CJ Obasi’s ‘Mami Wata’ takes the lead with an impressive 12 nominations. The anticipation for the 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is building as the nomination list has been officially unveiled.

Among the standout submissions, CJ Obasi’s ‘Mami Wata’ takes the lead with an impressive 12 nominations. These nominations span various categories, including Best Film in an African Language, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.

This honour highlights the remarkable influence that CJ “Fiery” Obasi’s “Mami Wata” has had on the African film industry. The movie has gained praise from critics and now stands as evidence of the director’s skill and commitment to the medium. It is a fantastic accomplishment for CJ Obasi and the entire team behind “Mami Wata”.

Coming in closely behind ‘Mami Wata’ is Kunle Afolayan’s Netflix Original, ‘Anikulapo‘, with nine nominations.

Additionally, Izu Ojukwu’s period drama, ‘4:4:44’, secured eight nominations. These films, alongside ‘Mami Wata,’ promise to be strong contenders at the prestigious AMAA awards ceremony.

The 19th edition of the AMAA, themed “The Renaissance,” is poised to redefine continental honours, setting the foundation for future plans and the grand 20th edition. The awards ceremony is slated to take place on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at The Balmoral event centre, situated within Sheraton Hotels in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

Below is the comprehensive list of nominations for the 2023 AMAA:

Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film

• Lions – Ethiopia
• Riel – Namibia
• Enmity Djin – Mauritania

Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation

• Lost – Uganda
• Azania Rises – South Africa
• Jabari – Ghana
• Bashorun Gaa – Nigeria

Best Documentary

• Africa Cradle of Humanity and Modern Civilization – Senegal/Canada
• Nightlife in Lasgidi – Nigeria
• Maayo Wonaa Keerol – The River Is Not a Border – Senegal
• Ifine (Beauty) – Sierra Leone
• Le Spectre de Boko Haram – Cameroon

Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language

• Pusha Pressa Phanda – South Africa
• Anikulapo – Nigeria
• The Kitera Chronicle – Uganda
• Four Walls – South Africa
• Mami Wata – Nigeria

Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-born Director Living Abroad

• Talia’s Journey – Christophe Rolin (Senegal/Belgium)
• Golden Stripes – Peace Osigbe (Nigeria/UK)
• KOFA – Jude Idada (Nigeria/Canada)

Best Diaspora Short Film

• We Were Meant To – (United States) – directed by Tari Wariebi
• The Ballad of Olive Morris – (United Kingdom) – directed by Alex Kayode-Kay
• FiWy-Four Days – (United Kingdom) – directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrance
• Raw Materials – (Jamaica) – directed by Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly

Best Diaspora Documentary

• Sound of the Police – (United States) – directed by Stanley Nelson
• FantasHco Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet – (United States) – directed by Yvan Iturriaga and Francisco Nuñez
• Black Rio – (Brazil) directed by Fernando Sousa and Gabriel Barbosa

Best Diaspora Narrative Feature

• Chee$e – (Trinidad & Tobago) directed by Damian Marcano
• Our Father, The Devil – (United States) directed by Ellie Foumbi
• The Pastor and the Revolutionary – (Brazil) directed by José Eduardo Belmonte

Best Achievement in Production Design

• Pat Nebo – Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Eve Martin – Omen – DRC
• Sira – Burkina Faso
• Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl – Rwanda
• Chantel Carter – Gereza – South Africa

Best Achievement in Costume Design

• Bunmi Demilola Fashina – Mami Wata – Nigeria
• Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji – Anikulapo – Nigeria
• Millicent Jack – 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four) – Nigeria
• Djibril Drame – Xalé – Senegal
• Elkehoste and Baloji Omen – DRC
• Sidi Ouedraogo Sira – Burkina Faso

Best Achievement in Make-Up

• Campell Precious Arebamen – Mami Wata – Nigeria
• ‘Hakeem Effect and Toyin Bifarin Ogundeji’ for ‘Anikulapo’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Lila Vander Elst’ for ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Our Lady of the Chinese Shop’ (Angola)
• ‘Omowunmi Okungbure’ for ‘Gangs of Lagos’ (Nigeria).

Best Achievement in Soundtrack

• ‘Fight Like a Girl (Rwanda)
• ‘L’Axe Lourd (The Highway)’ (Cameroon)
• ‘Gereza’ (South Africa)
• ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Obinna Arua’ for ‘4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)’ (Nigeria).

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

• ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Mami Wata’ (Nigeria)
• ‘The Trade’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Emmanuel Bassey’ for ‘Gangs of Lagos’ (Nigeria).

