AMAA 2024: Africa’s Oscars Turns 20 with Big Wins, Bold Moves, and Billion-Dollar Boost for Creatives

The African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Africa’s own Oscars, hit an iconic milestone this year, celebrating its 20th anniversary on November 2, 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria. Hosted by the legendary “Black Arrow”, Segun Arinze and the glamorous “Ghanaian Jollof” aka Joselyn Dumas, the night was filled with powerful moments, career-defining wins and a major billion-dollar announcement to support the African creative industry.

Big Wins Across 26 Categories

This year’s AMAA was stacked with talent, honouring the best in African cinema across 26 categories. Winners were presented with their envelopes by Raymond Aniyam Osigwe in a ceremony that spotlighted both well-known and emerging names. Each win added another layer to the AMAA legacy, which has helped launch numerous careers, including those of African stars like Kunle Afolayan, Florence Masebe, and Jean-Pierre Bekolo. These wins not only honor top talent but also elevate the entire continent’s reputation in global cinema.

Honoring Visionary Founder Anyiam Osigwe

A major theme of the night was honoring AMAA’s founder, the late Anyiam Osigwe, whose pioneering vision continues to inspire the event. A true trailblazer, Ayiam broke down countless barriers, empowering African creatives and making space for authentic African stories on a global scale. Her legacy and passion were celebrated with numerous tributes, saluting her impact and contributions to African cinema.Known for her resilience, creativity, and unrelenting commitment to showcasing African stories, she broke barriers that have allowed countless African filmmakers to flourish. Her vision for an inclusive and celebrated African cinema culture lives on, and her spirit was strongly felt during the awards, with many saluting her as a revolutionary in the industry.

Judges Look Ahead: What’s Next for AMAA

The AMAA judging panel, including respected names in film and media, shared insights into the event’s goals moving forward. The Head Jury, Dorothee Wenner called for a boost in representation across all 54 African countries and for the celebration of unique African narratives and aesthetics. The panel aims to amplify diverse voices and strengthen African storytelling on the international stage, adding a whole new layer of cultural richness to global cinema.

A Billion-Dollar Boost for Africa’s Creative Economy

In a groundbreaking announcement, Afreximbank pledged $2 billion to Africa’s creative sectors like film, music and more. The investment revealed two weeks earlier by the bank’s president in Algeria, promises to help African creatives compete on a global scale by bolstering industry infrastructure and capacity. This announcement marks a huge step for Africa’s creative economy, ensuring AMAA awardees and other creatives have the support they need to thrive internationally.

The Impact of AMAA on Careers

For nearly two decades, AMAA has been a launching pad for countless filmmakers, actors, and crew members across Africa. Previous winners, including Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, South African actress Florence Masebe, and Cameroonian director Jean-Pierre Bekolo, have all seen significant career advancements post-win. AMAA provides a global platform that elevates African talent, gaining international recognition for its awardees and connecting them to wider audiences and funding opportunities. The award’s impact on careers across the continent is a testament to its role as a powerful catalyst for growth within the African creative industry.

AMAA’s 2024 Winners and Highlights

This year’s AMAA saw 26 categories, each represented by sealed envelopes that were handed over to Raymond Anyam Osigwe, a memorable moment that underscored the significance of every nomination and win. The awards honoured talent across a variety of categories, with winners spanning multiple African nations, highlighting the diversity and richness of the continent’s cinematic achievements. The full list of nominees and winners represents a blend of established and emerging talent, demonstrating the event’s commitment to fostering both seasoned and new voices in African cinema.

Now, for the juicy part, here are 2024’s winners!

2024 NOMINEES & WINNERS PER CATEGORY

EFERE OZAKO AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM

The Last Shoemaker (Uganda)—WINNER:

Seben (Mali)

Dear Future Wife (South Africa)

Isolated (Nigeria)

Joia (Angola)

Strike A Blow And Die (Malawi)

Don’t Call Me Beautiful (Ghana)

Sins Of a Father (Zimbabwe/USA)

JUBRIL MALAFIA AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION

Heavy Crown (Libya)

Counter Punch (Kenya) — WINNER

Journey of the Legend (Cameroon)

Hadu (Nigeria)

Between Paya and Koulou (Senegal)

Oya (The goddess of gods) (Nigeria)

SetPieces (Sudan)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

A Quand L’Afrique (Congo Brazzaville)

The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder (Mozambique) — WINNER

The Return Train (Mali)

Gateway to Dreams (Cameroon)

Rainbow Nation (South Africa)

Dela- The Making of EL-Anatsui (Nigeria)

Donga (Libya)

Rising Up At Night (DRC)

BEST DIASPORA SHORT FILM

The Neighbourhood Alert (USA)—WINNER

Bottled Up (Jamaica)

The Golden Boy (USA)

BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY

The Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA)—WINNER

A Rising Tide (USA)

Colour (USA)

BEST DIASPORA NARRATIVE FEATURE

Outlaw Posse (USA)—WINNER:

Mickey Hardaway (USA)

Love After Holidays (USA)

MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD

Out Of Breath (Nigeria/UK)

