I was invited to attend the 4th annual African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominations announcement at Moyo’s at Zoo lake (19/03/2008) during a very difficult time but I went out there to meet the Nollywood peeps and hopefully be “spotted” for a movie role in a great movie. Well, a gal’s gotta dream and is allowed to.
When I got the invite I was like “Who? What? Okay!” because in my ignorance I had missed these awards before and did not know that they existed. So I was not missing out. I always had a bright idea to sell the idea to someone for African Movie Awards and all along these awards were being held in Nollywood. The awards are not just focused on Nigerian movies but African movies.
The scene The invite had stated dress code to be “Smart Casual” but had been warned that there would be Nollywood stars so I was worried about my dress sense. Why isn’t any of the bloggers offering to become my fashion police and help me? Anyways, I got lost and ended up at some sports bowling club for students – they were kind enough to give me directions to Moyo’s so I was on time to mingle and chat to other guests.
The place was absolutely perfect! The setting was very tranquil and the African theme was felt from the moment you set foot in the venue. I had never been to Moyo’s but I was impressed with the service and the overall feel of the place. I think it was an excellent choice for such an event. As you entered the ushers would offer the ladies Xhosa make-up – I don’t do make up – but I was intrigued.
The guests were not casually smartly dressed; they were glammed up. Everyone just looked dressed to thrill. On a rainy and cold evening as this was I thought “Uh-oh! People are gonna struggle to get out of their comfy warm home clothes to this event” but I was so wrong, the place was full of local and Nollywood celebrities in their best outfits.
Nambitha Mpumlwana and Busi MalukwaI had a star struck moment with Vatiswa Ndara who indulged me on an impromptu interview. She is loving her job – acting is something she loves doing. She wants to do as much versatile characters as possible as she wouldn’t like to be typecast. I avoided Nandipha Mpulwana after my comment on her SAFTA 2007 dress I was just too shy to approach and introduce myself as “Segololo from TVSA” – you never know who is reading our comments on these blogs.
I met Lady D, a scriptwriter and HateTV K, a book promoter who kept me company during the evening. We shared comments and jibes about the stars while smilng and laughing the night away.
To set the mood right – Siphokazi opened the show by singing Ubuntu Bam. She was donned in a lovely chocolate coloured dress that clung to her tiny body like a second skin. HateTV K and I wondered if she could walk in the dress. She looked and sounded angelic. Pity, I did not have my camera to get a pic of her. She is really talented and is gonna go far – please do not disappear like Zamajobe or become our Mariah Carey “KB” whom I think is selling herself short by focusing on the house music scene. KB, you have a beautiful voice and should be giving Thandiswa and Siphokazi a run for their money with some Tswana tunes!
The Announcement
The MC for the evening was Sello Maake-ka-ncube who seemed to be getting himself in trouble each time he took to the podium! The man apologized for each and every comment he made – then eventually gave up and announced that it is not his fault as he is an actor, he is just reading the script!
He wore a white jacket and needed a haircut. I really prefer the clean-shaven Sello than the dreadlocked or Afro Sello. He just looked a bit scruffy with this new look.
Afro Sello
The co-founder and executive producer of the AMAA’s, Peace Anyiam-Fiberisima, was there to encourage Africans to unite and document our stories. She said we need to tell “our” stories the way they should be told, not misinterpreted or misconstrued by others. I completely agreed with her. I have sometimes felt a little cheated when an American star acts a part on an African movie – they may do it well, but the whole presentation sometimes misses the mark for me. Please do not think I don’t enjoy or encourage Hollywood to record and film our stories; I support them but I feel the locals should be leads, not supporting characters. The Americans can be supporters!
She explained that the awards were started and created in Nigeria but they belong to Africa. This year there has been submissions from Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Ethopia Uganda and Ghana.
