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
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24. Debut Feature by a Director
• Baloji – Omen – DRC
25. Best Director
• Apolline Traore – Sira
26. Best Film
• Xalé – Senegal
