20th AMAA: Celebrating Excellence in African Cinema!

Nollywood actor Femi Adebayo achieved a milestone by winning Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 20th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for his role in ‘Jagun Jagun.’ The ceremony took place on Saturday in Lagos, celebrating outstanding contributions to African cinema.

‘Jagun Jagun’ stood out with seven nominations and additional awards for Achievement in Visual Effects and Make-Up. Adebayo’s performance earned praise for its depth, solidifying his reputation as a leading talent in Nollywood.

In other categories, actress Elsie Abang won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for ‘KIPKEMBOI,’ while Michell Lemuya was named Best Young Promising Actor for ‘NAWI.’ Zolisa Xaluva took home Best Actor in a Leading Role for ‘The Queenstown King,’ and Jackie Appiah won Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Red Carpet.”

The awards showcased diverse talent across the continent. Harry Bentil’s ‘Letters to Goddo’ won Best Feature Film, and Jahmil X.T. Qubeka received Best Director for ‘The Queenstown King.’ Souleymane Cissé from Mali, Nacer Khemir from Tunisia, and Haile Gerima from Ethiopia received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contributions to cinema.

The ceremony also featured special recognition awards for notable filmmakers, including Alain Gomis from Senegal and Tsitsi Dangarembga from Zimbabwe. ‘The Weekend’ won the coveted AMAA Best Film award, also earning accolades for Achievement in Screenplay and Cinematography. Additionally, the National Film and Video Censors Board recognized it as the best Nigerian film.

Additional awards celebrated excellence across various categories. ‘Out of Bound’ won for Production, ‘Boda Love’ for Soundtrack, and ‘Mai Martaba’ for Costume Design. ‘Under The Hanging Tree’ received the award for Editing. Meanwhile, Uganda’s ‘The Last Shoemaker’ took home the Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film. Kenya’s ‘CounterPunch’ won the Jubril Malafia Award for Best Animation, while Mozambique’s ‘The Nearest Smell of Gunpowder’ won Best Documentary.

Dr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of AMAA, expressed gratitude to the team that brought the ceremony to life. He specifically thanked Lagos and Bayelsa states and international visitors from the U.S. for their support. Anyiam-Osigwe emphasized that AMAA not only celebrates winners but also showcases the excellence and richness of African history. He noted that as AMAA enters its second decade, it opens a new chapter in Africa’s storytelling on the global stage.