The Nominees were announced as follows;
BEST INDIGENOUS FILM
Iranse Aje
Ipa
Hafsat
Onitemi
Tabou
BEST CHILD ACTOR
Evelyn (NINA) in Run Baby Run
Fidelis Abdulrahman (Little Melvin) in White Water
MOST OUSTANDING ACTRESS INDIGENOUS Doris Simeon -ONITEM
Laide Bakare - IRANSE AJE
Fathia Balogun - IPA
Zainab Idris – HAFSAH
MOST OUTSTANDING ACTOR INDIGENOUS Ayo Akinwale -Iranse Aje
Muyiwa Ademola -Iranse Aje/Ipa
Ali Nuhu- Hafsat
BEST LEAD ACTRESS Jackie Apea -Princess Tyra
Stella Aboderin - Widow
Kate Henshaw Nuttal - Stronger Than Pain
Rakiya Attah - Across The Niger
Genevieve Nnaji - 30 Days/Keep My Will
Doris Simeon – Onitemi
BEST LEAD ACTOR Van Vicker - Return Of Beyonce/Princess Tyra
Kanayo Kanayo - Across The Niger
Nkem Owoh - Stronger Than Pain
Saint Obi- Check Point
Oc Ukeje - White Water
Kofi Bucknor- Run Baby Run
Kanayo Kanayo and Sylvia BarnesBEST MALE SUPPORTING ACTOR Hoomsuk - White Water
Fritz Bafour - Return Of Beyonce
Emeka Ossai - Check Point
Chinwetalu Agu - Across The Niger
Ofiafuluagu Mbaka - New Jerusalem
BEST FEMALE SUPPORTING ACTRESS Joke Silva - White Water/30 Days
Iretu Doyle - Across The Niger
Yhama Brew - Princess Tyra
Patience Ozokwo - New Jerusalem
Bimbo Akintola - Cash Money
Uche Jombo - Keep My Will
BEST UPCOMING ACTRESS
Uju Okeke - Mission To No Where
Jackie Apia - Princess Tyra
Yvonne Nelson - Princess Tyra
BEST UPCOMING ACTOR
Oc Ukeje - White Water
Maleke Idowu - Check Point
Van Vicker - Return Of Beyonce/ Princess Tyra
Hoodsunk - White Water
Kunle Fawole -Cash Money
Kross In - New Jerusalem
BEST ART DIRECTION IN A FILM New Jerusalem
White Water
Across The Niger
30 Days
Iranse Aje
Princess Tyra
BEST PICTURE
White Water
Across The Niger
Princess Tyra
Mission To No Where
30 Days
Run Baby Run
BEST SCREEN PLAY
Checkpoint
White Water
Mirror Of Beauty
Across The Niger
Mission To No Where
Run Baby Run
30 Days
Through The Fire
BEST EDIT IN A FILM Run Baby Run
Divizions Or Division
Cash Money
Across The Niger
30 Days
Through The Fire
BEST EFFECT IN A FILM
New Jerusalem
Across The Niger
BEST MUSIC IN A FILM White Water
Hafsah
Cash Money
Mirror Of Beauty
Run Baby Run
Divizionz
BEST DIRECTOR Emmanuel Apea - Run Baby Run
Izu Ojukwu - White Water
Frank Rajah Arase - Princess Tyra
Izu Ojukwu/Kingsley Ogoro - Across The Niger
Bond Emoruwa - Check Point
Teco Benson - Mission To No Where
Ifeanyi Onyeabor - New Jerusalem
Mildred Okwo - 30 Days
BEST COSTUMES
Princess Tyra
Rivals
Mirror Of Beauty
30 Days
BEST SOUND White Water
New Jerusalem
Mission To No Where
30 Days
Mirror Of Beuaty
Cash Money
Divizions
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 30 Days
Across The Niger
White Water
Mission To No Where
Check Point
New Jerusalem
Run Baby Run
Mirror Of Beauty
Through The Fire
BEST MAKE UP Princess Tyra
Across The Niger
New Jerusalem
Mirror Of Beauty
BEST FILM BY AFRICAN IN THE DIASPORA Through The Fire
Bleeding Rose
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM Do You Believe In Magic
Dun-Dun
Bridging The Gap
A Rare Gem
Families Under Attack
BEST SHORT FILM Kingswill
Sky Line
So I would suggest we support these awards by going out to see these movies and reviewing them here! I am not a huge fan of Nollywood movies simply because I always find myself having to turn the sound on my TV to full blast to hear anything! I'll start with the best sound category!
Oh! I was spotted by a Nollywood producer who mistakenly identified me as one of our local celebs - Eish!
The awards ceremony will be held in the
Bayelsa State in Nigeria on the 26th April 2008. Any sponsors to send Segololo to Nigeria to cover the awards ceremony for you?