The third edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards was a night of glitz and glamour and a gathering of talents. But the organisers of the awards broke their own rule by taking the selection away from the audience, report Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha.
As the last relatively unadulterated frontier of the world, the African continent, arguably, has the most intriguing and magnetic pull. Her rich and diverse culture provides this compelling aura. Africa is like a big water melon fruit with thousands of seeds in it. These seeds represent the various stories of the continent which Africans use to celebrate her loaded tradition. These stories are told through various media, increasingly, however, music and film are popular and easily more accessible.
Last weekend, MultiChoice Nigeria, Amstel Malta and Africa Magic pooled thespians and stakeholders in the African film industry for the third edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, the event was a gathering of talent and glamour. Actors, directors, producers, journalists, and screen writers convened at the Convention Centre of the hotel to witness another night of excellence.
It was a night of dazzling performances. From A-list artistes’ musical performances to the surprise and refreshing sampling of the ‘shoki’ song by a few actors including Femi Jacobs, Gideon Okeke and O. C. Ukeje. The drama of this song was started on stage by co-compere of the show, Zimbabwean-born Vimbai Mutinhiri. Not many understood where she was heading when she started a talk about a song that helps the African woman pick up her dignity. Indeed, the ‘shoki’ motion involves bending down with an outstretched hand and coming back up as if picking something from the ground. Her sentiment was echoed by IK Osakioduwa who also anchored the show. But no one was prepared for what happened next as the sound of choreographed baritone boomed from the crowd. Ukeje, Jacobs and Gideon sang a few stanzas of ‘shoki’. Not being on stage where much attention was focused, having these actors sing from the audience was a brilliant move that produced the only resounding wow factor of a night that scored little magic.
Expectedly, there were winners and losers. But nothing could take away the fact that the AMVCA has become one of the must-see events in Africa, largely because MultiChoice deploys its various television channels on the DStv bouquet to give the event the biggest hype possible. The success of the awards is, as well, due to the mutually rewarding working relationship with Nigeria Breweries’ Amstel Malta.
Until the Africa Movies Award Academy (AMAA) set the trend and was followed by the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), an enchanting event like this was alien to Africa. We were lucky to read about the Oscars on the internet or stay glued to pirated movies on our VCD or Video Cassette player. On rare occasions, one of the terrestrial channels would screen a-not-too-recent movie.
Back then, the film industry was just scratching the surface of success. There were lots of setbacks including piracy, production and content.
Ironically, there were unique African stories told then. From South Africa came ‘Sarafina’. Nigeria had ‘Living in Bondage’. These were stories that reflected the African setting.
The African film industry has since assumed a new face. The fight against piracy was intensified and the industry sought ways to promote its work. There was an urgent need for Africa films to be celebrated and showcased to the world. New technologies were adapted and in-depth story lines were explored to give the script that true motion picture feel.
In latent progressive steps, the film industry evolved to a major contributor to the economies in Africa. Like music, it is one of the prominent contemporary export of the continent.
No doubt, the film industry in Africa has grown in leaps and bounds over the last decade. Although, it is yet to come to par with the western film industry in terms of production, these films in their own little way have changed the perception of the continent. They re-tell the African story in ways they know best. They make you cry, hiss, laugh and sometimes stare in awe at the beauty of the African continent.
However, there was little celebration of these talented individuals. It was one thing to make a movie, it was another to be recognised on a veritable platform for your works.
Thus, when Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award was birthed three years ago, it was received with great enthusiasm and excitement by Nollywood and the rest of Africa. Already there were other highly competitive platforms in place to reward excellence and the same time challenge the stakeholders to push the envelope. Notwithstanding, AMVCA was received with verve.
It was another platform to reward hard work and promote the individuals who put in so much to make these films across the continent. It was a welcome idea.
The principle was simple. The AMVCA sought to be different from AMAA and AFRIFF in one thing. A selected number of movies and television series across the continent (and the persons who make them) will be awarded based on the viewers’ choice. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated process as the name implies. What this means is that only movies and TV series shown on the DStv Africa Magic channels were qualified to participate in this award.
The organisers simply put the voting powers in the hands of the viewers. It was a straightforward process. The audience watch the films and decide who deserves to go home with the prestigious and coveted plaque.
The critical factor was that the movies had to be seen on DStv Africa Magic channels; not in the cinemas or anywhere else.
With an enviable presence in over 50 countries in Africa, the award posed a competitive one for the film industry. No doubt, the birth of the Africa Magic Channels ushered in an era of endless screening of local movies, thereby promoting African movies. While the question of whether DStv pays commensurate fees to producers for showing their movies remains controversial, it is arguable that the channels are the most watched across the continent.
The AMVCA categories cut across the different players in the industry-from the producers, writers, actors, directors, editors and costumiers. All these added to the gaiety of the award. For its debut edition, there were 25 categories. In 2014, four new categories were added: Best New Media-online Video, Trailblazer award, New Era Award and Best Documentary award. For 2015, the Igbos got a category for Best Indigenous language (Igbo).
