Credit: danieloriahi/Instagram
The 20th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) took place yesterday, November 2nd, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. This year’s ceremony honoured first-time winners and celebrated the best in African cinema, uniting filmmakers from across the globe under one roof.
Nollywood actor Segun Arinze and Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas hosted the event, which featured performances from legendary Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti and Yinka Davies. The night was filled with a vibrant line-up of pan-African artistes, including Narh Tettey, Bedwei Kwaku, and Adina Thembi.
A distinguished jury, led by filmmaker and curator Dorothee Wenner, reviewed the nominated films, recognising exceptional talent and storytelling in African cinema.
One of the evening’s biggest winners was the Nigerian-directed drama “The Weekend,” which took home the “Best Film Award” for both Nigeria and Africa. Nigerian filmmaker Femi Adebayo also received the “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” award for his performance in the historical thriller “Jagun Jagun.” The film, which earned seven nominations, also won awards for Achievement in Visual Effects and Make-up.
Elsie Abang won “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” for her performance in “KIPKEMBOI,” while Michell Lemuya was named “Best Young Promising Actor” for NAWI.
In the leading role categories, South Africa’s Zolisa Xaluva won “Best Actor in a Leading Role” for his work in “The Queenstown King,” while Ghana’s Jackie Appiah received “Best Actress in a Leading Role” for her performance in “Red Carpet.”
The “Best Feature Film by a Director” award went to “Letters to Goddo,” directed by Harry Bentil, while Jahmil X.T. Qubeka was honoured as “Best Director” for his work on “The Queenstown Kings.”
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to notable filmmakers Souleymane Cissé from Mali, Nacer Khemir from Tunisia, and Haile Gerima from Ethiopia. Alain Gomis from Senegal and Gabon, along with Zimbabwean author and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga, received special recognition awards for their valuable contributions to African cinema.
See the full list of AMAA 2024 winners below:
Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film
The Last Shoe Maker (Uganda)- WINNER
Seben (Mali)
Dear Future Wife (South Africa)
Isolated (Nigeria)
Joia (Angola)
Strike A Blow And Die (Malawi)
Don’t Call Me Beautiful (Ghana)
Sins Of A Father (Zimbabwe/USA)
Jubril Malafia Award for Best Animation
Heavy Crown (Libya)
Counter Punch (Kenya) – WINNER
Journey of the Legend (Cameroon)
Hadu (Nigeria)
Between Paya and Koulou (Senegal)
Oya (The goddess of gods) (Nigeria)
Set Pieces (Sudan)
Best Documentary
A Quand L’Afrique (Congo Brazzaville)
The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder (Mozambique) – WINNER
The Return Train (Mali)
Gateway To Dreams (Cameroon)
Rainbow Nation (South Africa)
Dela- The Making of EL-Anatsui (Nigeria)
Donga (Libya)
Rising Up At Night (DRC)
Best Diaspora Short Film
The Neighbourhood Alert (USA)- WINNER
Bottled Up (Jamaica)
The Golden Boy (USA)
Best Diaspora Documentary
The Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA) – WINNER
A Rising Tide (USA)
Colour (USA)
Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
Outlaw Posse (USA)- WINNER
Mickey Hardaway (USA)
Love After Holidays (USA)
Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad
Out Of Breath (Nigeria/UK)
Orah (Nigeria/Canada)
Isolated (Nigeria/UK)
Under The Hanging Tree (Namibia/UK)- WINNER
Kipkemboi (Nigeria/ Canada)
Ousmane Sembène Award for Best Film in an African Language
Makula (Uganda)
Jagun Jagun (Nigeria)
The Queenstown Kings (South Africa)- WINNER
Kaka (Nigeria)
Eskhalemi Sikantombella (South Africa)
Unheard (Uganda)
Out of Breath (Nigeria)
Achievement in Costume Design
The Beads
The Weekend
White and Black
Jagun Jagun
The Queenstown Kings
Mai Martaba- WINNER
Out of Breath
Achievement in Make-Up
The Weekend
Nawi
Letters to Goddo
Out of Breath
Jagun Jagun – WINNER
Anjola
White and Black
Achievement in Visual Effects
Kipkemboi
Jagun Jagun- WINNER
Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend
Bokwagter
Out of Breath
Achievement in Soundtrack
The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
The Queenstown Kings
Orah
Mojisola
Red Carpet
Boda Love – WINNER
Achievement in Sound
A Smile, A Wink and a Tear
The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
The Queenstown Kings- WINNER
Boda Love
Kipkemboi
Boda Love
Orah
The Queenstown Kings
The Weekend
Jagun Jagun
Kipkemboi
Makula
Out of Breath- WINNER
Achievement in Cinematography
The Weekend- WINNER
Nawi
Kipkemboi
Letters to Goddo
This is Lagos
The Queenstown Kings
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
Achievement in Editing
Under The Hanging Tree- WINNER
The Weekend
This is Lagos
Nawi
Kipkemboi
The Beads
Anjola
Achievement in Screenplay
Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend- WINNER
Letter To Goddo
This is Lagos
Boda love
The Queenstown Kings
Out of Breath
National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Award for Best Nigerian Film
The Weekend- WINNER
This is Lagos
Afamefuna
Jagun Jagun
Mai Martaba
A Smile, A wink and a tear
Out of Breath
Best Young/Promising Actor
Michell Lemuya (Nawi)- WINNER
Likhona Mgali (The Queenstown Kings)
Agape mngomezulu (Orah)
William Dias (Bokwagter)
Kofi Adu-Gyamfi (Tejiri)
Ruby Akubueze (She)
Fatima Muhammed (Mai Martaba)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sandile Mahlangu (The Queenstown Kings)
Ochungo Benson (Nawi)
Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey (The Weekend)
Ikechukwu Onunaku (This is Lagos)
Lucky Ejim (Orah)
Solomon Fixon Owoo (Letters to Goddo)
Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun) – WINNER
Meg Otanwa (The Weekend)
Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (The Queenstown Kings)
Elsie Chidera Abang (Kipkemboi)- WINNNER
Tessa Twala (The Queenstown Kings)
Bukunmi Oluwashina (White and Black)
Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah (Orah)
Chioma Akpotha (Mojisola)
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Zolixa Xaluva (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER
Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos)
Duncan Murunyu Mungai (Boda Love)
Nenesenor Abloso (Letters to Goddo)
Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)
Femi Jacobs (Anjola)
Chidi Mokeme (Out of Breath)
Girley Jazama (Under The Hanging Tree)
Oyin Oladejo (Orah)
Unati Faku (The Queenstown Kings)
Uzoamaka Aniunoh (The Weekend)
Laura Pepple (This is Lagos)
Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet)- WINNER
Efe Irele (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)
Best Debut Feature Film by a Director
LETTERS TO GODDO (Harry Bentil)- WINNER
RISING UP AT NIGHT (Nelson Makengo)
SHE (Seun Richards)
Best Director
Daniel Emeka Oriahi (The Weekend)
Kenneth Gyang (This Is Lagos)
Jahmil X.T Qubeka (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER
Perivi Katjavivi (Under The Hanging Tree)
Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah)
Harry Bentil ( Letters To Goddo)
Izu Ojukwu (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)
Best Film
Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend- WINNER
This is Lagos
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
Orah
Letters to Goddo
The Queenstown Kings
Lifetime Achievement Award
Souleymane Cisse (Mali)
Nacer Khemir (Tunisia)
Haile Gerima (Ethiopia)
Special Recognition
Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon)
Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)