Orah (Nigeria/Canada)

Isolated (Nigeria/UK)

Under the Hanging Tree (Namibia/UK)- WINNER

Kipkemboi (Nigeria/ Canada)

OUSMANE SEMBENE AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE

Makula (Uganda)

Jagun Jagun (Nigeria)

The Queenstown Kings (South AAfrica) -WINNER

Kaka (Nigeria)

Eskhalemi Sikantombella (South Africa)

Unheard (Uganda)

Out of Breath (Nigeria)

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

The Beads

The Weekend

White and Black

Jagun Jagun

The Queenstown Kings

Mai Martaba- WINNER

Out of Breath

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP

The Weekend

Nawi

Letters to Goddo

Out of Breath

Jagun Jagun — WINNER

Anjola

White and Black

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECT

Kipkemboi

Jagun Jagun- WINNER

Under The Hanging Tree

The Weekend

Bokwagter

Out of Breath

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK

The Weekend

Under the Hanging Tree

The Queenstown Kings

Orah

Mojisola

Red Carpet

Boda Love — WINNER

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

A Smile, A Wink and a Tear

The Weekend

Under the Hanging Tree

The Queenstown Kings- WINNER

Boda Love

Kipkemboi

Boda Love

ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN

Orah

The Queenstown Kings

The Weekend

Jagun Jagun

Kipkemboi

Makula

Out of Breath- WINNER

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Weekend- WINNER

Nawi

Kipkemboi

Letters to Goddo

This is Lagos

The Queenstown Kings

A Smile, A Wink and A Tear

ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING

Under The Hanging Tree- WINNER

The Weekend

This is Lagos

Nawi

Kipkemboi

The Beads

Anjola

ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY

Under The Hanging Tree

The Weekend- WINNER

Letter To Goddo

This is Lagos

Boda love

The Queenstown Kings

Out of Breath

NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM

The Weekend- WINNER

This is Lagos

Afamefuna

Jagun Jagun

Mai Martaba

A Smile, A wink and a tear

Out of Breath

BEST YOUNG/ PROMISING ACTOR

Michell Lemuya (Nawi)- WINNER

Likhona Mgali (The Queenstown Kings)

Agape mngomezulu (Orah)

William Dias (Bokwagter)

Kofi Adu-Gyamfi (Tejiri)

Ruby Akubueze (She)

Fatima Muhammed (Mai Martaba)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Sandile Mahlangu (The Queenstown Kings)

Ochungo Benson (Nawi)

Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey (The Weekend)

Ikechukwu Onunaku (This is Lagos)

Lucky Ejim (Orah)

Solomon Fixon Owoo (Letters to Goddo)

Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun)- WINNER

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Meg Otanwa (The Weekend)

Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (The Queenstown Kings)

Elsie Chidera Abang (Kipkemboi)- WINNNER

Tessa Twala (The Queenstown Kings)

Bukunmi Oluwashina (White and Black)

Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah (Orah)

Chioma Akpotha (Mojisola)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Zolixa Xaluva (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER

Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos)

Duncan Murunyu Mungai (Boda Love)

Nenesenor Abloso (Letters to Goddo)

Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)

Femi Jacobs (Anjola)

Chidi Mokeme (Out of Breath)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Girley Jazama (Under The Hanging Tree)

Oyin Oladejo (Orah)

Unati Faku (The Queenstown Kings)

Uzoamaka Aniunoh (The Weekend)

Laura Pepple (This is Lagos)

Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet)- WINNER

Efe Irele (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)

BEST DEBUT FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR

LETTERS TO GODDO (Harry Bentil)- WINNER

RISING UP AT NIGHT (Nelson Makengo)

SHE (Seun Richards)

BEST DIRECTOR

Daniel Emeka Oriahi (The Weekend)

Kenneth Gyang (This Is Lagos)

Jahmil X.T Qubeka (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER

Perivi Katjavivi (Under The Hanging Tree)

Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah)Harry Bentil ( Letters To Goddo)

Izu Ojukwu (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)

BEST FILM

Under The Hanging Tree

The Weekend- WINNER

This is LagosA Smile, A Wink and A Tear

Orah

Letters to Goddo

The Queenstown Kings

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Souleymane Cisse (Mali)

Nacer Khemir (Tunisia)

Haile Gerima (Ethiopia)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon)

Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)

A Night to Remember

The 2024 AMAA was a celebration of excellence, resilience, and progress, marking two decades of honoring and uplifting African cinema. With powerful performances, inspirational speeches, and exciting announcements, it underscored the continent’s boundless creative potential and the collective drive to elevate African cinema to new heights. Although the simultaneous scheduling with another prominent industry event was notable, a more coordinated approach in the future could better ensure focus and engagement. Additionally, enhancing the virtual experience with improved audio quality would further amplify the voices of African creatives, allowing their stories to resonate worldwide. As AMAA embarks on its next chapter, it continues to serve as a beacon for aspiring artists, a tribute to Ayiam Osigwe’s visionary legacy, and a celebration of Africa’s rich and diverse cinematic landscape.