The 9th edition of the AMVCAs is here!
In the cinematic world, movies and TV shows are therapeutic and tell a huge story which gives the audience something to learn and live from.
Here comes the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCAs) 2023, Africa’s biggest visual entertainment award ceremony. The anticipation for this year’s edition is top-notch, and it is incredible to see how African visual entertainment has taken to a mainstream level over the year.
The Biggest Nominations of the AMVCAs 2023.
The nominations came rolling in, and here are your favourites who made the list.
Anikulapo, directed and written by industry icon Kunle Afolayon, has a groundbreaking record of 16 nominations, followed by Brotherhood, directed by the talented Jade Osiberu, which bagged a total of 11 nominations tying with the limited series that held the number one position on Netflix for weeks Shanty Town by Chineye Chichi Nworah.
Anikulapo, Brotherhood, and Shanty Town were our mainstream riders towards African television thriving to its peak as Nollywood continues to bring the heat birthed from our culture and showcases re-emerging and new talents.
Other movies like Battle on the Buka Street, written and directed by phenomenal actress Funke Akindele, came in with ten (10) nominations and Femi Adebayo’s King of Thieves (Agesinkole), with eight (8) nominations.
These were the biggest turnout for the nominations.
The Biggest Snubs of the AMVCAs 2023.
With the excitement over the expected nominations came dampened moods over unexpected snubs at the AMVCAs 2023.
Year to year, there is always that movie, series, or individual who gets drilled out during the AMVCAs, and it is not just with the AMVCAs. It also happened during the recent Academy Awards. The Oscars felt the heat after Angela Bassett was snubbed despite her epic and brilliant performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This caused some rage on social media following disappointment from fans.
Within the awards consideration year, movies produced and directed in Nollywood were top-notch. It is sad for some fans whose favourite stars missed out on nominations even after seeing the stats of the films look promising and achieve a great audience scale in demand.
The very much unexpected snub for the year was Kunle Remi, whom many expected to make it to the Best Actor in a Drama category of the list, especially for his performance as the lead actor in Anikulapo, a film which in itself bagged sixteen (16) nominations.
Other fans’ favourites which did not make it into this year’s award considerations include Blood Sisters, Blood Covenant, Otiti, The Wildflower, Obara’m, Ile Owo, Palava and Jolly Roger.
The limited series: Blood Sisters was the first original drama thriller series which scored overboard by audiences and received positive praise for the acting, cinematography, locations and costume. This was one dope series that gave the Nollywood universe and African television a new wave in acting and storytelling, not just telling a story but sticking to it. The series was a great one. Was it not eligible, or did they not submit it? Many questions run through the minds of fans.
The movie: Blood Covenant was also a smashing hit thriller horror drama in the Nollywood universe. The acting and cinematography were top-notch. The movie portrayed a lot. It told great life lessons.
The movie: Otiti was also an interesting and educative movie. It connects with life in some ways and journeys the viewers in a different perspective that is new and worthwhile. The movie is deep-rooted in African culture and tells a huge story. This is a huge snub by the AMVCA. Other movies like The Wildflower, with its interesting storyline and great acting, Obara’m, which was an intriguing film, with Nancy Isime bodying her role perfectly, Ile Owo, also a great movie filled with a great cast and storyline and Palava, a family drama filled with love, laughter and drama, also missed out. It was a great movie. The cinematography was excellent.
The movie: Jolly Roger was an exquisite and exceptional watch. The storyline depicts the Nigerian system and culture. This movie was also snubbed. The acting and characters were all on point, and it beats fans to say, why was it not nominated?
The series: Far from Home also raises the same questions among fans. Was it not eligible? Or was it not submitted? Although it got mixed reviews from critics, it was a decent watch.
All of these snubs do not change the fact that these movies, the actors, and the series put on a great show. The performances were brilliant, and they all, individually and collectively, moved the wave in projecting Nollywood to the world. If you have not seen them, this is an opportunity to watch them all.
Our Prediction of Winners for the AMVCAs 2023 in the Top Categories.
The biggest nominations always win, but this time, voters and fans are looking deep into movies that tell a story, and we can say, categorically, that it is a tricky one predicting which movie, actor, or series will go home with a win; but we will give it a go.
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Public Voting
Adokiye Horsfall (Romeo WJ) – Inside Life
Charles Etubiebi – Just Friends
Charles Inojie – City Hustler
Chinedu Ikedieze – Aki and PawPaw
Kunle Idowu – Unintentional
Nedu Ani (Nedu Wazobia) – Inside Life
Nkem Owoh – Battle On Buka Street ( Winner )
Nosa Afolabi – The Razz Guy
Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi) – Inside Life
Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi) – Survivors
Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia is an incredible and unique actor. He is a very funny one and always comes with the heat each time he is on set. He may go home with this, and as it will be his first, it was about time he received accolades for his incredible performance in this movie and also since his acting career.
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Public Voting
Blossom Chukwujekwu – The Trade
Chidi Mokeme – Shanty Town
Chimezie Imo – Choke
Daniel Etim-Effiong – Kofa
Femi Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
NKakalukanyi Patriq – Tembele
O.C. Ukeje – Black Mail
Richard Mofe Damijo – Four Four Forty Four
Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood ( winner )
Tope Tedela – All The Colours Of The World Are Between Black and White
This category is a tough one. We got to see these actors portray these roles almost perfectly. The Trade was a great movie. Blossom Chukwuejekwu bodied the role. However, the prediction for this category is set on Tobi Bakre.
