Funke Akindele has been named by the jury of the 2009 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), as Africa’s best actress in a leading role.
Akindele was the jury’s choice out of six other actresses nominated in that category, including a Ghanaian and Kenyan. Although the actress was not present at the award ceremony, held at the Integrated Glory Land Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, a resounding applause greeted her declaration as the continent’s best actress for this year.
But it was Kenya’s day at the awards, which was witnessed by Governor Timipre Silva and members of his cabinet. The Kenyan filmmakers made it up the dais five times to receive the highest number of awards of the evening.
From a Whisper, the movie by Kenyan Director and Scriptwriter, Wanuri Kahiu, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the infamous August 7, 1998 terrorist bombing in Kenya in which over 250 people died and 5,000 were injured was adjudged the best African film for 2009.
The movie, which examines the aftermath of the bombing on the lives of the indirect victims of the blast, also got the award for the best screenplay, best director, best editing and best original soundtrack.
The award night also featured stand-up comic acts and musical performances. Filmmakers from South Africa, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Niger Republic also got rewarded for their artistry in the make-belief world of the movies.
South Africa’s Gugu and Andile got the awards for best promising actress and actor category as well as the best film in African Language.
Uganda received the award for the best film with visual effect with its only entry Battle of the Soul, while Burkina Faso got garlanded for the best animated film with Justin Zerbo’s Kono.
- nigeriafilms.com
I wanna see "From A Whisper", that sounds really good. Such a wide range of movie styles in this show. I wish this show was televised somewhere so we could see it. I know the "Jenifa" movies but some of these titles are new to me.
Hey what ever happened to the Black movie awards here in the US?
Oh snap the one that ran on TNT? I forgot about that. Maybe it just a one time thing?
Hey, C! Good to see you here! I don't know if it was a 1 time thing or no because after that time you never heard anything else about it!
You know you weren't gonna be able to hide a movie site from ME, man! Looks like I'm about to get my African movie fix here! Looks like there were two Black Movie Awards shows then it was a wrap. http://www.blackmovieawards.com/
I was just gonna post that link. I like the idea of this African movie awards though because it covers more genres of film. We've talked about this before, but I think it's really time for Black film to be more than a kind of comedy. Maybe there should be a Pan African movie awards?
I love that idea!
oooooh! That's a good one. Nobody's doing that yet?
There's a Pan African Film FESTIVAL, not sure if that's the same as what Marcy's suggesting.
Dang. There's one already?
For at least 5 years, as I can see.
yeah but there are multiple award shows in all areas….there could be another Pan African.