Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actor to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood. Her directorial debut movie, Lionheart, is the first Netflix film from Nigeria and the first Nigerian submission for the Oscars. The movie was disqualified for having most of its dialogue in English. After having spent decades in the movie industry, she was profiled alongside some celebrities and business executives in 2020 in two new books by publisher and Editor in Chief of Yes International! magazine, Azuh Arinze.
Anayo Modestus Onyekwere popularly known as Kanayo O. Kanayo is a Nigerian actor and lawyer. In 2006, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the movie Family Battle.
Mike Ezuruonye, is a Nigerian actor.
Stephanie Okereke Linus is a Nigerian actress, film director and model. She has received several awards and nominations for her work as an actress, including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress, the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and three nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She was also the runner up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant of 2002. In 2011, she was honoured by the Nigerian government with a national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR.
The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run through the Africa Film Academy. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture. The award presentation is attended by numerous media representatives, celebrities, politicians, journalists, actresses and actors from all across the world. The AMA Awards is widely considered to be Africa's most important film event and the most prestigious film award in Africa.
The 5th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on April 4, 2009, at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, to honor the best African films of 2008. It was broadcast live on Nigerian national television. Africa Movie Academy Award winner Kate Henshaw-Nuttal and Nigerian stand-up comedian Julius Agwu hosted the ceremony. Numerous celebrities graced the event, including Timipre Sylva and Nollywood actresses and actors. Special guests were Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker and Hollywood actor Danny Glover.
The 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on 26 April 2008 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, to honor the best African films of 2007. The ceremony was broadcast live on Nigerian national television. Special guest of honor at the event was Hollywood actress Angela Bassett.
The 3rd Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on March 10, 2007 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, to honor the best African films of 2006. The ceremony was broadcast live on Nigerian national television. Numerous African & international celebrities and top Nigerian politicians attended the event, including Nigerian musician Tuface Idibia and Ghanaian hiplife band VIP. Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo and South African actress Thami Ngubeni hosted the ceremony. Special guests of honor were Academy Award winners Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Mo'Nique. Nollywood's favourite acting duo Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 1st Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 30, 2005 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, to honor the best African films of 2004. The ceremony was broadcast live on Nigerian national television. Nollywood actress Stella Damasus-Aboderin and Nollywood actor Segun Arinze hosted the ceremony.
The 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on 10 April 2010 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, to honor the best African films of 2009. The nominees were announced on 6 March 2010 at the Mensvic Grand Hotel in Accra, Ghana at an event that was attended by delegates from Nigeria, top government officials from Ghana and African celebrities. Hollywood stars, Glynn Turman and CCH Pounder were the special guests from Hollywood. Approximately 280 films from 32 African countries were nominated for the awards.
Jenifa is a 2008 Nigerian comedy-drama film starring Funke Akindele. The film received four nominations at the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards which includes Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Original Soundtrack and Best Nigerian Film. Akindele won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in this film.
Joke SilvaMFR is a Nigerian actress, director, and businesswoman.
Viva Riva! is a 2010 Congolese crime thriller film written and directed by Djo Tunda Wa Munga. Starring Patsha Bay, Manie Malone, Fabrice Kwizera, Hoji Fortuna, Marlene Longage, Alex Herabo & Diplôme Amekindra, the film received 12 nominations and won 6 awards at the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
The 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on 22 April 2012 at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria to honor the best African films of 2011. The nominees were announced on 17 March 2012 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Banjul, Gambia at an event that was attended by celebrities and top government officials from Gambia and other African countries.
Last Flight to Abuja is a 2012 Nigerian disaster thriller film written by Tunde Babalola, directed and produced by Obi Emelonye, and starring Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Hakeem Kae-Kazim and Jim Iyke. Shot in Lagos, the film received 5 nominations at the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards, winning the category "Best film by an African based abroad". On 15 June 2020, 'Last Flight To Abuja' began streaming on Netflix eight years after it first premiered in London.
The 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony honouring movies of 2012 was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 20 April 2013. The event was hosted by actress and former AMAA winner Ama K. Abebrese and Ayo Makun with many celebrities in attendance. The awards' nomination party was held in Lilongwe, Malawi; it was hosted by Her Excellency, President Joyce Banda. A total of 671 films were submitted for consideration across Africa, America, Canada, France, Germany, Guadalupe, Italy, Jamaica, and the United Kingdom. Confusion Na Wa won the best picture award. The late Justus Esiri was awarded the Best Actor in a leading role posthumously.
The 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony honouring movies of 2013 was scheduled to take place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 26 April 2014, but was shifted to 24 May 2014. The nomination party was held at Emperor Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa on 2 April 2014.
The 2020 Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on Sunday 20 December 2020 online at the AMAA website due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The award night was hosted by Lorenzo Menakaya. After the film entries were submitted, the date for the announcement of nominees was shifted from 20 November to 30 November. Knuckle City led with 10 nominations followed by Desrances with 10 nominations. The Milkmaid won the most awards including Best film in an African language, Best film and Best Nigerian film.
The 2021 African Movie Academy Award ceremony was held on Sunday 28 November 2021 at the Marriott Hotel in Lagos Nigeria.