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY- (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Public Voting
Albert Oluwatoyin – Visa On Arrival
Bimbo Ademoye – Selina ( winner)
Roselyn Ngissah – Red Carpet
Funke Akindele – Battle On Buka Street
Grace Wacuka – Married to Work
Mercy Johnson – Battle On Buka Street
Mercy Johnson Okogie – Passport
This is also a tough one and they all acted well.
The actresses in this category are all versatile and put in a lot of effort. Bimbo Ademoye is an entertainer in acting comedy movies. It might all come down to Mercy Johnson Okojie winning.
BEST OVERALL MOVIE – AFRICA
Femi Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Funke Akindele – Battle on Buka Street
Jade Osiberu – Brotherhood
Kayode Kasum – Ile Owo
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo ( winner )
Mugisha Herbert Morris – Tembele
Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi – Four Four Forty Four
Another tough category and only time will tell.
Anikulapo was a tale that needed to be told. The acting, cinematography and the entire concept of building a film village for this movie set itself was a blast. It deserves the win.
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA – (MOVIE/TV SERIES)- Public Voting
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo
Enado Odigie – Flawsome
Immaculata Oko Kasum – Ile Owo
Ini Dima-Okojie – Flawsome
Ini Edo – Shanty Town
Nimo Loveline – The Planters Plantation
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Shanty Town (winner)
Osas Ighodaro – Man of God
Queen Nwokoye – Strained
Scarlet Gomez – Wura
What a great lineup.
Another tough category with brilliant and unique actresses on the line. Nse showed another side of her in her Shanty Town character, and it is something we do not get to see all the time.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Public Voting
Abdisattar Ahmed – Gacal
Bucci Franklin – The Razz Guy
James Webbo – County 49
Jeff Roberts Walusimbi – Bedroom Chains
O.C. Ukeje – Brotherhood ( winner )
Taiwo Hassan – Anikulapo
Yinka Quadri – Anikulapo
Another tough one, but let us see how it goes. It was quite a downer not seeing Folarin Falana (Falz ) in this category.
O.C. Ukeje also bodied his role greatly.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Public Voting
Dorcas Shola Fapson – Man of God
Efe Irele – Four Four Forty Four
Gina Castel – Kofa
Ivie Okujaye – On Your Own
Sola Sobowale – Anikulapo
Teniola Aladese – Love in a Pandemic
Toni Tones – Brotherhood ( winner )
Man of God was an incredible movie with super-talented actors and actresses. This was a movie that very much stood out. Dorcas’ performance in this movie was incredible. A natural who killed her role effortlessly. She deserves the win, and we are hoping to see her much more on our screens.
BEST DIRECTOR
Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Babatunde Apalowo – All The Colours of the World are between Black and White
Bolanle Austen – Peters Man of God
Dimeji Ajibola – Shanty Town
Jade Osiberu – The Trade
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
Loukman Ali – Brotherhood ( winner )
Mugisha Herbert Morris – Tembele
Obi Emelonye – Black Mail
Tolu Ajayi, Fiyin Gambo, Ifeoma Chukwuogo, James Omokwe – Diiche
The directing for Brotherhood was epic. This was a badass debut action thriller by Nollywood. Ali did a great job!
These are the top categories out of the many categories that were called out. Movies like Anikulapo, Brotherhood, and Shanty Town are headed on a slim lane. It will be a tough one, and fans are putting in their all to make sure their faves win in the public voting categories and other categories.
The AMVCAs 2023 ceremony took place on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
Below is the list of AMVCAs 2023 WINNERS:
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY- (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Bimbo Ademoye – Selina
BEST MAKEUP (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Maryam Ndukwe, Shanty Town
THE MULTICHOICE TALENT FACTORY FILM – Leaked
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE – SWAHILI – Philip Karanja Njenga – Click Click Bang
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE YORUBA (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE – HAUSA – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Abubakar Bashir Maishadda – Aisha
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE – IGBO – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Victor Iyke – Uhuruchi
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Abdisattar Ahmed – Gacal
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA -(MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Osas Ighodaro – Man of God
BEST PICTURE EDITOR – Holmes Awa and Daniel
BEST SOUND EDITOR – Anu Afolayan, Anikulapo
BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER – Mathew Yusuf, Brotherhood
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER (MOVIE/ TV SERIES) – Adeola Art Alade, The Real Housewives Of lagos
BEST ART DIRECTOR – Loukman Ali (Brotherhood)
BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES – Ricordi
BEST ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES – Njoro Wa Uba
BEST UNSCRIPTED ORIGINAL – King Bugar
BEST ORIGINAL TELENOVELA – Mpali
BEST ONLINE SOCIAL CONTENT CREATOR – Elozonam , Kie Kie – Back From The Future
BEST SHORT FILM – Adeoye Adetunji – Pa Aromire
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Efe Irele – Four Four Forty Four
BEST DIRECTOR – Loukman Ali – Brotherhoods
BEST WRITER (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Shola Dada
BEST SOUND TRACK (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Kent Edunjobi – Anikulapo
BEST DOCUMENTARY – Nora Awolowo, The Debut
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – Crime & Justice
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER – (MOVIE/TV SERIES) – Loukman Ali, Brotherhood
BEST MOVIE EAST AFRICA – Philip Karanja Njenga
BEST MOVIE WEST AFRICA – Jade Osiberu
BEST MOVIE SOUTHERN AFRICA – Elvis Chucks – Jewel
2023 INDUSTRY MERIT AWARD – Patience Ozokwo
TRAILBLAZER AWARDS – Angel Unigwe
BEST OVERALL MOVIE – AFRICA – Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