Best Achievement in Sound

• ‘Juliana Oswald’ for ‘Our Lady of the Chinese Shop’ (Angola)
• ‘Vianney Aube Sira’ (Burkina Faso)
• ‘Erik Griekspoor’ for ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Samy Bardet’ for ‘Mami Wata’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Michel Tsagli’ for ‘Xalé’ (Senegal).

Best Achievement in Cinematography

• ‘Lilis Soares’ for ‘Mami Wata’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Joachim Philippe’ for ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Richard Henkels’ for ‘Fight Like a Girl’ (Rwanda)
• ‘Thomas Wilski’ for ‘Talia’s Journey’ (Senegal/Belgium)
• ‘Eduardo Kropotkine’ for ‘Our Lady of the Chinese Shop’ (Angola).

Best Achievement in Editing

• ‘Nathan Delannoy’ for ‘Mami Wata’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Bertrand Conard’ for ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Sylvie Gadner’ for ‘Sira’ (Burkina Faso)
• ‘Layla Swart’ for ‘Gereza
• ‘Madhew Leutwyler’ for ‘Fight Like a Girl.’

Best Achievement in Screenplay

• ‘C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi’ for ‘Mami Wata’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Ufuoma MeHHri’ for ‘4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Moussa Sene Absa,’ ‘Pierre Magny,’ ‘Ben Diogay Beye’ for ‘Xalé’ (Senegal)
• ‘Madhew Leutwyler’ for ‘Fight Like a Girl’ (Rwanda).

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

• Mami
• Anikulapo
• 4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)
• Gangs of Lagos
• The Trade
• L.I.F.E.
• Brotherhood

Best Young/Promising Actor

• ‘Maleek Sanni’ for ‘Gangs of Lagos’
• ‘Ewube’ for ‘L’axe Lourd (The Highway)’
• ‘Darisimi Nadi’ for ‘Obara’m’
• ‘Sanou Titiama’ for ‘Le chant des fesits (The Song of the Rifle)’
• ‘Eyiyemi Afolayan’ for ‘Anikulapo’

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

• ‘Francis Onwuchei’ for ‘The Trade’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Jeff Jackson’ for ‘Four Walls’ (South Africa)
• ‘Hakeem Kae-Kazim’ for ‘Fight Like a Girl’ (Rwanda)
• ‘Jimmy-Jean Louis’ for ‘Rise’ (United States).

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

• ‘Uzoamaka Aniunoh’ for ‘Mami Wata’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Rokhaya Niang’ for ‘Xalé’ (Senegal)
• ‘Clarck Natmbwe’ for ‘Fight Like a Girl’ (Rwanda)
• ‘Peter Mensah’ for ‘Rise’ (United States).

Best Actor in a Leading Role

• ‘Richard Mofe Damijo’ for ‘4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Marc Zunga’ for ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Fernando Kamugisha’ for ‘The Fallen Advocate’ (Uganda)
• ‘Tobi Bakre’ for ‘Brotherhood’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Justine Murichii’ for ‘Shimoni’ (Kenya)
• ‘Mike Danon’ for ‘Sira’ (Burkina Faso).

Best Actress in a Leading Role

• ‘Lucie Debay’ for ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Ehle Mbali Mlotshwa’ for ‘4 Walls’ (South Africa)
• ‘Nafissatou Sisse’ for ‘Sira’ (Burkina Faso)
• ‘Adesua Etomi’ for ‘Gangs of Lagos’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Nse Ikpe Etim’ for ‘4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Bimbo Ademoye’ for ‘Anikulapo’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Ama Qamata’ for ‘Fight Like a Girl’ (Rwanda).

First Debut Feature by a Director

• ‘Baloji’ for ‘Omen’ (DRC)
• ‘Ery Claver’ for ‘Our Lady of the Chinese Shop’ (Angola)
• ‘Jean Elliot Ilboudo’ for ‘le Chant des fusils (The Song of the Riffle)’ (Cameroon).

Best Director

• ‘Moussa Sene Absa’ for ‘Xalé’
• ‘C. J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi’ for ‘Mami Wata’
• ‘Baloji’ for ‘Omen’
• ‘Apolline Traore’ for ‘Sira’
• ‘Izu Ojukwu’ for ‘4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)’
• ‘Kunle Afolayan’ for ‘Anikulapo’
• ‘Kgosana Monchusi’, ‘Menzi Mzimela’ and ‘Juvaiś Dunn’ for ‘4 Walls’.

Best Film

• ‘Xalé’ (Senegal)
• ‘Mami Wata’ (Nigeria)
• ‘4-4-44 (Four Four Forty-Four)’ (Nigeria)
• ‘Omen’ (DRC), ‘4 Walls’ (South Africa)
• ‘Sira’ (Burkina Faso)
• ‘Anikulapo’ (Nigeria).

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