AMAA 2023: “Mami Wata”, “Anikulapo”, Others Win

On Sunday, the 29th of October, 2023, the 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA 2023) was held at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. Hosted by Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau, and Richard Ato Turkson, the awards ceremony brought together filmmakers from different parts of Africa and the diaspora, in celebration of excellence in African cinema. This year’s edition was themed RENAISSANCE: LEGACY IN MOTION in honour of the founder, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe MFR, who passed away on the 9th of January, 2023.

Ahead of the awards ceremony, C. J. Obasi’s fantasy film Mami Wata led in 12 categories, but eventually went away with only 3 awards which were National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award for Best Nigerian Film, Best Achievement in Cinematography (Lilis Soares) and Best Achievement in Make-Up (Campell Precious Arebamen).

Kunle Afolayan’s film Anikulapo also won Ousmane Sembene Award For Best Film In An African Language, with Pat Nebo posthumously recognized for Best Achievement in Production Design on the same project.

Here is the full list of winners:

Efere Ozaka Award For Best Short Film

Lions (Ethiopia)

Jubril Malaifia Award For Best Animation

Jabari (Ghana)

Best Documentary

Le Spectre de Boko Haram (Cameroon)

Ousmane Sembene Award For Best Film In An African Language

Anikulapo (Nigeria)

Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award For Best Film By An African-Born Director Living Abroad

KOFA (Nigeria/Canada) – Jude Idada –Nigeria

Best Diaspora Short Film

Raw Materials (Jamaica) – Directed by Sosiessia Nixon

Best Diaspora Documentary

Sound of the Police (United States) – Directed by Stanley Nelson

Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

Our Father, The Devil (United States) – Directed by Ellie Foumbi

Best Achievement in Production Design

Pat Nebo – Anikulapo – Nigeria

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal

Best Achievement in Make-Up

Campell Precious Arebamen – Mami Wata – Nigeria

Best Achievement in Soundtrack

Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Emmanuel Bassey – Gangs of Lagos – Nigeria

Best Achievement in Sound

Vianney Aube – Sira – Burkina Faso

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Lilis Soares – Mami Wata – Nigeria

Best Achievement in Editing

Bertrand Conard – Omen – DRC

Best Achievement in Screenplay

Moussa Sene Absa, Pierre Magny, Ben Diogay Beye – Xalé – Senegal

National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVB) Award for Best Nigerian Film

Mami Wata

Best Young/Promising Actor

Maleek Sanni – Gangs of Lagos

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Jimmy-Jean Louis – Rise

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Rokhaya Niang – Xalé – Senegal

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Nigeria

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Nse Ikpe Etim – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria

First Debut Feature by a Director

Baloji – Omen – DRC

Best Director

Apolline Traore – Sira

Best Film

Xalé (Senegal)