Entertainment
Nollywood Films Shine At The 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards [Full List]
The 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) celebrated African cinema’s finest on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in a grand ceremony held at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos.
Marking its 20th anniversary, the prestigious event, hosted by Nollywood veteran Segun Arinze and Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas, awarded standout films and talent across the continent.
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The AMAA, founded in 2005, continues its mission to spotlight African film, honoring both veteran and emerging filmmakers.
Among the evening’s biggest winners were the Nollywood films Jagun Jagun and The Weekend, both securing multiple awards.
Daniel Oriahi’s The Weekend was a significant highlight, taking home the coveted Best Film award alongside honors for Achievement in Cinematography and Best Screenplay.
Starring industry heavyweights like Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, and Gloria Anozie, the film drew accolades for its powerful storytelling and compelling visuals.
Jagun Jagun, a gripping Yoruba action film directed by Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo, also made an impressive impact.
Here’s a full list of winners from the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA):
BEST FILM
The Weekend — WINNER
Under The Hanging Tree
This is Lagos
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
Orah
Letters to Goddo
The Queenstown Kings
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Weekend — WINNER
Nawi
Kipkemboi
Letters to Goddo
This is Lagos
The Queenstown Kings
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun) — WINNER
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)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
Jagun Jagun — WINNER
The Weekend
Nawi
Letters to Goddo
Out of Breath
Anjola
White and Black
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT
Jagun Jagun — WINNER
Kipkemboi
Under The Hanging Tree
The Weekend
Bokwagter
Out of Breath
ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY
The Weekend — WINNER
Under The Hanging Tree
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
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
Counter Punch (Kenya) – WINNER
Heavy Crown (Libya)
Journey of the Legend (Cameroon)
Hadu (Nigeria)
Between Paya and Koulou (Senegal)
Oya (The goddess of gods) (Nigeria)
Set Pieces (Sudan)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder (Mozambique) – WINNER
A Quand L’Afrique (Congo Brazzaville)
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
Under The Hanging Tree (Namibia/UK) – WINNER
Out Of Breath (Nigeria/UK)
Orah (Nigeria/Canada)
Isolated (Nigeria/UK)
Kipkemboi (Nigeria/Canada)
OUSMANE SEMBENE AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
The Queenstown Kings (South Africa) – WINNER
Makula (Uganda)
Jagun Jagun (Nigeria)
Kaka (Nigeria)
Eskhalemi Sikantombella (South Africa)
Unheard (Uganda)
Out of Breath (Nigeria)
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
Mai Martaba – WINNER
The Beads
The Weekend
White and Black
Jagun Jagun
The Queenstown Kings
Out of Breath
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK
Boda Love – WINNER
The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
The Queenstown Kings
Orah
Mojisola
Red Carpet
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
The Queenstown Kings — WINNER
A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
The Weekend
Under the Hanging Tree
Boda Love
Kipkemboi
ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN
Out of Breath — WINNER
Orah
The Queenstown Kings
The Weekend
Jagun Jagun
Kipkemboi
Makula
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
Under The Hanging Tree — WINNER
The Weekend
This is Lagos
Nawi
Kipkemboi
The Beads
Anjola
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 ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Elsie Chidera Abang (Kipkemboi) — WINNER
Meg Otanwa (The Weekend)
Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (The Queenstown Kings)
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)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet) — WINNER
Girley Jazama (Under The Hanging Tree)
Oyin Oladejo (Orah)
Unati Faku (The Queenstown Kings)
Uzoamaka Aniunoh (The Weekend)
Laura Pepple (This is Lagos)
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
Jahmil X.T Qubeka (The Queenstown Kings) — WINNER
Daniel Emeka Oriahi (The Weekend)
Kenneth Gyang (This Is Lagos)
Perivi Katjavivi (Under The Hanging Tree)
Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah)
Harry Bentil (Letters To Goddo)
Izu Ojukwu (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Souleymane Cisse (Mali)
Nacer Khemir (Tunisia)
Haile Gerima (Ethiopia)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon)
Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has publicly declared love and appreciation for her former husband, Olakunle Churchill, years after their highly publicised split.
The emotional moment occurred during their son King Andre’s 10th birthday celebration held in Abuja, where Dikeh offered heartfelt prayers and words of affirmation for Churchill in the presence of guests.
In a video from the event that has since gone viral on social media, the actress described Churchill as “an amazing father” and expressed gratitude for his role in their son’s life.
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“You are an amazing father, thank you so much,” she said. “Your businesses will flourish; whoever curses you shall be cursed. I love you with the love of God.”
Dikeh further prayed for Churchill’s family and children, asking for divine protection, success and progress in all their endeavours.
“I pray for your family. I pray for your business. I pray for all the children. They will progress. Failure will not meet them. Everything that they touch will be blessed,” she declared.
The development marks a significant shift in the relationship between the former couple, whose marriage ended in 2017 amid allegations and public disputes that dominated entertainment headlines for years.
Recently, Dikeh revealed that they had reconciled and “buried the hatchet,” signalling an end to their long-running feud and a renewed focus on peaceful co-parenting.
Churchill later married actress Rosy Meurer in 2021, and the couple have two children together. Despite past controversies, both families appear to have embraced maturity and mutual respect.
The birthday celebration and Dikeh’s public declaration have since sparked mixed reactions online, with many applauding the former couple for putting aside differences for the sake of their son.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has appointed Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, as Special Adviser on Public Engagement and Advocacy.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor.
According to the statement, the governor approved the appointment as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen communication between the government and the people of Edo State.
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“This is to inform the general public that Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of Mercy Johnson-Okojie as Special Adviser on Public Engagement and Advocacy,” the statement read.
Johnson-Okojie, a renowned actress, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, is widely regarded as one of Nollywood’s most celebrated figures, with nearly two decades in the industry and appearances in over 200 films.
Beyond her acting career, she is the founder of the Mercy Johnson Okojie Foundation, which focuses on women empowerment, child welfare, educational support, and healthcare outreach.
The Edo State Government expressed confidence that her influence, public appeal, and grassroots connection would help boost awareness of government programmes and encourage citizen participation in state policies.
Her husband, Odianosen Okojie, represents Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The appointment has sparked conversations across social media, with supporters describing it as a strategic move to bridge the gap between governance and the entertainment industry.
Preliminary autopsy results have ruled out food poisoning as the cause of death for two Nollywood production crew members found dead at a movie set in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, on February 7, 2026.
The victims, 36-year-old cinematographer Walter Odediran and his childhood friend Godstime Imeh, Lighting Director and Chief Officer of GeeTee Light, were discovered lifeless inside a Nissan car owned by Imeh, parked within the premises of Evercare Hospital, where a film was being shot.
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According to sources, the autopsy revealed that one of the victims had an empty stomach, while the other had only a small amount of food — “almost as if he hadn’t eaten anything,” a source said.
Walter Odediran’s elder brother, Kola Odediran, confirmed that the family had received the preliminary autopsy report. He said: “The autopsy itself is complete, and no food was found in my late brother.
“The results indicate he did not eat anything. But they are going to carry out toxicology and histology tests, which will provide the definitive answers we are looking for.”
To determine the exact cause of death, experts will conduct additional tests on blood and tissue samples to find out whether the victims ingested or inhaled any harmful substances before their deaths.
These results are expected in two to three weeks.
Relatives of the deceased, as well as colleagues in the Nollywood industry, are awaiting the findings with bated breath, hoping the upcoming tests will shed light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
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