Paula Willie-Okafor researched and contributed to this report.
On a night when Old Nollywood ceded ground to New Nollywood, a bewildered Bimbo Ademoye accepted her first Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) with the words, “I swear to God, I did not see this coming, I forgot my shoes.” She had just won for Best Comedy Actress for Uduak Isong’s rom-com Selina, halting a five-year winning streak by Funke Akindele in the category. Akindele was up for Nollywood’s highest-ever grossing film Battle on Buka Street, alongside co-star Mercy Johnson, who was doubly nominated, the other being for Passport. The AMVCAs are ultimately decided by fan votes, and it was not insignificant that Ademoye, a breakout talent and previous two-time nominee, beat two of the industry’s biggest stars who have far more fans and belong to the preceding generation of actors.
Over in Best Drama Actress, Ademoye, nominated again for Anikulapo, lost to Osas Ighodaro, who picked up her second consecutive win in the category for Bolanle Austen-Peters’ Man of God, after her win last year for Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story. The shock was her triumphing over arguable favourite Nse Ikpe Etim, nominated with co-star Ini Edo for the Netflix series Shanty Town.
But the biggest upset of the night came in Best Drama Actor, where Tobi Bakre won for his role as a criminal going against his elder brother in Brotherhood, over Chidi Mokeme, whose towering performance as a gang lord in Shanty Town trended on social media for weeks and made him a presumed lock. It was by far the strongest category, with Blossom Chukwujekwu, as the kidnap kingpin in The Trade, and Femi Adebayo, as the spiritually powerful armed robber in pre-colonial Yorubaland in King of Thieves, also in the running. The category already garnered controversy when Kunle Remi was left off the nominations list for his portrayal of an Oyo queen’s lover in Anikulapo. Bakre’s win is the first of his career, capping a year in which he led two of the industry’s biggest films, the other being Gangs of Lagos.
Starting a streak, alongside Ighodaro, was Samuel Perry, better known as Broda Shaggi, who took Best Comedy Actor for the second consecutive time, for Inside Life. Perry, who garnered social media fame with his comedy skits, was doubly nominated in the category, the other being for Survivor.
First-time nominee Efe Irele won Best Supporting Actress for Izu Ojukuwu’s period drama Four Four Forty-Four, and Abdisattar Ahmed took Best Supporting Actor for the Kenyan-Somali film Gacal.
The night’s biggest winners were Kunle Afolayan’s historical drama Anikulapo and Jadesola Osiberu’s crime thriller Brotherhood — with five wins. Anikulapo, with 16 nominations, won Best Overall Movie, Best Writing for screenwriter Sole Dada, Best Indigenous Language Film (Yoruba), Best Sound Editing, and Best Soundtrack. For Brotherhood, nominated 11 times, Loukman Ali also took home Best Director and Best Cinematographer.
Despite 11 nominations, Shanty Town left with no major wins. The series’ sole takeaway was Best Makeup, for Maryam Ndukwe and Hakeem “Effects” Onilogbo.
Elsewhere, Wale Adeleke won Best Art Direction for King of Thieves. Victor Iyke’s Uhuruchi won him a second Best Indigenous Language Film/Series in Igbo, and Abubakar Bashir Maishadda’s Aisha won in the Hausa category. Nora Awolowo’s Nigeria: The Debut, a look at the country’s first World Cup experience during the 1994 FIFA finals, received Best Documentary.
After an iconic career spanning three decades, Patience Ozokwor received the Industry Merit Award. “When we started in the industry there was no social media and so many other luxuries we enjoy now,” she wrote in an appreciation post on Instagram. “Progress was completely dependent on your talent, humility, word of mouth and trust.”
She was only noting generational differences, but with the stunned reactions on social media at the upsets in the acting categories, there are many who might see in Ozokwor’s words an unintended indictment of any process of rewarding technical achievement in which fan-voting, and not peer evaluation, decides the winners.
IK Osakioduwa returned as host for the ninth time, this year with former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi. The ceremony aired live on all Africa Magic channels from Eko Hotel in Lagos.
Below is the full list of the winners and nominees at the 2023 AMVCAs.
