Hosted by Nigeria’s IK Osakioduwa and South Africa’s Bonang Matheba, the event that took place on Saturday, May 14, celebrated the best in Africa’s movies, television and online content creation.
In front of Africa’s crème de la crème when it comes to the arts, two Ugandan filmmakers, Loukman Ali and Daisy Masembe, walked away with wins for their movies The Girl in the Yellow Jumper and Engaito, respectively.
The Girl in the Yellow Jumper, which won Best East African Film, beat off competition from fellow Ugandan film My Husband’s Wife by Mariam Ndagire, while Masembe’s Engaito won Best MultiChoice Talent Factory Film beating off stiff competition from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa films.
It is the second time a Ugandan film is winning in this category after Promises won it in 2020. The Girl in The Yellow Jumper, which became Uganda’s first film to feature on Netflix early this year, tells the story of a man who is drugged and taken hostage while watching TV, but after he escapes, he returns home with an unbelievable story to tell.
Engaito, on the other hand, is a short film about a young uptown boy who joins a local school in a very deep village where shoes are considered a bad omen.
However, both Ali and Masembe, like several of the night’s winners in other categories, were a no-show at the event and their awards were accepted by their compatriots Mariam Ndagire and Abubaker Isiko.
The biggest winners of the night, however, were Nigerian movies Amina and Rattlesnake -The Ahanna Story, which won four awards each with Best Overall movies going to Amina while Nollywood legend Ramsey Nouah won Best Director for Rattlesnake -The Ahanna Story.
In the public voting categories, Stan Nze clinched the award for Best Actor in Drama, while Osas Ighodaro won Best Actress in Drama. First-time nominees Samuel Perry, popularly known as Broda Shaggi and Omowunmi Dada, won Best Actor in Comedy and Best Supporting Actress in Drama, respectively.
The event was also attended by Hollywood actors, producers and directors Tasha Smith, Grant Housley, Brandon Micheal Hall, Sidra Smith and Bayo Akinfemi.
The night also saw spectacular performances from Yemi Alade who opened the night with an eccentric performance, Rema and Lagbaja, who gave a collaborative performance and D’Banj, who closed the ceremony after almost three hours of non-stop action.
If you are a fan of Nigerian movies and reality shows, you would have been in your own mini-heaven at the awards gala, as faces you have previously seen on many of DStv and MultiChoice’s channels filled the room.
Former Big Brother stars, stars of Nigerian Idol, sitcom and movie actors, comedians, name it. As for the fashion…! Well, Nollywood knows how to bring the A-game.
Other winners
Best Overall Movie: Amina
Best Director: Ramsey Nouah (Rattlesnake-The Ahanna Story)
Best Actor in Drama: Stan Nze (Rattlesnake-The Ahanna Story)
Best Actor in Comedy: Samuel “Broda Shaggi” Perry (Dwindle)
Best Actress in Comedy: Funke Akindele (Omo Ghetto; The Saga)
Best Actress in Drama: Osas Ighodaro (Rattlesnake-The Ahanna Story)
Best Supporting Actor: Odunlade Adekola (Jankariwo)
Best Supporting Actress: Omowunmi Dada (Country Hard)
Best Short Film: I Am The Prostitute Mama Described
Best Online Social Content Creator: Mr Funny
Best Television Series: The Mystic River
Best Documentary: If Objects Could Speak
Best Art Director: Tunji Afolayan (Amina)
Best Cinematographer: Muhammed Atta Ahmed (Rattlesnake-The Ahanna Story)
Best Picture Editor: Tunde Apalowo (For Maria Ebun Pataki)
Best Writer: Manie Oiseomaye and Donald Tombia (Introducing the Kujus)
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