By Olayiwola Balogun – Juliet Ibrahim from Ghana and Femi Jacobs from Nigeria emerged as Best African Actress and Best African Actor of the Year 2019 respectively in London on Saturday 2ndNovember at the 23rd African Film Awards 2019, organised by African Voice Newspaper UK.
The prestigious annual African Film Awards also honoured other outstanding filmmakers and practitioners in various other categories. In the Special Achievement category, Actress Rahama Sadau bagged Outstanding Actress of the Year (Kannywood), Director Ruke Amata was honoured with Special Recognition for contributions to (UK Nollywood) and Veteran actress Remi Oshodi was crowned as the Veteran Actress of the Year 2019.
The glamorous awards ceremony, which attracted diplomats, bankers, investors, the high, and mighty from within the diverse British communities included the Nigeria High Commissioner, His Excellency, Justice (Rtd) George Adesola Oguntade CFR, CON and his amiable wife Chief (Mrs) Modupeola Oguntade.
The High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, in a goodwill message to the organisers said, “It is heartwarming for me, and a great delight to congratulate you on the 23rdAnniversary of the African Film Awards, an annual gathering of Africa’s Film Stars and Best of Black British Film and TV.
I rejoice with you for the many achievements over the past 23 years since this laudable idea was muted. I need not over-emphasise that by taking this wise and courageous decision to institutionalize this Award, you are giving the people of Nigeria and indeed those in the Diaspora, a sense of unique identity, cultural direction and recognition”.
During his welcome remark, Prince Mike Abiola, founder of the African Film Awards urged the guests to continue to support the screening of African films across Europe and the rest of the world. He congratulated all nominees and winners from across 11 African countries and the diaspora.
The 23rd African Film Awards 2019 had 537 film entries via the FilmFreeway portal from across Africa and the diaspora. The theme for the 23rdAfrican Film Awards 2019 was ‘Building Global African Film Icons’.
The event was compered by the duo of Keni Ogunlola, a filmmaker and Kalisha Johnson, a TV presenter. The evening was spiced up by BMystireo also known as Klassiq B, a fast rising musical artist and producer. David Adekiyesi better known by his stage name Crówn, an Afro beats singer/songwriter also joined in spicing up the musical interludes.
The film, Unbreakable by Nigerian producer Buky Campbell, won the Best African Feature Film of the Year 2019. James Abinibi Alabi from Nigeria won the Best Director with the film Last Request, and Correction – Atunse by Toyin Moore bagged three awards, the Best Diaspora Feature Film, Best Actor in Lead Role (UK Nollywood) and Best Actor in Supporting Role (UK Nollywood).
In the Best Short film category, the Son Of The Janitor by Egyptian Director Mohammed Naoman emerged the winner. While Insta–Grim, by Moses Ssebandeke (UK), won the Best Short Film (Diaspora).
Battle Dream Chronicles: A new Beginning by Alain Bidard, from France, won the Best Animation. The full list of the 23rdAfrican Film Awards 2019 winners are:
- African Film in English Language
The nominees for the Best Actress in Lead Role:
Kiki Omeili Run (Nigeria)
Yvonne Jegede Inbred (Nigeria) WINNER
Diana Nabatanzi Twisted Minds (Uganda)
A’rese Emopkae Unbreakable (Nigeria)
Empress Njamah The Perfect Crime (Nigeria)
2. The nominees for the Best Actor in Lead Role:
Chucks Chyke Inbred (Nigeria)
Yemi Blaq For Priye (Nigeria)
Tony Umez The Perfect Crime (Nigeria)
Toosweet Annan Sometimes In Yesterday (Ghana)
Robert Ernest Bbumba Twisted Minds (Uganda)
O. C Ukeje Unbreakable (Nigeria) WINNER
3. The nominees for the Best Actress in Supporting Role:
Amanda Ebeye Inbred (Nigeria)
Susan Pwajok For Priye (Nigeria)
Linda Osifo Last Request (Nigeria) WINNER
4. The nominees for the Best Actor in Supporting Role:
Paul Utomi Inbred Anthony Monjaro The Perfect Crime
Mofe Duncan The Family
Kweku Elliott Sometimes In Yesterday (Ghana) WINNER
5. The nominees for Best Director:
Uche Chuckwu Run (Nigeria)
James Abinibi Last Request (Nigeria) WINNER
Amaka Anioji Inbred (Nigeria)
Emmanuel Eyaba The Perfect Crime (Nigeria)
Zziwa Aaron Alone Twisted Mind (Uganda)
