The 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA 2023) took place on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. The awards gala celebrated the best of African cinema, with filmmakers from across the globe converging under the same roof.
The awards ceremony was hosted by Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau, and Richard Ato Turkson.
Among the winners this year is “Anikulapo,” which won the Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language. The film is a historical epic directed by Kunle Afolayan and starring Kunle Remi, Sola Sobowale, and Bimbo Ademoye. Jude Idada, the director of “KOFA,” won the Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad. “Jabari,” a captivating animated film produced by the Ghana-based animation studio, won the Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation.
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Here is a complete list of the winners at the 2023 AMAA Awards:
Efere Ozaka Award For Best Short Film
Lions (Ethiopia) – Winner
Riel (Namibia)
Enmity Djin (Mauritania)
Jubril Malaifia Award For Best Animation
Lost (Uganda)
Azania Rises (South Africa)
Jabari (Ghana) – Winner
Bashorum Gaa (Nigeria)
Best Documentary
Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern Civilization (Senegal/Canada)
Nightlife in Lasgidi (Nigeria)
Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River is not a Border (Senegal)
Ifine (Beauty) (Sierra Leone)
Le Spectre de Boko Haram (Cameroon) – Winner
Ousmane Sembene Award For Best Film In An African Language
Pusha Pressa Phanda (South Africa)
Anikulapo (Nigeria) – Winner
The Kitera Chronicle (Uganda)
Four Walls (South Africa)
Mami Wata (Nigeria)
Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award For Best Film By An African-Born Director Living Abroad
Talia’s Journey (Senegal/Belgium) – Christophe Rolin
Golden Stripes (Nigeria/UK) – Peace Osigbe
KOFA (Nigeria/Canada) – Jude Idada – Winner
Best Diaspora Short Film
We Were Meant To (United States) – directed by Tari Wariebi
The Ballad of Olive Morris (United Kingdom) – directed by Alex Kayode-Kay
Fifty-Four Days (United Kingdom) – directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrance
Raw Materials (Jamaica) – Directed by Sosiessia Nixon – Winner
Best Diaspora Documentary
Sound of the Police (United States) – Directed by Stanley Nelson – Winner
Fantastico Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet (United States) – directed by Yvan Iturriaga and Francisco Nuñez
Black Rio (Brazil) – directed by Fernando Sousa and Gabriel Barbosa
Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
Cheese (Trinidad & Tobago) – directed by Damian Marcano
Our Father, The Devil (United States) – Directed by Ellie Foumbi – Winner
The Pastor and the Revolutionary (Brazil) – directed by José Eduardo Belmonte
Best Achievement in Production Design
Pat Nebo – Anikulapo – Nigeria – Winner
Eve Martin – Omen – DRC
Sira – Burkina Faso
Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
Chantel Carter – Gereza – South Africa
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Bunmi Demilola Fashina – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria
Millicent Jack – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal – Winner
Elkehoste and Baloji Omen – DRC
Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso
Best Achievement in Make-Up
Campell Precious Arebamen – Mami Wata – Nigeria – Winner
Hakeem Effect and Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria
Lila Vander Elst – Omen – DRC
Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
Omowunmi Okungbure – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Soundtrack
Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda – Winner
L’Axe Lourd (The Highway) – Cameroon
Gereza – South Africa
Omen – DRC
Obinna Arua – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Andrej Gregori, Voranc Kumar, Ziga Radulji -Omen – DRC
Alexandre Dachkevitch – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Josh Borrill – The Trade – Nigeria
Emmanuel Bassey – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria – Winner
Best Achievement in Sound
Juliana Oswald – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
Vianney Aube – Sira – Burkina Faso – Winner
Erik Griekspoor – Omen – DRC
Samy Bardet – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Michel Tsagli – Xalé – Senegal
Best Achievement in Cinematography
Lilis Soares – Mami Wata – Nigeria – Winner
Joachim Philippe – Omen – DRC
Richard Henkels – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
Thomas Wilski – Talia’s Journey – Senegal/Belgium
Eduardo Kropotkine – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
Best Achievement in Editing
Nathan Delannoy – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Bertrand Conard – Omen – DRC – Winner
Sylvie Gadner – Sira – Burkina Faso
Layla Swart – Gereza
Madhew Leutwyler – Fight Like a Girl
Best Achievement in Screenplay
C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Ufuoma MeHHri – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
Moussa Sene Absa, Pierre Magny, Ben Diogay Beye – Xalé – Senegal – Winner
Madhew Leutwyler – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award for Best Nigerian Film
Mami Wata – Winner
Anikulapo
4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
Gangs of Lagos
The Trade
L.I.F.E.
Brotherhood
Best Young/Promising Actor
Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos – Winner
Ewube -L’axe Lourd (The Highway
Darisimi Nadi – Obara’m
Sanou Titiama – Le chant des fusils (The Song of the Rifle
Eyiyemi Afolyan – Anikulapo
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Francis Onwuchei – The Trade – Nigeria
Jeff Jackson – Four Walls – South Africa
Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
Jimmy-Jean Louis – Rise – Winner
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Mami Wata – Nigeria
Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal – Winner
Clarck Natmbwe – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Mofe Demalo – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
Marc Zunga – Omen – DRC
Fenando Kamugisha – The Fallen Advocate –Uganda
Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria – Winner
Justine Murichii – Shimoni – Kenya
Mike Danon – Sira – Burkina Faso
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Lucie Debay – Omen – DRC
Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa – 4 Walls – South Africa
Nafissatou Sisse – Sira – Burkina Faso
Adesua Etomi – Guns of Lagos – Nigeria
Nse Ikpe Etim – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria – Winner
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo – Nigeria
Ama Qamata – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
First Debut Feature by a Director
Baloji – Omen – DRC – Winner
Ery Claver – Our Lady of the Chinese Shop – Angola
Jean Elliot Ilboudo (le Chant des fusils)The Song of the Riffle – Cameron
Best Director
Moussa Sene Absa – Xalé
C. J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi – Mami Wata
Baloji – Omen
Apolline Traore – Sira – Winner
Izu Ojukwu – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvaiś Dunn – 4 Walls
Best Film
Xalé- Senegal – Winner
Mami Wata – Nigeria
4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) Nigeria
Omen – DRC
4 Walls – South Africa
Sira – Burkina Faso
Anikulapo – Nigeria
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
