Entertainment

Full List of Nominees, Categories for AMAA 2021

Published

4 years ago

October 29, 2021

Eric

The 2021 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Award is billed to hold on November 28, 2021, As a result, the organisers, in fulfilment of a promise made on October 5, 2021 during a press conference, have released the full nomination list and categories. The event, which is in its 17th edition, promises to be spectacular.

The goal of the awards is to build a platform to better organize the ecosystem to produce films that satisfy worldwide standards.

According to the organisers, the event is designed “To tackle the perennial unemployment many youths are facing, we, at African Film Academy, are committed to creating a platform that gives African creative voices and access to the global market. This, we believe can be achieved through partnerships and collaborations with big brands across the continent. Thus, we introduce our 100 film project as our next project targeted at the creative industry and also increasing brand value.”

Founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the AMA team comprises the director, Babajide Fadoju, and Steve Ayorinde, the 17th edition’s jury president. Others are Abiola Durodola and Oyinkan Talabi, who are the team’s newest additions.

AMAA 2021 NOMINATION LIST

1. EFERE OZAKO AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
1) Meat – Uganda
2) Enroute – Bourkina Fasso
3) A Better Friend – Ghana
4) Find Me By The River – South Africa
5) In Extremis – DRC
6) Portrait of Princess Tutu – Cote d’Ivoire
7) The Long Night In Abuja – Nigeria

2. JUBRIL MALAFIA AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION
1) Room 5 – Ghana
2) Shaka-Inklosi Yamakhosi – South Africa
3) The Pyramid – Egypt
4) Mofiala – Togo
5) Lady Buckit & the Motley Mopster – Nigeria
6) A Thousand Fate – Uganda
7) White Nights – Algeria

3. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
1) Softie – Kenya
2) The Sacred Woods – Tunisia
3) Postcard – Morocco
4) Unmasked: Leadership, Trust & the Pandemic – Nigeria
5) Linda Under Lockdown – South Africa
6) Bulembu: History of a Culture – DRC
7) Noboth – Uganda
8) Zindet – Niger

4. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA SHORT FILM
1) Three Leaves (Haiti)
2) In Other News (Canada)
3) Blue (US)
4) The Berne Identity (Switzerland)
5) No Comprendo (UK)

5. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY
1) Akwaaba – The Awakening (US)
2. African Redemption: the Life of Marcus Garvey (US)
3. Race Today Documentary (UK)

6. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA NARRATIVE FEATURE
1) Ride Share (US)
2) Hal King (US)
3) Residue (US)

7. MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD
1) Blackmail – Obi Emelonye (Nigeria/UK)
2) First Call – Angela Onuora (Nigeria/Canada)
3) K.I.A.B – Eric Zoa & Oleksii Osyka (Cameroon/USA)
4) Gone – Daniel Ademinokan (Nigeria/US)

8. OUSMANE SEMBENE AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
1) Bangarang – Robin Odongo (Kenya)
2) Ayinla – Tunde Kelani (Nigeria)
3) The Golddigger’s Wife – Khadar Ahmed (Somalia)
4) Hotel on the Koppies – Charlie Vundler (South Africa)
5) Nyara – Ram Ally Kasongo (Tanzania)
6) Stain – Morris Mugisha (Uganda)

9. AMAA 2021 ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
1) African American
2) Buried
3) Oba Bi Olorun
4) Tecora
5) Eagles Wing

10. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
1) Fried Barry
2) Tecora
3) The Gravedigger’s Wife
4) The Takers
5) Mission To Rescue

11. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT
1) Nneka The Pretty Serpent
2) Stain
3) Fried Barry
4) The Takers
5) Mission to Rescue

12. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK
1) The Citation
2) Nyara (The Kidnapper)
3) The Gravedigger’s Wife
4) This Lady Called Life
5) Hotel on the Koppies

13. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
1) Hairareb
2) African American
3) The Gravedigger’s Wife
4) Eyimofe
5) La Femme Anjola

14. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN
1) Tecora
2) The Takers
3) Nyara (The Kidnapping)
4) The Gravedigger’s Wife
5) Shadow Parties

15. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
1) Ayinla
2) Black Medusa
3) Stain
4) Nyara (The Kidnapping)
5) The Gravedigger’s Wife

16. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
1) Mission to Rescue
2) Omo Ghetto: The Saga
3) Nyala (The Kidnapping)
4) Fried Barry
5) Eyimofe

17. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREEN PLAY
1) Chasing Lullaby
2) Where I Come From
3) Stain
4) Collission Course
5) Hairareb

18. AMAA 2021- NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM
1) Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story
2) Ayinla
3) Eyimofe
4) The Citation
5) Omo Ghetto: The Saga
6) La Femme Anjola
7) Collission Course
8) Shadow Parties

19. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG/ PROMISING ACTOR
1) Wilmah Muremera – Shaina
2) Oluwabamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan – Collission Course
3) Faith Fidel – Where I Come From
4) David Weda – Bangarang
5) Bertha Abdallah – Nyara (The Kidnapping)
6) Hannah Sukali – Fatsani: A Tale Of Survival

20. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1) Mulshid Mugabire – Monica
2) Kelechi Udegbe – Collission Course
3) Mehdi Hajri – Black Medusa
4) Cameron Scott – Hotel on the Koppies
5) Bimbo Manuel – Gone

21. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1) Gloria Anozie-Young – Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story
2) Naana Hayford – Chasing Lullaby
3) Tumi Morake – Seriously Single
4) Hazel Hinda – Hairareb
5) Ini Edo – The Citation

22. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
1) Gary Green – Fried Barry
2) Lateef Adedimeji – Ayinla
3) Melvin Alusa – Mission To Rescue
4) Jude Akuwudike – Eyimofe
5) Omar Abdi – The Gravedigger’s Wife
6) David Njavera – Hairareb
7) Nonso Bassey – La Femme Anjola

23. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
1) Lucie Memba Bois – Buried
2) Funke Akindele – Omo Ghetto: The Saga
3) Sarah Alina Grosz – Black Medusa
4) Joan Agaba – Stain
5) Phumi Mthembu – African American
6) Rita Dominic – La Femme Anjola
7) Claudine de Groot – Hairareb

24. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST FIRST FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR
1) Shaina – Beatrice Masvaure Alf (Zimbabwe)
2) African American – Muzi Mthembu (South Africa)
3) Eyimofe – Chuko & Ayie Esiri (Nigeria)
4) The Gravedigger’s Wife – Khadar Ahmed (Somalia) * Black Medusa – Youssef Chebbi & Ismael (Tunisia)
5) Fried Barry – Ryan Kruger (South Africa)

25. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
1) Gilbert Lukalia – (Mission To Rescue)
2) Ryan Kruger – (Fried Barry)
3) Khadar Ahmed – (The Gravedigger’s Wife)
4) Morris Mugisha – (Stain)
5) Chuko & Ayie Esiri – (Eyimofe)
6) Oshoveli Shipoh – (Hairareb)
7) Ram Ally Kasongo – (Nyara/The Kidnapping)
8) Youssef Chebbi & Ismael – (Black Medusa)

26. AMAA 2021 AWARD FOR BEST FILM
1) Mission To Rescue (Kenya)
2) Fried Barry (South Africa)
3) The Gravedigger’s Wife (Somalia)
4) Stain (Uganda)
5) Eyimofe (Nigeria)
6) Hairareb (Namibia)
7) Nyara:The Kidnapping (Tanzania)
8) Black Medusa (Tunisia)

Entertainment

Joeboy Stars on Easter Edition of Glo-Powered African Voices

Published

3 days ago

April 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria-born Afro-pop star, Joeboy, whose melodies now ripple across continents, takes centre stage this week on the Easter edition of African Voices, the Globacom-sponsored CNN magazine programme.

In a captivating session from Lagos, show anchor Larry Madowo drew out the rhythm of Joeboy’s journey, tracing the arc from a starry-eyed university dreamer to a maestro whose songs now traverse the globe like whispered secrets carried on the wind.

Born Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus in 1997, Joeboy—affectionately dubbed Afrobeats’ “lover boy”—embarked on his musical odyssey in 2017 with a viral reinterpretation of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You.

This pivot from rap to melodious crooning caught the discerning eye of Nigerian artiste and entrepreneur Mr Eazi, who, upon discovering him on Instagram, extended an invitation to join the emPawa Africa Talent Incubation initiative—a sanctuary for budding African talents where raw potential is nurtured into brilliance.