Ben Chiadika Unbreakable (Nigeria)
Pascal Amanfo Sometimes In Yesterday (Ghana)
Moyinoluwa Ezekiel For Priye (Nigeria)
Kamal Kamal Nadira (Morocco)
Kwabena Gyansah Azali (Ghana)
Judith Audu The Family (Nigeria)
Esther Abah (Obioma – Tailor) (Nigeria)
The Family by Judith Audu (Nigeria)
Nyasaland by Joyce Chavula (Malawi)
Twisted Minds by Zziwa Aaron Alone (Uganda)
Sometimes In Yesterday by Emeka Akpara (Ghana)
Nadira by Kamal Kamal (Morocco)
Unbreakable by Ben Chiadika (Nigeria) WINNER
Run by Uche Chuckwu (Nigeria)
Azali by Kwabena Gyansah (Ghana)
Last Request by James Abinibi (Nigeria)
Obioma (Tailor) by Esther Abah (Nigeria)
7. The nominees for Best Producer:
Sunny Okonkwo Inbred (Nigeria)
Said Gougaz Nadira Morocco)
Joyce Mbango Chavala Nyasaland (Malawi)
Moses Olufemi Last Request (Nigeria) WINNER
Emeka Okpara Sometimes in Yesterday (Ghana)
Buky Cambell Unbreakable (Nigeria)
Judith Audu The Family (Nigeria)
The nominees: Adjetey Anang (Azali) Ghana
Bimbo Manuel (Unbreakable) Nigeria
Femi Jacobs (Tailor) Nigeria WINNER
The nominees:
Juliet Ibrahim (The Perfect Crime) Ghana WINNER
Bimbo Akintola (Last Request) Nigeria
Jihane Kamal (Nadira) Morocco
Jessica Larny (Sometimes In Yesterday) Ghana
Ama K Abebrese (Azali) Ghana
10. African Film in (Yoruba Language)
The nominees for the Best Actress in Lead Role:
Yewande Adekoya Abiodun Ogo Osan
Simi Mokalik
Jumoke Odetola Igbeyawo
Bose Alao Awosakun Biola Adebayo The Switch WINNER
Jide Awobona Aremo Ife
Mustapha Sholagbade Iyo Ayemi WINNER
Akeem Adeyemi Damaged
Jamiu Azeez Eeya Pharaoh
Kehinde Adams Idi
Akin Kolapo Ege
12. The Best Yoruba Movies:
Kesari Ibrahim Yekini
Mokalik Kunle Afolayan
Sadaat Yomi Fabiyi WINNER
Gbarada Muyiwa Ademola
Mo’dorisa Kemi Afolabi
Olokiki Oru Ibrahim Chata
13. African Film in (Hausa Language)
The nominees for Best Actress (Hausa Language)
Fatima Washa Abdullahi SADAUKI WINNER
Aisha Aliyu Tsamiya JAMILA
Halima Yusuf Atete UWAR GULMA
- The nominees Best Director (Hausa Language)
Ali Nuhu KAR KI MANTA DA NI WINNER
Nazifi Asnanic HEADMASTER
Yaseen Auwal KASKO
- BEST DIASPORA FEATURE FILM
The Best Feature Films:
Land of America (Ilu America) by Taiwo Oduala
Correction (Atunse) by Toyin Moore WINNER
MaQueen by Moji Bishi
My London Slave by Cordelia Emeh
- Best Executive Producer (UK Nollywood)
The nominees:
Nicki Moore Stains of Hatred
Yemisi Banjoko Alter Date WINNER
Rita Ekokotu-Odigie Shadow of The Past
Cordelia Emeh My London Slave
- The nominees for the Best Actress in Lead Role (UK Nollywood Film)
Moji Bishi MaQueen
Bolaji Owolabi Land of America
Cordelia Emeh My London Slave WINNER
Bimpe Oyebade Correction – Atunse
- The nominees for the Best Actor in Lead Role
(UK Nollywood Film)
Taiwo Oduala Land of America
Daniel Lloyd My London Slave
Rotimi Salami Correction–Atunse WINNER
Femi Adebayo MaQueen
- The nominees for the Best Actor in Supporting Role (UK
Nollywood Film)
Femi Brainard Land of America
Charles Efe Lawson My London Slave
Odunlade Adekola Correction–Atunse WINNER
Rykardo Agbor MaQueen
- The nominees for the Best Actress in Supporting Role (UK Nollywood Film)
Biola Adebayo Correction– Atunse
Funmi Ogidan Bello My London Slave WINNER
Sola Kosoko MaQueen
- Best Short Film
The Way North Coast by Mostafa Eid (Egypt)
It’s Not Over by IIham El Alami (Morocco)
The FourthSide by Judith Audu (Nigeria)
The MSG by Bamidele Lamidi (Nigeria)
Before The Storm by Hcham Hlimi (Morocco)
Son of Janitor by Mohamed Naoman (Egypt) WINNER
Paper Boats by Gonzalo Guajardo (Ethiopia)
- Best Short Film (Diaspora)
Mama Love by Jeff Taver (France)
Vita by Skinny Corleone (USA)
Insta – Grim by Moses Ssebandeke (UK) WINNER
The Announcement by Lanre Sulola (UK)
23. Best Animation
Battle Dream Chronicles: A new Beginning by Alain Bidard (France) WINNER
Appeased Village by Issouf (Mali)
Companionship by Engi Mahmoud (Egypt)
A Short by Ahmed Al-Haddad (Egypt)
Vanity by Nygilia McClain (UK)
A Moment In Time by Belal Saeed AbdelHakim (Egypt)
24. The winners of the Special Achievement African Film Award Category are:
Ruke Amata Special Recognition for contributions to UK Nollywood
Remi Oshodi Veteran Actress of the Year
Rahama Sadau Outstanding Actress of the Year (Kannywood).
Photo credit: Adesons Studio and Michael Ebo Photography.
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