Kenyan action Thriller Veve, TV series Shuga Bags Prestigious Continental Award!
Winners of the 2015 AfricaMagic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCAs) held in association with MultiChoice Africa and Amstel Malta were announced last night during a live broadcast hosted by IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai Mutinhiri at the EKO Expo Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
The third edition of the AMVCAs which was also beamed live in Nairobi to hundreds of Kenyan media personalities and celebrities at the Nigerian Mama Ashanti restaurant along Muthangari Gardens, had the highest number of Kenyan nominations compared the previous editions.
Two Kenya films scooped the prestigious awards that many thought would be all Western Africa affair as famous movie actors and actresses like Kunle Afolayan, Rita Dominic, Tunde Babalola, Femi Jacobs, O.C. Ukeje, Kehinde Bankole and Linda Ejiofor bagged awards.
Rita Dominic was nominated amongst Kenyan actor Gerald Langiri in Best Actor in Comedy category alongside Mike Ezeruonye.
TV series Shuga scooped the Best Television Series as the Best Indigenous Language – Swahili category was awarded to Veve another Kenya film whose production team is also responsible for Nairobi Half Life, Soul Boy, and Something Necessary.
Shuga, which stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o; is a hard-hitting three-part drama series that follows the lives and loves of a group of cool young students whose bright lives and fabulous futures are balanced on a knife-edge due to their love of risk and danger. It is a story of love, sex, Friday nights and the indelible marks we leave on one another.
On the other hand, Veve, (which is a sheng term for miraa), is an action thriller with just enough romance and political intrigues. The movie’s cast present fresh new faces that will be seen on screen when it come out next year, including Emo Rugene, Adam Peeves, and Victor Munyua, all of whom have leading roles in the film yet come from various backgrounds.
Veve which will makes its debut on Maisha Magic in December 2015 was nominated in 3 different categories that is Best Art Director, Best Indigenous Swahili and Best Video Editor. Fellow Kenyan nominees included Mama Duka by Njoki Muhoho and Almasi by Fredrick Odhiambo all under Best Indigenous Swahili category that was won by Veve.
Other Kenyan shows which made the list include XYZ Show and Rush all under Best TV Series Category. The late Tiona Wangeci of Rush had also been nominated in the Best Costume category that was taken by Nigerian Deola Sagoe & Obijie Oru for their role in the movie October1 .
The third annual AMVCAs 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 recognised with awards also presented to CJ Obasi as 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 (pictured above) and a Best Actor (Comedy) award forFemi Jacobs.
The choice of the night’s winners fell to respected judges drawn from the African film and Television industry. 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 Ejiofor won the Best Supporting Actress (Movie/TV Series) award.
