On Sunday, March 24th, 2024, Africa Magic unveiled the nominees for the highly anticipated 10th annual Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
This year’s ceremony marks a significant shift, with the awards for Best Movie, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress being decided by a specialised jury instead of public voting. This change follows criticism of the previous voting method. This move opens the door for films like “Mami Wata” and “Over the Bridge” to have a strong shot at winning Best Movie.
The announcement of the nominees was met with a mix of reactions, including surprise picks, films and performances that were unexpectedly overlooked, and some moments that could be interpreted as subtle digs. Notably, some of the snubs might be due to the films or performances not being submitted for jury consideration.
Regardless, let’s delve into the most notable snubs, surprises, and “shades” that emerged from the 2024 AMVCA nominations.
Surprise: “Over the Bridge” with the highest number of nominations
One of the biggest surprises of the night was “Over the Bridge” leading the pack with a whopping 12 nominations. This film, directed by Tolu Ajayi and starring Ozzy Agu, Deyemi Okanlawon, and Joke Silva, hasn’t even premiered in Nigerian cinemas yet.
While it was screened in the UK last October, its lack of domestic release made its dominance in the nominations all the more unexpected.
Snub: Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story is not Best Movie
Many were surprised to see “Áfàméfùnà” missing from the Best Movie category. The film was one of the biggest releases of last year, pulling in a staggering ₦60 million at the Nigerian box office.
This snub is especially puzzling considering the movie did receive nominations in other important categories, including Best Supporting Actor for Alexx Ekubo, Best Lead Actor for Stan Nze, Best Writing (Movie) for Anyanwu Sandra Adaora, and Best Director for Kayode Kasum.
“Áfàméfùnà” clearly impressed the jury in some aspects, but it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the most prestigious category.
Snub: Chimezie Imo (Breath of Life) is not Best Actor
Another surprising omission from the nominations was Chimezie Imo for his role in “Breath of Life.” The film itself secured ten nominations, including nods for several other leading cast members: Genoveva Umeh, Wale Ojo, and Demola Adedoyin.
Wale Ojo even managed to snag a nomination for Best Lead Actor, which came as a shock to many since Imo arguably played an equally central role in the movie.
Demola Adedoyin rounded out the nominations for “Breath of Life” with a spot in the Best Supporting Actor category. It appears Chimezie Imo’s performance simply didn’t resonate with the jury this time around.
Shade: Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story is not Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
The omission of “Áfàméfùnà” from the Best Movie category was already a surprise, but its complete absence from the Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) category left many scratching their heads.
This wasn’t just an unexpected snub; it felt like a deliberate oversight for a film that had been critically acclaimed and arguably surpassed some of the nominees in that specific category.
Shade: Ozzy Agu (Over the Bridge) is not Best Lead Actor
“Over the Bridge” dominated the AMVCA nominations with a surprising 12 nods, including nearly all the acting categories. The one glaring omission? Best lead actor.
This absence has sparked debate, as many believe the jury wasn’t sold on Ozzy Agu’s performance in the film. Agu’s fans have a history of criticising the Nigerian media for overlooking him, particularly when it comes to “best dressed” lists and “heartthrob” accolades.
It seems this perception of being snubbed extends to the AMVCA as well, and fans believe the industry still hasn’t recognised Agu’s talent.
