After months of uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other horrible events that characterized the year, organizers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) have finally released the 2020 nominees list.
AMAA jury president, Steve Ayorinde announced the list in a broadcast message shared on AMAA’s social media platforms on Monday, November 30, 2020, ahead of the virtual show billed for December 20, 2020.
This year’s list spots strong contenders across Africa with South Africa’s ‘Knuckle City’ directed by Jahmil X.T Quebeka, leading with 12 nominations including the Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Director categories.
Nigeria’s ‘The Milkmaid’ directed by Desmond Ovbiagele follows with eight nominations and Akin Omotoso’s ‘The Ghost and The House of Truth’ with seven.
EFERE OZAKO AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
Baxu & the Giant –Namibia
Songs About My Mother – South Africa
Idi Amin’s Boat – Uganda
Yahoo – Nigeria
SEMA (Speak Out) – DRC
The letter reader – South Africa
A Canvas for a Visa – Senegal
After the War – Egypt
JUBRIL MALAFIA AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION
From Here To Timbuktu – Kenya
Malaika (The Warrior Queen) – Nigeria/USA
A Special Gift – Mozambique
The legend of Lwanda Magere – Kenya
FTFO – Nigeria
Sankofa – Cote D’Voire
I am leaving In Ghana Get Me Out of Here – Ghana
A Gugie Day – Nigeria
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
January 15, 1970: Untold memoir of the Biafran war- Nigeria
Journey to Kenya – Sudan
No gold for kalsaka – B/Faso
Days of Cannibalism – South Africa
Finding Sally – Ethiopia/Canada
The letter – Kenya
Becoming Black- Togo/Germany
Influence – South Africa
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA SHORT
Boxed – USA
June 14 – USA
Egun – Brazil
Brick By Brick – USA
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY
Once In Hundred Years – USA
Revolution From Afar – USA
Meeting My Father – France
Becoming Black – Germany
If Objects Could Speak – Germany
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA NARRATIVE FEATURE
Aiyai: Wrathful Soul – Australia
Lola – USA
A day With Jerusa – Brazil
Black and Blue – USA
Joseph – Barbados
MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD
Eagles Nest – Olivier Assoua
Two Weeks in Lagos – Kathryn Fasegha
Idemuza – Olaoye Amoke
Between – Daniel Adenimokan
No Shades – Claire Ayiam Osigwe
OUSMANE SEMBENE AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
Milk Maid – Nigeria
Knuckle City – South Africa
This is Not A Burial…it’s a Resurrection – Lesotho
Fiela’s Child – South Africa
The White Line – Namibia
AMAA 2020 ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
This is Not A Burial, It’s a Resurrection
Heroes of Africa; Tette Quarshie
The White Line
Ibi (The Birth)
Foreigner’s God
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
Knuckle City
Ratnik
The Milkmaid
1929
Heroes of Africa; Tette Quarshie
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK
Fisherman’s Diary
Coming from Insanity
Zulu Wedding
Gold Coast Lounge
For Maria: Ebun Pataki
Walking with Shadows
Living in Bondage
Mirage
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT
Heroes of Africa; Tette Quarshie
Desrances
Knuckle City
Living in Bondage: Breaking Free
Badamasi
Ratnik
Foreigner’s God
A Taste of Our Land
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
Fiela’s Child
Knuckle City
Children of The Storm
The Ghost and House of Truth
For Maria: Ebun Pataki
40 Sticks
Desrances
Gold Coast Lounge
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN
Ratnik
Knuckle City
Zulu Wedding
Perfect Picture: Ten Years Later
This is Not A Burial, It’s a resurrection
Foreigner’s God
Gold Coast Lounge
The Ghost and the House of Truth
