Africa Movie Academy Awards

Africa Movie Academy Awards
Africa Movie Academy Awards logo
Country	Nigeria
Presented by	Africa Film Academy
First award	2005;20 years ago (2005)
Website	www.ama-awards.com

The Africa Movie Academy Awards is an annual entertainment award ceremony presented to recognize excellence among African and non-African professionals, who have contributed to the African film industry. The award was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and run by the Africa Film Academy. It is regarded as one of Africa's most notable film events, ^{[1] [2] [3]} and have been sometimes referenced as the "African Oscars". ^{[4] [5]}

History

The first Africa Movie Academy Awards was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and Nigeria, on 30 May 2005. ^{[6] [7]} All other subsequent African Academy Awards before 2012 were held at the same venue, except for the 2008 AMAA Awards which was moved to Abuja, FCT for security reasons. ^[8] In 2012, the awards ceremony was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos in Lagos State. The 9th and 10th edition saw AMAA returning to Yenagoa, while the 2015 ceremony was held outside Nigeria for the first time.

They have been hosted in various Nigerian cities, usually in Lagos, ^[9] and once internationally in Kigali, Rwanda in the year 2018. The ceremonies have been held at different venues within these locations, including the Jewel Aeida Hall, Eko Hotels and Suites, Balmoral Center, and the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos. Over time, the AMAA has expanded its reach beyond Nigeria. Though detailed archival venue data is limited, ceremonies have drawn global attention through strategic host cities and online formats particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach reflects AMAA's evolving commitment to inclusion and accessibility across the continent and beyond.

Jury members

• Berni Goldblat 2007–present ^[10]
• John Akomfrah ^[11]
• Steve Ayorinde 2005–2015 ^[10]
• Keith Shiri ^[11]
• June Givanni ^[11]
• Hyginus Ekwuazi ^[12]
• Shaibu Husseini ^[10]
• Ayoku Babu ^{[11] [10]}
• Asantewa Olatunji ^[13]
• Dorothee Wenner 2005–present ^{[14] [10]}
• Charles Burnett 2014–present ^[15]
• Filippe Savadogo 2014–present ^[16]
• Amaka Igwe 2005 ^[17]

Categories

The AMAA statuette

Nigerian Director Obi Emelonye holding the 2021 Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African-Born Director Living Abroad

As of 2017, the Africa Movie Academy Awards had 28 merit categories. They include: ^[18]

• Best Short Film: since 2010
• Best Documentary: since 2006
• Best Diaspora Feature: since 2011
• Best Diaspora Documentary: since 2011
• Best Animation: since 2008
• Achievement in Production Design: since 2008
• Achievement in Costume Design: since 2005
• Achievement in Make-Up: since 2005
• Achievement in Soundtrack: since 2005
• Achievement in Visual Effects: since 2005
• Achievement in Sound: since 2005
• Achievement in Cinematography: since 2005
• Achievement in Editing: since 2005
• Best Film by an African Living Abroad: (2008; 2010–2013; 2015–present)
• Best Comedy Film
• Best Actor in a Leading Role: since 2005
• Best Actress in a Leading Role: since 2005
• Best First Feature Film by a Director
• Best Diaspora Short Film
• Achievement in Screenplay: since 2005
• Best Nigerian Film: since 2007
• Best Film in an African Language: since 2005
• Most Promising Actor: since 2006
• Best Child Actor
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role: since 2005
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role: since 2005
• Best Director: since 2005
• Best Film: since 2005

Discontinued categories

Several categories have been renamed, retired, or merged. Below is a list of some of the retired categories.

Last awarded year	Category Name	Last Winner
2006	Best Soap	Desperate Millionaires
2006	Best Marketer	A-Z
2006	Best Original Effects	Day of Atonement
2008	Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous	Dorris Simeon
2010	Achievement in Art Direction	The Figurine
2008	Most Outstanding Actor Indigenous	Ayo Akinwale
2013	Achievement in Lighting	Moi Zaphira

Special categories

• Lifetime Achievement Awards (2005–2007; 2013–present)
• Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood (2013 only)
• Special Jury Award (2012–present)
• Madiba Africa Vision Awards (2014 only)
• Best Film for Women Empowerment (2014 only)

Impact

AMAA has cemented its role as a catalyst for African cinema. It brings visibility to films in indigenous languages, supports diaspora narratives, and honors technical excellence. The awards foster cross-continental collaboration, spotlight African talent globally, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers. ^[19]

See also

• Africa portal
• Film portal
• Nigeria portal

• List of Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremonies

References

1. Wenner, Dorothée (10 June 2009). "Showtime in Nigeria". Die Zeit (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group . Retrieved 14 August 2010.
2. "Stars shine at African Oscars". CNN. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
3. "Nigeria @50: Long trek to Nollywood". The Vanguard . Lagos, Nigeria: Vanguard Media. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
4. Tutton, Mark; Purefoy, Christian (30 April 2010). "Stars shine at African Oscars". CNN International . Retrieved 15 August 2010.
5. Krahe, Dialika. "Nollywood's Film Industry Second only to Bollywood in Scale". Der Spiegel . Hamburg, Germany: SPIEGEL-Verlag . Retrieved 14 August 2010.
6. Balogun, Sola (11 March 2005). "Movie makers storm Bayelsa for awards". Daily Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 4 December 2005. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
7. Folaranmi, Femi (13 May 2005). "Rhythm of a new world of movies As Nollywood stars storm Yenagoa for AMAA". Daily Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
8. Oluikpe, Nkasiobi (15 January 2009). "Artistes in Big Dream for 2009". AllAfrica.com . AllAfrica Global Media . Retrieved 5 September 2010.
9. https://www.elanatsuithefilm.com/calendar/2024/11/2/africa-movie-academy-awards-amaa-lagos-nigeria#:~:text=Africa%20Movie%20Academy%20Awards%20(AMAA)%20Lagos%2C%20Nigeria,*%205:00%20PM%2010:00%20PM%2017:00%2022:00.
10. "'And the Winner is….' The results of this year's AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS!". African Perspectives. 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018.
11. Jasanya, Olamide (15 May 2014). "Steve Ayorinde, Keith Shiri, John Akomfrah, June Givanni, Shaibu Husseini, Ayoku Babu, others make AMAA 2014 jury". Nigeria Entertainment Today . Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
12. "UBA/AMAA 2008: Nkem Owoh, Kate Henshaw Are Africa's Best". thenigerianvoice.com. 4 May 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
13. "AMAA Jurors in Cannes for Deliberations". nollywoodmindspace.com. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
14. "Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Jury Members". filmfestivals.com. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
15. "Nigeria: Amaa to Honour Jury Members". allafrica.com. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
16. "Charles Burnett, Filippe Savadogo join AMAA Jury". theeagleonline.com.ng. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
17. Folaranmi, Femi (13 May 2005). "Rhythm of a new world of movies As Nollywood stars storm Yenagoa for AMAA". Daily Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
18. "AMAA Nominees and Winners 2011". Africa Movie Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
19. https://www.multichoice.com/media/4437/amvca-impact-report.pdf ^{[ bare URL PDF ]}

External links

• Official website