BEST OVERALL MOVIE IN AFRICA
Femi Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Funke Akindele – Battle on Buka Street
Jade Osiberu – Brotherhood
Kayode Kasum – Ile Owo
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo (WINNER)
Mugisha Herbert Morris – Tembele
Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi – Four Four Forty Four
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo
Enado Odigie – Flawsome
Immaculata Oko Kasum – Ile Owo
Ini Dima-Okojie – Flawsome
Ini Edo – Shanty Town
Nimo Loveline – The Planters Plantation
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Shanty Town
Osas Ighodaro – Man of God (WINNER)
Queen Nwokoye – Strained
Scarlet Gomez – Wura
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Blossom Chukwujekwu – The Trade
Chidi Mokeme – Shanty Town
Chimezie Imo – Choke
Daniel Etim-Effiong – Kofa
Femi Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
NKakalukanyi Patriq – Tembele
O.C. Ukeje – Black Mail
Richard Mofe Damijo – Four Four Forty Four
Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood (WINNER)
Tope Tedela – All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Albert Oluwatoyin – Visa on Arrival
Bimbo Ademoye – Selina (WINNER)
Roselyn Ngissah – Red Carpet
Funke Akindele – Battle on Buka Street
Grace Wacuka – Married to Work
Mercy Johnson – Battle on Buka Street
Mercy Johnson Onogie – Passport
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Adokiye Horsfall (Romeo WJ) – Inside Life
Charles Etubiebi – Just Friends
Charles Inojie – City Hustler
Chinedu Ikedieze – Aki and PawPaw
Kunle Idowu – Unintentional
Nedu Ani (Nedu Wazobia) – Inside Life
Nkem Owoh – Battle on Buka Street
Nosa Afolabi – The Razz Guy
Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi) – Inside Life (WINNER)
Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi) – Survivors
BEST DIRECTOR
Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Babatunde Apalowo – All the Colours of the World are Between Black and White
Bolanle Austen-Peters – Man of God
Dimeji Ajibola – Shanty Town
Jade Osiberu – The Trade
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
Loukman Ali – Brotherhood (WINNER)
Mugisha Herbert Morris – Tembele
Obi Emelonye – Black Mail
Tolu Ajayi, Fiyin Gambo, Ifeoma Chukwuogo, and James Omokwe – Diiche
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Abdisattar Ahmed – Gacal (WINNER)
Bucci Franklin – The Razz Guy
James Webbo – County 49
Jeffroberts Walusimbi – Bedroom Chains
O.C. Ukeje – Brotherhood
Taiwo Hassan – Anikulapo
Yinka Quadri – Anikulapo
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Dorcas Shola Fapson – Man of God
Efe Irele – Four Four Forty-Four (WINNER)
Gina Castel – Kofa
Ivie Okujaye – On Your Own
Sola Sobowale – Anikulapo
Teniola Aladese – Love in a Pandemic
Toni Tones – Brotherhood
BEST WRITER
Funke Akindele, Jack’enneth Opukeme, Stephen Oluboyo, and Jemine Edukugho – Battle on Buka Street
Jade Osiberu – The Trade
Sodi Kurubo, Stephanie Dadet, and Victor Aghahowa – Diiche (Episode 5)
Sola Dada – Anikulapo (WINNER)
Tunde Apalowo and Jeffery Musa David – Kanaani
Uche Ateli – Choke
Yinka Laoye – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
Charles Oleghe – Diiche
Ekuka Ishaq – Tembele
Idowu Adedapo – Ijakumo the Born-Again Stripper
Idowu Adedapo (Mr. Views) – Flawsome
Jonathan Kovel – Shanty Town
Jonathan Kovel – Anikulapo
Loukman Ali – Brotherhood (WINNER)
Mex Ossai, Philip Okpokoro, Esmond Igho, KC Obiajulu, and Goke Oyerinde – The Real Housewives of Lagos
Paul Gambit – Jolly Roger
Yinka Edward – Crime & Justice
BEST ART DIRECTOR
Olalekan Isiaka – Shanty Town
