WITH every passing year, the expedition of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), a reward scheme which began nine years ago, appears to be breaking into new frontiers. This makes AMAA the most pragmatic effort that not only seeks to unite African cultures through motion picture, but also provides political nuances that has endeared governments of different African countries to Nigeria.
After stabilizing in Nigeria, its country of origin, where for several years, Bayelsa State cashed in on the scheme both for tourism and a dispel tool for its rumoured youth restiveness, pre-event activities have been spread to other African countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Gambia and most recently, Malawi. In these countries, the reality of Nollywood has been felt by fans of the Nigerian stars, who have modeled their filmic aspirations after Nigeria’s deep-rooted culture. Experts have said that the import of this exercise has helped Africa out of the claws of neo colonialism, through the subtle acquaintance of the youths to Hollywood movies. This school of thought is of the opinion that what Hindi film industry is to Asia, is what the Nigerian motion picture industry is to Africa.
The effort of Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, founder and CEO of AMAA of creating a platform for friendly competition among African countries is apt, because only competition drives expertise. This expertise, they say, is what could launch African cinema into a world film class like the Oscars.
To launch Africa into the Oscars, where a film festival like the biennial Pan African Film Festival (FESPACO) has failed owing to its politics of conservationism, and subtle alienation of the Anglophone countries, is where AMAA comes handy. Through AMAA’s continental relations, Culture Ministers of some of the African countries, including Ghana, Gambia, Cameroun and Malawi are already putting their Presidents on the spot, having recognized the social and economic viability of the motion picture business.
Penultimate Saturday, testimonies abound as foremost stars and filmmakers from the Nigerian film sector stormed Lilongwe, capital city of Malawi for the annual nomination gala of AMAA. The event, which further light up Lilongwe with the presence of Nigerian sensational singers and energetic twin choreographers, P-Square had the country’s female president, Joyce Banda and members of her cabinet in attendance.
There was no gainsaying that Nigeria is a strong model for the country, and AMAA is indeed a bridge builder. Indeed, AMAA has opened another relationship with Malawi, in which more than 200 youths of that country participated in an AMAA training tagged Film-In- a Box. An excited Banda said the experience marked a major milestone in the development of Malawi’s creative art industry.
“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,” she said, “Our country has a pool of raw talent in filmmaking that remains untapped and undeveloped. My government has identified the creative art industry as one of the areas that it wants to develop in order to create employment for our youth… Development of the creative art industry is one of the major components of the Youth Job Creation Initiative. We have learnt from Hollywood and Nollywood the potential that the film industry has in creating employment particularly for the youth. I am told Nollywood in Nigeria is the second highest employer after Government. What makes this industry even more important and strategic is the simple fact that it creates employment for the youth who constitute the bulk of the world’s including our own population.”
It would be recalled that Nigeria was one of the countries she visited immediately she became president. AMAA is thereby furthering her aspiration in terms of getting support to drive Malawi’s development agenda.
She had told journalists, the morning after the AMAA nomination party, in an exclusive interview, of how her government is focusing on expertise from Nigeria. She disclosed that her government is also relying on Nigeria as they launch a cassava programme to increase production, processing and export. “I have had these meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan and I asked him, ‘will it be possible for us to engage his ministry of agriculture’, which he graciously accepted. So we have started those negotiations. Then he came here and launched the cassava project. We have distributed a lot of cassava sticks and we are looking at how we can process the cassava. We are looking at how we can get a market. But I believe that those countries that have done well on this continent can help us by transferring technology and knowledge. I even brought here baskets of Nigerian bread made with 20 percent cassava flour.
Malawians couldn’t believe because we just didn’t know, because here cassava grows very easily indeed so we are hoping that that is where we can benefit. But also, I have had discussions with President Jonathan in Addis Ababa that we intend to grow two crops a year and he must help us by buying our rice because we know that Nigeria is working towards being self-sufficient in the production of rice but right now also imports. ‘is it possible for Nigeria to import rice from here?’ that is when he laughed and said, ‘one order will be your entire crop’,” said Banda. Such is the diplomatic trend between Nigeria and Malawi at different levels.