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Ghost and House of Truth
A Fisherman’s Diary
Knuckle City
Milk Maid
40 Sticks
Desrances
This is Not A Burial, It’s a resurrection
Gold Coast Lounge
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
Perfect Picture: Ten Years After
The Ghost and House of Truth
Knuckle City
40 Sticks
Desrances
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREEN PLAY
For Maria: Ebun Pataki
The White line
4th Republic
A Fisherman’s Diary
Knuckle City
40 Sticks
Perfect Picture: Ten Years After
3 Days To Go
AMAA 2020- NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM
Cold Feet
Living in Bondage: Breaking Free
4th Republic
For Maria: Ebun Pataki
The Bling Lagosian
Coming From Insanity
The Ghost and The House of Truth
Milk Maid
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG/ PROMISING ACTOR
Faith Fidel – Fisherman’s Diary
Naomi Nemlin – Desrances
Chimezie Imo – Nimbe
Swanky JKA – Living in Bondage: Breaking Free
Wayne Smith – Fiela’s Child
Cina Soul – Gold Coast Lounge
Anthonieta Kalunta – Milk Maid
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Arabrun Nyyeneque – 40 Sticks
Adjatey Annang- Gold Ghost Lounge
Narcissus Afeli – Desrances
Cosson Chinepoh – Fisherman’s Diary
Ramsey Noah Jnr – Living in Bondage: Breaking Free
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Maryam Booth – Milk Maid
Chairmaine Mujeri – Mirage
Linda Ejiofor – 4th Republic
Ndano Tramanse – Fisherman’s Diary
Tina Mba – The Set Up
Faniswa Yisa – Knuckle City
Evelyne Juhen – Desrances
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jimmy Jean-Louis – Desrances
Gabriel Afolayan – Coming From Insanity
Kang Quintus – Fisherman’s Diary
Bongile Mantsai – Knuckle City
Alphonse Menyo – Gold Coast Lounge
Eyinna Nwigwe – Badamasi
Robert Agengo/Mwaura Bilal/Andreo Kamau/ Xavier Ywawa – 40 Sticks
Darrin Dewitt Henson – Zulu Wedding
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Joselyn Dumas – Cold Feet
Mary Twala Mhlongo – This is Not A Burial, It’s a Resurrection
Stella Damasus – Between
Meg Otanwa – For Maria: Ebun Pataki
Zenobia Kloppers – Fiela’s Child
Elvina Ibru – The Bling Lagosian
Girley Jazama – The White Line
Kelly Khumalo – Zulu Wedding
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST FIRST FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR
Coming From Insanity – Akinyemi Sebastine Akinropo
Living in Bondage – Ramsey Noah Jnr
Bling Lagosian – Bolanle Austen- Peters
For Maria: Ebun Pataki – Damilola E. Orimogunje
The Zulu Wedding – Lineo Sekeleoana
A Taste of Our Land -–Yuhi Amuli –
Mirage – Malaika Mushandu
The White Line – Desire Kahikapo
AMAA 2020 AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
Akin Omotoso – The Ghost and House of Truth
Enah Johnscott – A Fisherman’s Diary
Jahmil X.T Quebeka- Knuckle City
Desmond Ovbiagele- Milk Maid
Victor Gatonye- 40 Sticks
Appoline Traore – Desrances
Jeremiah Lemohang Mosese – This is Not A Burial, It’s a resurrection
Nigerian singer, Kizz Daniel, has apologized for failing to perform at a show in Tanzania on Sunday.
Daniel was arrested in Dar es Salaam on Monday for failing to perform at the show. Fans had earlier trashed the venue in anger at the non-appearance of the singer.
At a press conference on Tuesday night streamed on the show promoter’s Instagram page, #str8upvibes_, the ‘Buga’ crooner explained his side of the story, apologized, and promised a free show for Friday.
He said, “This Friday, a free show, by the way, I will be partnering with Straight Up Vibes to make that happen.
“I must apologize to the fans. None of this was intentional.”
Nollywood movie lovers are in for a big treat as Award-winning Actress and Producer Eniola Ajao has raised her game with the production of what many expect to be a masterpiece judging by the quality of minds on the project.