Olatunji Afolayan – Battle on Buka Street
Olugbenga Ogunshina and Joy Kadiri – Brotherhood
Pat Nebo and Temple Chima Adighije – Crime & Justice
Toka Mcbaror – Almajiri
Uche Nwaohiri and Tunde Lawal – Diiche
Wale Adeleke – King of Thieves (WINNER)
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER
Adeola Art-Alade – The Real Housewives of Lagos Reunion Episode (WINNER)
Bolanle Austen-Peters, Clement Effanga, and Juliana Dede – Man of God
Bunmi Fashina, Tiannah Empire, and Secrets of April – Shanty Town
Ezugworie Franca – Brotherhood
Kingsley Okoye Rex – Nnewi: The Land of Gold
Millicent Jack – Four Four Forty-Four
Toyin Ogundeji – Anikulapo
BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER
Francis Wanyahdeh – Crime & Justice
Francis Wanyahdeh and Ebuka Enejere – Diiche
Godwin Lawal – Tarella
Ismail Adewunmi – Ile Owo
Lanre Omofaiye – Anikulapo
Mathew Yusuf – Brotherhood (WINNER)
Muri Salami – Four Four Forty-Four
Renaldo Van Den Berg, Emmanuel Patrick, and David Otuokere – The Real Housewives of Lagos
Segun Adeleke – Flawsome
Walter Odhiambo – Shanty Town
BEST PICTURE EDITOR
Adio Solanke – Ile Owo
Banjo Onyekachi, Winston Aig-Ohioma, Oluwaseun Adeosun – Diiche
Holmes Awa and Daniel Tom – Crime & Justice (WINNER)
Kimera Paul – Tembele
Martini Akande – Brotherhood
Sanjo Adegoke – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Steve Sodiya – Ijakumo the Born-Again Stripper
Temitope Folarin – Anikulapo
Valentine Chukwuma – Battle on Buka Street
BEST SOUND EDITOR
Anu Afolayan – Anikulapo (WINNER)
Dare Olaitan and Adio Solanke – Ile Owo
Fredrick Karumba – Click Click Bang
Grey Jones – The Set Up 2
Ismail Kyobe Ssebowa – Bedroom Chains
Kazeem Agboola – Ijakumo the Born-Again Stripper
Kolade Kayode Morakinyo – Shanty Town
Kolade Morakinyo and Pius Fatoke – Battle on Buka Street
Q Rodney Abia, Angelo Anosike, and Kayode Kasum – Obara’ M
Shiloh Godson – Black Mail
BEST SOUNDTRACK
Abiola Olayinka and Habeeb Adebayo – L.I.F.E.
Adam Songbird and Tolu Obanro – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Gbas Gbos by Tolu Obanro and Adam Songbird – Battle on Buka Street
Jaysynths and Hotkid – Shanty Town
Joel Christian Goffin – Black Mail
Kent Edunjobi – Anikulapo (WINNER)
Q Rodney Abia, Angelo Anosike, and Kayode Kasum – Obara’ M
BEST MAKE-UP
Carina SFX – The Trade
Feyzo Artistry – Ile Owo
Francisca Otaigbe – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Hakeem Effects Onilogbo – Anikulapo
Hakeem Effects Onilogbo and Jemila Sedik – Battle on Buka Street
Maryam Ndukwe and Hakeem Effects Onilogbo – Shanty Town (WINNER)
Sandra Oyiana-Ogbeni – Tarella
BEST MOVIE (WEST AFRICA)
Jade Osiberu – Brotherhood (WINNER)
Chris Odeh – Choke
Kayode Kasum – Obara’ M
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
Rent-A-Studio & Native Media TV – Kanaani
Samira Yakubu – Red Carpet
Winifred Mena Ajakpoviv – Four Four Forty-Four
BEST MOVIE (SOUTHERN AFRICA)
Elvis Chucks – Jewel (WINNER)
Emmanuel Mwape – Silver Lining
Leburugraphy – Ke Bona Spoko
BEST MOVIE (EAST AFRICA)
Philip Karanja Njenga – Click Click Bang (WINNER)
Elenor Nabwiso – Karamoja
Gashumba Emmanuel – Dial M for Maya
Hassan Mageye – Bedroom Chains
Lucy Mwangi – Baba Twins
Mugisha Herbert Morris – Tembele
Nadira Shakur – Married to Work
Omar Hamza – Gacal
Wilson Nkya and Jane Moshi – Frida
Wilson Nkya & Philipo Ngonyani – Mvamizi (The Intruder)
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (IGBO)
Brown Ene, Victor Onwudiwe, and Ben Cassie – Ifediche
Shileold A. Ibironke – Ijeoma
Shileold A. Ibironke – Ego Mbute
Trinity Ugonabo – The Bride Price (Imego)
Victor Iyke – Uhuruchi (WINNER)
