30th October, 2023
By Victoria Oluwayemi
The 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, held on Sunday, October 29, will remain green to attendees, film and media practitioners, and winners.
At the awards ceremony that had Ghana’s Camidoh, Nigeria’s KCee and highly talented Yinka Davies chanting 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.
Other films that won different categories include 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, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, with Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau, and Richard Ato Turkson as hosts.
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, while ‘Lions’ and ‘Jabari’ won the Best Short Film and Best Animation categories.
Another night highlight 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 with over 50 years of experience.
AMAA 2023 WINNERS LIST
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
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
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
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
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
24. Debut Feature by a Director
• Baloji – Omen – DRC
25. Best Director
• Apolline Traore – Sira
26. Best Film
• Xalé – Senegal