The partnership bore fruit in 2018 with the release of Fààjí, featuring Mr Eazi, and soon after, Joeboy was signed to Warner Music Africa. From there, his ascent became a symphony of milestones: the intoxicating single Baby in 2019, followed by Beginning, which amassed over 23 million views on YouTube, and Love & Light the same year.

Collaborations with Mayorkun yielded the spirited tracks Don’t Call Me and All for You, further cementing his place in the Afrobeats constellation.

Joeboy’s debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, unfurled in February 2021, a melodic tapestry of youth, hope, and desire. By 19 May 2023, he unveiled his sophomore studio effort, Body & Soul, preceded by the evocative singles Sip (Alcohol), Contour, Body & Soul, and Duffel Bag. In 2023, he teased the world with Only God Save Me and the extended EP Body, Soul and Spirit, offering listeners a window into the essence of his artistic spirit.

February 2024 marked another milestone as he launched his own imprint, Young Legend, soon releasing Osadebe, a track that resonated nationwide with the familiar warmth of homegrown brilliance.

Joeboy’s dedication has been richly rewarded. He clinched Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. His music has earned numerous nominations, including at the City People Entertainment Awards and The Headies, affirming his status as a luminary of contemporary African sound.

The Easter edition of African Voices featuring Joeboy will air on DSTV Channel 401 at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, with repeats at 11 a.m.; Sunday at 3:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday at 3 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.; and Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. The schedule will be mirrored the following week, culminating in Monday at 3 a.m., giving audiences multiple opportunities to bask in the artistry of a musician whose voice carries the pulse of a continent.

Entertainment

Hollywood Action Movie Superstar Chuck Norris Dies at 86

Published

2 weeks ago

March 20, 2026

Eric

Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star most famous for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” has died, his family said Friday. He was 86 years old.

“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.

“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives,” the statement said.

Norris reportedly fell ill on Thursday on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Norris turned 86 last week, marking the event with a video of him boxing on social media and saying, “I don’t age. I level up.”

Entertainment

Great Facts About the Forthcoming Oscars You Need to Know

Published

3 weeks ago

March 14, 2026

Eric

By Samantha Ofole-Prince

Below are great facts about the forthcoming Oscars most entertainment buffs may not have know…

1. Oscar is a nickname. The origins of the nickname are not clear, but a popular story has been that Academy librarian Margaret Herrick thought it resembled her Uncle Oscar and said so. The Academy staff began referring to it as Oscar, but the Academy itself didn’t use the nickname officially until 1939.

2. Each Oscar statuette is individually handcrafted, and the Oscar statuette stands at 13½ inches high and weighs 81/2 pounds.

3. The Oscar statuette is the most recognized award in the world and statuettes have been presented since the first initial awards banquet on May 16, 1929.

4. At age 74, Clint Eastwood became the oldest winner to date in the Directing category.

5. Hattie McDaniel is the first African American to win a best supporting actress Oscar. She won for her role as Mammy in the 1939 movie “Gone with the Wind.”

6. Halle Berry is the first African American actress to win best actress Oscar. She won in 2002 for “Monster’s Ball.”

7. In 2002, Denzel Washington became the second African American actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor (“Training Day”), and the first African American actor to have won Oscars for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor (Sidney Poitier was the first to win an Oscar in 1963 for “Lilies of the Field “).

8. Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock have previously hosted the Oscars, but Billy Crystal remains the longest serving host. Crystal has hosted the Oscars nine times to date.

9. Attendance at the Oscars ceremony is by invitation only. No tickets are sold to the public and in Oscar history; only three circumstances have prevented the Academy Awards presentation from going off as scheduled. The first was in 1938, when destructive floods all but washed-out Los Angeles and delayed the ceremony. In 1968, the Awards ceremony was postponed out of respect for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated a few days earlier, and in 1981, the Awards were postponed for 24 hours because of the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

10. The longest Oscar telecast was the 74th Oscars show in 2002 which had a running time of 4 hours, 23 minutes. Shortest Oscar telecast was the 31st Academy Awards in 1959 which had a running time of 1 hour, 40 minutes.

The Oscars, one of the most-watched live entertainment events of the year, will be held on Sunday, March 15 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu. With 16 nominations, Sinners set the record for most nominations for a film for the 98th Oscars.

Samantha Ofole-Prince is a U.S. journalist and movie critic who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film.