The just-completed project “Beast of two worlds – ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ” is the story of a powerful lady, ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ, who is both human and an animal.
She bestrode the forest at night, making lives difficult for hunters, killing and maiming some of them. She destroys crops and cripples the economy of the town.
The king, Towobola went into the forest to confront ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ, after an epic battle, the king and ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ reached a pact to marry each other with the hope that ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ would bear male children as all kids borne for the kings are females.
True to hope, ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ gave birth to a son but threw the boy, who is now the hope of the continuation of the lineage of the king into the fire.
The move led to twists and turns that made the plots of the movie entertaining, daring, and suspense-filled.
ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ features notable actors such as:
Sola Sobowale
Bimbo Akintola
Odunlade Adekola
Ibrahim Chatta
Adedimeji Lateef
Femi Adebayo
Faithia Balogun
Mercy Aigbe
Eniola Ajao
Peju Ogunmola
Yinka Quadri and a whole lot of other great actors.
Beast of two words “ÀJÀKÀ’JÚ” was directed by highly respected directors, Adebayo Tijani and Odunlade Adekola and respected Cinematographer Idowu Adedapo, the man who shot Wedding Party, King of Boys (1), Chief Daddy, Dear Affy, Oloture, and many other notable movies.
According to Eniola, “I am not sparing anything to make this movie a hit and it will surely hit the cinema this December”
Grammy nominee and Africa’s rising Afrobeat singer, Mádé Kuti, has released a new single entitled ‘No more wars’ via Partisan Records off his forthcoming album.
The single, which was composed, arranged, and authored by the young Mádé Kuti, was produced by GMK and Sodi Marciszewer, who recorded, mixed, or produced Fela’s last six albums.
Speaking on the release of ‘No more wars,’ Mádé says, “No More Wars is entirely about temper, control, and focus. It’s about experiences I’ve had that taught me to reflect intentionally before I react.”
Continuing, he said, “The lyrics are inspired by my father’s consistency in following his path despite dealing with an overwhelming amount of harsh, untrue, and deliberately cruel people inside and outside of his circle.”
The song features an impressive vocal performance from the multi-instrumentalist, who preaches the need to embrace peace and re-awakening of true values during trying times.
The young Kuti returns to the scene with the new single after the completion of the tour of the U.S. with his dad, Femi Kuti, and the Positive Force.
The record is coming after the success of ‘For‘e’ward, Mádé Kuti’s first album that was jointly released alongside his father’s album and titled Legacy+.
Mádé Kuti’s new music draws from a deep well and understanding of the insecurity and global wars and the Afrobeat storytelling tradition to fuse soulful Afrobeat chords, horns and voices in creating a unique sound that will be a hit among young and older Nigerians and international audiences alike.
With the release of this single and his forthcoming album, Mádé Kuti is set to once again remind Nigerians and his international audience of his lyrical prowess, vocal dexterity, and multi-instrumental abilities.
Over the years, this graduate of London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance has been honing his musical prowess in the music industry – learning from his father and the legacies of his grandfather, Fela Anikulapo Kuti – before starting his Movement band to release his first album while still performing with his father’s Positive Force band.
“No more wars,” is now available on all streaming platforms
Praise for Mádé + ‘Legacy +’:
“Mádé Kuti is a one-man studio band…[he] merges the slow-simmering rhythm and implacable horn riffs of vintage Afrobeat with a looping, prismatic, multilayered production, doubling back toward psychedelia.” – New York Times
“Giddy and transcendent” – Paste
“With one listen through ‘Legacy +,’ it’s clear that the late Fela Kuti’s musical family tree remains both strong and fruitful.” – American Songwriter.
“A fresh take on the Afrobeat sound that Fela pioneered in the 1970s and ’80s. Made carries the torch for his family’s Black consciousness and activist politics.” – SPIN