Pomp, as nominees were unveiled
-Young actor, OC Ukeje battles late Justus Esiri
THE best actor category in the next edition of Africa Movie Academy awards (AMAA) has late veteran actor, Justus Esiri contesting with fast-rising actor, OC Ukeje, veteran actor, Bimbo Manuel and four others in Africa. Esiri was nominated for his last film on earth, Assassin’s Practice, and Ukeje for Charles Novia’s latest work, Alan Posa, while Bimbo Manuel is picked for Niji Akanni’s film, Heroes and Zeroes.
In the Best Actress category, Nigeria’s Rita Dominic, through her film, The Meeting, will be battling Malawi’s Flora Suya for her lead role in The Last Fishing Boat. The movie is the first major film by a Malawian with foreign support. Other nominees in the female category include: Mariam Quedraogo (Moi Zaphira), Mbutung Seikeh (Ninah’s Dowry), Yvonne Okoro (The Contract) and Florence Mazebe (Elelwani)
As nominations into the 27 categories were announced, tension and excitement met in the air, as fans of actors and filmmakers showed unreserved dispositions. Host country, Malawi burst into excitement as the country’s entry; The Last Fishing Boat was announced in the Best Film and Best Director’s categories. Incidentally, Florence Suya, lead actress in the movie was in the hall. And for a moment, the ceremony stopped, as the young actress, hailed by her fans, was also ushered to the table of the president for a photograph session.
The event which took place at the Binju wa Mutharika International Conference Center, also had the husband of the President, Chief Justice Richard Benda (Rtd), otherwise referred to as the First Gentleman of Malawi and members of her Executive Council.
“The Nollywood stars that we see on Africa Magic channel have finally come to Malawi,” began president Banda who showed so much excitement at the event. She had expressed her enthusiasm for Nigerian films, stating how she had to stay awake late into the night to watch various Nollywood dramas.
Banda, while emphasising her passion for African unity, said there was need for the continent to rise to its challenges, and help one another in all spheres of developments.
Malawi’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Rachel Mazombwe, expressed gratitude to her president for accepting to host the AMAA nomination night, saying the gesture will encourage the country’s film industry which she noted is in its infancy. Mazombwe noted that Malawi is quite acquainted with Nigeria, having been familiar with Nigeria’s cultures through Nollywood movies. She thanked the president for her promise to help the Malawian film industry grow, saying that this will enable the country’s culture and tourism potentials to be exported through the medium of film.
The nomination night was a beehive of entertainment activities: from a poetry rendered by a young Malawian, Chigo Gondwe, to a sonorous rendition in Chichewa, their local language by an 11-man band known as the Kamuzu Barracks Gospel Singers, the mood of the evening picked with excitement.
Chief Executive of AMAA, Peace Anyiam Osigwe described the country as one which is not only blessed with beautiful lakes and landscapes that are suitable for movies, but also with talented youths with passion for creativity. The AMAA’s had, prior to the nomination event, trained about 200 aspiring filmmakers in Malawi.
She promised to establish a film academy in the country through the Africa Film Academy, the umbrella body for AMAA. Osigwe noted that it is pertinent for African countries to look beyond their physical borders and promote the African ideals through her unique stories, told through movies.
Chairman of AMAA College of Screeners, Mr. Shaibu Husseini noted that the academy received a total of 671 movies and that the competition had been very keen, because qualities of entries have improved.
Members of Jury: Asantewa Olatunji, Ayuko Babu, Berni Goldblast, Keith Shiri and Steve Ayorinde, all took their turns to announce the various films being nominated in the various categories of the awards.
On how far the screeners have gone with their work, Hussein explained that the College of Screeners started full camp on February 25th in Banjul, capital of The Gambia. He noted that the 15-member screening body has members from Nigeria, Ghana, South African, Senegal, Cameroun, Benin Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso and Togo.
Husseini noted: “Before the camping stage in Gambia, all the films had been pre-selected by members of the academy’s pre-selectors who are scattered all around Africa. At the pre-camp stage films are pruned down, as those that do not meet basic entry rules (like films that are more than two hours long, films that are inconclusive, language films or films in vernacular that are not subtitled and films that are generally of poor quality) were disqualified.
