As preparations for the 21st edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which celebrates excellence in African cinema heats up, the organisers on Saturday, October 11, unveiled the nominees for the ceremony set to take place on November 9 at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Sheraton Ikeja, Lagos.
The nominations, streamed live worldwide on AMAA’s online platforms, showcased Katunga: Dance of The Scorpions from Burkina Faso leading the pack with 10 nominations across various categories. Close behind are Lisabi: The Uprising from Nigeria with seven nominations, Algiers from Algeria with four, and Freedom Way from Nigeria with three.
African actors of Nigerian descent, such as Lilian Aluko, Emeka Ossai, Charles Inojie, and Adaora Anyanwu, announced the nominees. Other notable figures included Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of the National Film and Videos Censors Board (NFVCB); Steve Ayorinde, former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy; and media personality Chris Kehinde Nwandu (CKN). Both Husseini and Ayorinde represented the AMAA jury at the event.
The event, hosted by veteran Nollywood actor and singer Segun Arinze, also saw the AMAA board in attendance, including Dr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, Mr. George Anyiam-Osigwe, COO Tony Anih, and filmmakers Teco Benson, and Lancelot Imasuen among others.
In the fierce competition for AMAA Best Actress in a Leading Role, Nigeria’s Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Osas Ighodaro, and Shaffy Bello will contend with talented actresses like Analisa Munyana from Rwanda, Danica De La Ray Jones from South Africa, Getahun Hailu and Florence Mariserena from Ethiopia, and Algeria’s Meriem Medjkane.
For the Best Actor in a Leading Role, Lateef Adedimeji from Nigeria in Lisabi: The Uprising faces off against a lineup of remarkable talent, including Keenan Arrison from South Africa (The Heart is a Muscle), Debebe Eshetu from Ethiopia (For Love, for Land, for Power), Ghana’s Adjetey Anang (Last Stop), South Africa’s Ayden Croy (Old Righteous Blues), Uganda’s Bizimana Hussain (Small Gods), Burkina Faso’s Mahamadi Nana (Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions), and Nabil Asli from Algeria (Algiers).
The ‘Best Film’ award sees eight African countries in the running. The nominated films include Algiers (Algeria), 3 Cold Dishes (Nigeria), The Heart is a Muscle(South Africa), Small Gods (Uganda), For Love, For Land, For Power (Ethiopia), Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions (Burkina Faso), Last Stop (Ghana), and Lisabi: The Uprising (Nigeria).
With its long-standing tradition of celebrating exceptional cinematic work from Africa, this year’s AMAA is expected to be thrilling, honoring remarkable films, actors, directors, and other industry professionals continent-wide
During the nomination reveal, actor and filmmaker Charles Inojie and renowned director Teco Benson shared their excitement for the nominations and their confidence in the jury and the award organizers.
Benson, a multiple AMAA winner, remarked that the 21st AMAA edition will elevate not just the Nigerian film industry but the entire African film landscape, further establishing it as one of the premier award platforms for African creatives.