5th African Movie Academy Awards
Encyclopedia
The 5th African Movie Academy Award
s ceremony was held on April 4, 2009 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa
, Bayelsa State
, Nigeria
, to honor the best Africa
n films of 2008. It was broadcast live on Nigeria
n national television. African 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
(the Governor of Bayelsa State
) and Nollywood actresses and actors. Special guests were Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker
and Hollywood actor Danny Glover
.
The nominees were announced on March 3, 2009 during the 21st Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
(FESPACO) by AMAA CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. Approximately 403 entries from 54 Africa
n countries participated in the bid for an award.
With a total of twelve nominations, the Kenya
n film From a Whisper
led the nomination count, while Uganda's
Battle of the Soul and South Africa's
Gugu and Andile followed with ten nominations each. Nigeria's
Arugba received nine nominations, Egypt's
Seventh Heaven received eight nominations, followed closely by Ghana's
Agony of the Christ with seven nominations.
From a Whisper
won five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Wanuri Kahiu
) and Best Soundtrack. Gugu and Andile landed the second spot with three awards. Battle of the Soul, Seventh Heaven, Small Boy, Arugba and Live to Remember each won two awards.
African Movie Academy Award
The African Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA Awards, are presented annually to recognize excellence of professionals in the African film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well...
s ceremony was held on April 4, 2009 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa
Yenagoa
Yenagoa is a Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Yenagoa in the south of the area at.The LGA has an area of 706 km² and a population of 353,344 at the 2006 census....
, Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The language spoken here is Ijaw language and dialects of the Ijaw language such as Nembe, Atissa, Akassa, Ogbia, etc. However, like the rest of Nigeria,...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, to honor the best Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n films of 2008. It was broadcast live on Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n national television. African Movie Academy Award winner Kate Henshaw-Nuttal
Kate Henshaw-Nuttal
Kate Henshaw-Nuttall is a Nigerian actress. In 2008 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.-Early life:Henshaw-Nuttall is the oldest of four children...
and Nigerian stand-up comedian Julius Agwu hosted the ceremony. Numerous celebrities graced the event, including Timipre Sylva
Timipre Sylva
Timipre Sylva is the Governor of Bayelsa State in southern Nigeria.- Early life and background :Sylva was born in Brass, Bayelsa , and was educated there and in Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria...
(the Governor of Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The language spoken here is Ijaw language and dialects of the Ijaw language such as Nembe, Atissa, Akassa, Ogbia, etc. However, like the rest of Nigeria,...
) and Nollywood actresses and actors. Special guests were Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television...
and Hollywood actor Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
.
The nominees were announced on March 3, 2009 during the 21st Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
(FESPACO) by AMAA CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. Approximately 403 entries from 54 Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n countries participated in the bid for an award.
With a total of twelve nominations, the Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n film From a Whisper
From a Whisper
From a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and...
led the nomination count, while Uganda's
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
Battle of the Soul and South Africa's
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
Gugu and Andile followed with ten nominations each. Nigeria's
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
Arugba received nine nominations, Egypt's
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
Seventh Heaven received eight nominations, followed closely by Ghana's
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
Agony of the Christ with seven nominations.
From a Whisper
From a Whisper
From a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and...
won five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Wanuri Kahiu
Wanuri Kahiu
Wanuri Kahiu is a Kenyan film director. She has received several awards and nominations for the films which she directed, including the awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009.-Career:...
) and Best Soundtrack. Gugu and Andile landed the second spot with three awards. Battle of the Soul, Seventh Heaven, Small Boy, Arugba and Live to Remember each won two awards.
