DOUBLE WINNER: Director Donovan March receives one of his two awards from Nigerian actress Chidimma Aneke. Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI
Event marred by visa problems, late start and winners’ absence
THE glitzy 2015 Africa Movie Academy (AMA) Awards ceremony held at the Boardwalk on Saturday night was overshadowed by a late start and the absence of many of the winners.
Celebrities, business leaders, politicians and others attended the glittering event, which started three hours late, in the hope of seeing their favourite Nollywood stars and finding out who would scoop the big award for best film.
No explanation was given for the late start, with organisers simply saying complications had arisen.
The event saw guests from 53 African countries converge on Port Elizabeth.
A number of nominees and winners were absent – with many, according to awards founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, not able to attend due to South Africa’s strict visa regulations.
“We are very happy to bring the AMA Awards here to the home of legends, but it was a struggle to get here. Some couldn’t make it because of the strict visa regulations South Africa has in place.
“We need to get rid of artificial borders because the struggle to free South Africa from apartheid was a united effort by the whole continent, and creativity is the one common thing that will free us,” she said.
Nelson Mandela Bay will play host to the event, which sees filmmakers from across Africa gather, for the next five years.
Nollywood heavyweights like Osita Iheme, Desmond Elliot and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde attended, with the ceremony hosted by US actress Camille Winbush, who is best known for Ghost Dog and 7th Heaven.
The best film category was won by Timbuktu , a French-Mauritanian drama that looked at the brief occupation of Timbuktu and Mali.
iNumber Number, a South African film directed by Donovan March – who also directed the movie Spud – scooped two awards, for achievement in production design and visual effects.
South African actor-director Tony Kgoroge, best known for Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamonds and Invictus, said the AMA Awards coming to South Africa signified “we are united as Africans”.
“Nothing should ever divide us as Africans. There are so many stories to tell about Africa and they should be told by Africans – that way, we can make them stronger and more appealing,” he said.
-Nomazima Nkosi
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