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (SWAHILI)
Daniel Manege – Mpiganaji
Freddy Feruzi – Dau
Malcom Hamisi – Barakatatu
Philip Karanja Njenga – Click Click Bang (WINNER)
Phoebe Ruguru & Njue Kevin – Safari
Wilson Nkya – Mvanmizi – The Intruder
Wilson Nkya & Jane Moshi – Frida
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (YORUBA)
Funmi Bank Anthony Abdullahi Abdulrasaq – Abebi Seranko Seniyan
Karamot Adeboye – Morenikeji
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo (WINNER)
Okusanya Bayonle Samson – Mr. Raji
Ololade Tijani-Ebong – Ogeere
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (HAUSA)
Abubakar Bashir Maishadda – Aisha (WINNER)
Evans Ejiogu – Kwana Casa’in
Nancy Yiljep – Guzama
Ty Shaban – Lulu Da Andalu
BEST SHORT FILM
Adeoye Adetunji – Pa Aromire (WINNER)
Gbenga Salu – Convictus
Nkem Nwaturuocha – The Song Maiden
Teniola Zara King – Teju’s Tale
Usama Mukwaya and Loukman Ali – Sixteen Rounds
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Love Language
Victor Onwudiwe and Goodnews Erico Isika – Away
BEST TELEVISION SERIES
Adeola Art-Alade and Dare Art Alade – The Real Housewives of Lagos
Bovi Ugboma and Ann Obaseki – Visa on Arrival
Dimbo Atiya, Rahama Sadau, and Safina Mellisa – The Plan
Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson – Single Kiasi
Ife Olujuyigbe and Kayode Kasum – When Are We Getting Married?
James Omokwe – Diiche
Millicent Ogutu – County 49
Tola Odunsi and Akin Akinkugbe – Flawsome
Vincent Nwachukwu – Game On
Yinka Edward – Crime & Justice (WINNER)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Best Okoduwa – 100 of Us
Charles F. Solomon – Way to the Top
Charles F. Solomon, Oluchi Nsofor, Aaron Olayemi, and Famous Odion – Green: The Amazons
Chude Jideonwo – Awaiting Trial
Nathaniel George – Truck Blind Spot
Nora Awolowo – Nigeria: The Debut (WINNER)
Nora Awolowo – Baby Blues
BEST ORIGINAL TELENOVELA
Covenant
Dede
Huba
Itura
Mahinga
Maida
Mpali (WINNER)
Prestige
Salem
BEST UNSCRIPTED ORIGINAL
Come Play Naija
Judging Matters
Kan-See-Me
King Bugar (WINNER)
Off Air with Gbemi & Tools
Rock that Aisle Again
Sakofa
BEST ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES
Co-Habits
Flatmates
Mussulando
My Siblings and I
Njoro Wa Uba (WINNER)
Popi
RSM
The Johnsons
The Return of Original Comedy
Uncle Limbani
BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES
A Infiltrada
Accra Medics
Dirty Laundry
Junior Drama Club
Njila
Pazia
Pete
Ricordi (WINNER)
The Rishantes
To Have and To Hold
Unmarried
THE MULTICHOICE TALENT FACTORY FILM
A Quiet Intruder
Cheza
Leaked (WINNER)
Revisit
Stinger
Strings
BEST ONLINE SOCIAL CONTENT CREATOR
Abiola – VIP Bathroom
Adeaga Bukunmi – Fake Alert with Mercy Johnson
Bimbo Ademoye – Iya Barakat Teropi Secxxion
Edem Victor – The Activist
Elozonam and Kie Kie – Back from the Future (WINNER)
Isbae U – My Sweet Mother-in-Law
Kenzy Udosen – Quick Pronunciations
Oluwadolarz and Abayomi Alvin – Soldiers at War (Compilation)
Steve Chuks – My Husband’s Side Chick
Tee Kuro – Nollywood Epic Love Story Parody (The Finale)
If you love what you just read, please consider making a PayPal donation to enable us to publish more like it.
No One Covers Nollywood Like Open Country Mag
— Cover Story, March 2023: Rita Dominic‘s Visions of Character
— Awaiting Trial: Families of SARS Victims Speak in Devastating Documentary
— The Making of Mami Wata, Nigeria’s First Film to Premiere at Sundance
— How Dakore Egbuson and Tony Okungbowa Traverse Trauma in YE!
— Writing Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Nollywood’s Highest Grossing Film of All-Time
— Country Love Depicts Tenderness in LGBTQ Lives