Major Awards
The winners of the 23 Award Categories are listed first and highlighted in bold letters.| Best Picture | Best Director |
|---|---|
|
Wanuri Kahiu Wanuri Kahiu is a Kenyan film director. She has received several awards and nominations for the films which she directed, including the awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009.-Career:... – From a Whisper From a Whisper From a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and...
|
| Best Actress in a leading role | Best Actor in a leading role |
|
Funke Akindele Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde is a Nigerian actress... – Jenifa Jenifa Jenifa is a 2008 Nigerian Yoruba comedy-drama film starring Funke Akindele. The film received 4 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2008. Funke Akindele, the main protagonist of the film, won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in Leading Role for her role as Jenifa....
|
|
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Best Actor in a Supporting Role |
|
|
| Most Promising Actress | Most Promising Actor |
|
|
| Best Animation | Best Film in an African Language |
|
South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... ) in Zulu Zulu language Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population... and Xhosa Xhosa language Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said... - Minky Schlesinger Nigeria Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... ) in Yoruba Yoruba language Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas... – Tunde Kelani Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the... ) in Cameroonian languages Languages of Cameroon Cameroon is home to 230 languages. These include 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, and 173 Niger–Congo languages. This latter group is divided into one West Atlantic language , 32 Adamawa-Ubangui languages, and 142 Benue–Congo languages .English and French are official... – Daniel Kamwa Nigeria Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... ) in Ibibio Ibibio language Ibibio-Efik, also known as Ibibio and Efik, is the major dialect cluster of the Benue–Congo language family called Cross River. Efik proper has national status in Nigeria and is the literary standard of the Efik languages, though Ibibio proper has more native speakers.-Varieties:Efik is a dialect... – Emem Isong Nigeria Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... ) in Yoruba Yoruba language Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas... |
| Best Child Actor | Best Screenplay |
From a Whisper From a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and... |
From a Whisper From a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and... – Wanuri Kahiu Wanuri Kahiu Wanuri Kahiu is a Kenyan film director. She has received several awards and nominations for the films which she directed, including the awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009.-Career:... Through the Glass (film) Through the Glass is an American Nigerian comedy film, written, directed and produced by Nollywood actress Stephanie Okereke. The film was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 5th African Movie Academy Awards in 2009.-Plot:... – Stephanie Okereke Stephanie Okereke Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke 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... |
Additional awards
| Best Documentary Feature | Best Documentary Short |
|---|---|
|
|
| AMAA Achievement in Sound | AMAA Achievement in Editing |
|
From a Whisper From a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and... (Kenya)
|
| AMAA Achievement in Art Direction | AMAA Achievement in Cinematography |
|
Izu Ojukwu Izu Ojukwu is a Nigerian film director and actor. In 2007 he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Director for the film Sitanda, which received 9 nominations and won 5 awards at the 3rd African Movie Academy Awards, including Best Picture & Best Nigerian Film.-Selected Filmography :*White...
|
| AMAA Achievement in Makeup | AMAA Achievement in Costume |
|
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| Best Original Soundtrack | AMAA Achievement in Visual Effect |
|
From a Whisper From a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and...
|
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| Heart of Africa (This award is given to the Best Film in Nigeria) | |
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Films with multiple nominations
The following films received multiple nominations.-
- 12 nominations
- From a WhisperFrom a WhisperFrom a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and...
-
- 10 nominations
- Battle of the Soul
- Gugu and Andile
-
- 9 nominations
- Arugba
-
- 8 nominations
- Seventh Heaven
-
- 7 nominations
- Agony of the Christ
-
- 4 nominations
- Cindy's Note
- The Assassin
- JenifaJenifaJenifa is a 2008 Nigerian Yoruba comedy-drama film starring Funke Akindele. The film received 4 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2008. Funke Akindele, the main protagonist of the film, won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in Leading Role for her role as Jenifa....
-
- 3 nominations
- Beautiful Soul
- Reloaded
- Live to Remember
- Apaadi
-
- 2 nominations
- Grey Focus
- Revolution
- Five Apostles
- Reloaded
- Small Boy
- Mah Sa-Sah
- State of the Heart
Films with multiple awards
The following films received multiple awards.- 5 awards
- From a WhisperFrom a WhisperFrom a Whisper is a Kenyan drama film written and directed by African Movie Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film received 12 nominations and won 5 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009, including Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and...
- From a Whisper
- 3 awards
- Gugu and Andile
- 2 awards
- Arugba
- Battle of the Soul
- Seventh Heaven
- Small Boy
- Live to Remember