As simple and rewarding as the AMVCA is to the film industry, one can’t help but wonder when it lost its compass. If one says an award is based on viewers’ choice of films shown on the platform, then how many of the newly produced films are aired on Africa Magic channels? Of its five dedicated African movies channels, the AMUrb and Showcase show recent movies, but not as recent as those nominated for the award. It is good to state that the Nigerian film industry, better known as, Nollywood is synonymous with Africa Magic, thus limiting the presence of other nations on the channels. The impression is taken that Nigeria is the only African country that makes films. Although the Nigerian film industry is huge and has the enviable record of producing the most number of films, AMAA and AFRIFF have consistently show that other African countries are capable of producing top-notch films that Nigerians can learn one or two things from.
With the exception of ‘The Meeting’, other winners at the 2015 AMVCA, ‘October 1’, ‘Dazzling Mirage’, ‘A Place in the Stars’, ‘30 Days in Atlanta’ are recent productions yet to be viewed on any Africa Magic channel.
How then did the organisers arrive at their nomination? If indeed it is a viewers’ choice award, how many of these movies have been screened on Africa Magic channels?
Already, there is a latent disregard for Nollywood movies in cinemas. The largest viewing is often seen on the premiere days and majority of the audience usually attend for the glamour than the movie itself.
Ironically, DStv boasts of channels that show some of the recent Hollywood blockbuster movies, particularly on its Movie Magic Premiere channel. Why can’t the same be extended to African films if indeed it is about promoting and entertaining Africans?
For the 2016 edition, the organisers must go back to the drawing board to come up with a plan that will reflect the core values of the award. A change of name of the award may be the right thing, if the organisers are not willing to return the power of choice to viewers.
It may not quite be the right thing to rehearse nominees speech (after all one of them will win), but it will save some winners from making a fool of themselves and the audience the agony of sitting through it. What was all that ranting by Blossom Chukwujekwu, Best Supporting Actor (Drama) for his performance in ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’? And Kehinde Balogun, Best Actress (Drama) in ‘October 1’, if you had no speech, what is wrong with the good old, ‘thank you very much’? Why must you come on stage to say you have no speech or that everything you crammed was erased from your mind? Everyone must have learnt from the eloquence of Yvonne Bassey, winner of Best Documentary and the confidence of Rita Dominic, Best Actress (Comedy) and Best Movie (Comedy). Even those who did not understand a word of what Obi Emelonye, Best Language Film (Igbo) said, applauded him for a dramatic delivery in his mother tongue. And this is where Fathia Balogun, Best Language Film-Yoruba (Iya Alalake) failed woefully. It was the wrong place and time to reveal your Urhobo identity. How do you think your Yoruba fans, friends and acquaintance would take it?
The third annual AMVCA ceremony presented 33 coveted gold statuettes in 30 categories, tabulated and verified by auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo and were telecast live to 50 African countries watching on DStv and GOtv on all Africa Magic channels.
The event saw outstanding achievements in African film and TV recognized with awards also presented to CJ Obasias the TrailBlazer of the Year while the late renowned filmmaker, Amaka Igwe, was honoured with the Industry Merit award. The winner of the trailblazer award walked away with a luxurious diamond studded watch, courtesy Chris Aire. The coveted New Era award was given to Ayo Makun for exceptional talent.
However, the night’s biggest winner was undoubtedly the Nigerian psychological thriller October 1 which scooped nine awards including Best Movie and Best Director for Kunle Afolayan and Best Actress (Drama) award for Kehinde Bankole.
Other notable winners included Nollywood romantic drama, The Meeting which nabbed five awards including Best Movie (Comedy) awards for Rita Dominic and Mildred Okwo, Best Actress (Comedy) for Rita Dominic and a Best Actor (Comedy) award for Femi Jacobs.
The winners of the closely contested categories included The Meeting for Best Movie (Comedy), A Place in the Stars for Best Movie (Drama), Femi Jacobs for Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series), a Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series) award for OC Ukeje in Confusion Na Wa while Rita Dominic walked away with the Best Actress in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series).Kehinde Bankole scooped the Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/TV Series) award while Blossom Chukwujekwu walked away with the Best Supporting Actor (Movie/TV Series) and Linda Ejioforwon the Best Supporting Actress (Movie/TV Series) award.
M-Net West Africa Regional Director Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu paid tribute to both the winners and the nominees saying; “Each year we have hosted this event, it has become more evident that Africa has truly carved its own mark and identity in the global film and TV industry. Tonight’s event recognized all the talented individuals who continue to grow this industry. We’re very honoured that we could reward them for their exceptional work. A special thank you to our partners MultiChoice Africa and Amstel for their continued support in making sure that African talent is well and truly recognised in style.”
MultiChoice Africa, CEO Nico Meyer added his congratulations to the winners and nominees of the 2015 AMVCA saying: “It’s been an honour for us at MultiChoice Africa to be part of this event that celebrates the best in African film and television. The amount of talent and exciting productions we’ve witnessed tonight keeps inspiring and motivating us to continue to deliver quality programming to our DStv and GOtv subscribers on the Africa Magic channels. MultiChoice will continue to INVEST in promoting local film and television while collaborating and supporting television and film producers to further build this vibrant and exciting industry.”
No comments:
Post a Comment