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)