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)
Entertainment
Why Nigerians Think I’m Wicked — Patience Ozokwor Finally Reveals the Truth
Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor has opened up about the public perception that she is wicked in real life, explaining that the belief stems from the villainous roles she has played throughout her successful acting career.
Popularly known as “Mama G,” the 67-year-old actress said many Nigerians often struggle to separate her on-screen characters from her real personality.
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Speaking during a recent video chat, Ozokwor stressed that the tough and controversial roles she portrays are meant to expose societal problems rather than define who she is as a person.
According to the veteran actress, she deliberately takes on challenging roles that reflect real-life issues, including family conflicts, oppression, and other social vices that many people prefer to ignore.
“I feel bold to expose the ills in society. Those things happen and nobody wants to expose them. I am exposing them,” she said.
Ozokwor noted that while she is often cast as a strict mother, troublesome mother-in-law, or other antagonistic characters, those roles are simply part of her profession as an actress.
The Nollywood icon emphasized that she is nothing like many of the characters she portrays on screen and urged fans to understand the difference between acting and reality.
“I am not like that, but I expose it. I am extremely proud of myself and Mama G lovers are proud of me,” she added.
The actress further explained that storytelling plays an important role in addressing societal issues and encouraging positive change.
She expressed satisfaction that many of her fans appreciate the deeper messages behind her performances rather than judging her based solely on the characters she plays.
Over the years, Patience Ozokwor has built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s most respected actresses, earning praise for her powerful performances and ability to bring complex characters to life.
Entertainment
Grammy-Winning Singer Talay Riley Stabbed to Death in London
Grammy-winning Nigerian-British singer and songwriter Talay Riley has died after being stabbed in East London, a tragic incident that has prompted a murder investigation by British police.
Talay, whose real name was Mark Yinka Orabiyi, was reportedly attacked around 9 a.m. on Friday on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown, East London. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene but were unable to save the 35-year-old musician.
Homicide detectives from the Specialist Crime Command have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
READ MORE: Talay Riley
Confirming the heartbreaking news, Talay’s family released a statement expressing their grief and paying tribute to the late artiste.
“It is with overwhelming sadness that we confirm that Mark ‘Yinka’ Orabiyi professionally known as Talay Riley passed away yesterday morning,” the family said.
They described him as a Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum-selling songwriter and artist whose humour, generosity and presence touched countless lives.
“We are deeply grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support that we have received through messages, calls and visits over the past hours,” the statement added.
Talay, the brother of renowned music producer Scribz Riley, built a successful career spanning more than a decade in the R&B music industry.
He secured a publishing deal with Global Publishing at the age of 18 before later signing with Jive/Sony Records after featuring on rapper Chipmunk’s 2009 single.
Reacting to the tragic loss, Scribz Riley shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, describing his late brother as a mentor, inspiration and a light to many.
“My heart is shattered! This doesn’t feel real. It feels like a bad dream. Just before he went to sleep we spoke about the future, staying positive and about everything we still had left to do. I never imagined that would be our last conversation,” he wrote.
He continued: “Yinka wasn’t just my brother. He was my mother’s son, a friend to many, a mentor, an inspiration, and a light in so many people’s lives. He had one of the purest hearts I’ve ever known. He loved deeply, gave freely, and touched countless people through his talent, kindness, and spirit.
“The outpouring of love already shows how many lives he impacted. You inspired so many people and your legacy will continue to live on through your music, your family, your friends, and everyone blessed enough to have known you.”
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the music industry, with notable artistes including Stormzy and Craig David among those mourning the late singer.
Police investigations into the fatal stabbing remain ongoing.
Entertainment
Singer Niniola Announces Death of Husband
Nigerian afro-house singer Niniola has announced the death of her husband, Michael Ndika, in a series of emotional posts shared on her Instagram story in the early hours of Wednesday.
The Grammy-nominated artiste disclosed the heartbreaking news with short but emotional messages accompanied by photos of herself and her husband.
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“God took him,” she wrote in one of the posts.
In another post, the singer added, “My husband died,” before sharing a third message that read, “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years.”
Until his death, Michael Ndika was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform known for promoting afro-house and contemporary African music.
Details surrounding the cause of his death were not immediately made public, as the singer has largely kept her private life away from social media and public attention over the years.
Niniola, 39, rose to fame after emerging as one of the top contestants on Project Fame West Africa in 2013. Since then, she has built a successful music career and gained international recognition for her afro-house sound.
Her hit single “Maradona,” released in 2017, earned global acclaim and attracted recognition from international stars including DJ Snake, Drake, Timbaland, and Beyoncé.
Fans, colleagues, and well-wishers have since taken to social media to sympathise with the singer over the tragic loss.





