2020 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards nominees were announced tonight, the 6th of February 2020. The hosts were the newly- or not so newly-minted Mr. and Mrs. Ibrahim Suleiman and Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman. Speaking before the nominations were unveiled, Femi Odugbemi MNet renowned filmmaker and head of Jury that made the selection praised the stars and performances and noted that “Our filmmakers have come of age with more expansive and multi-layered stories.” He said the jury looked for that extra X in movies. “The AMVCA rewards excellence that has that extra and represents Africa to the world,” he commented, concluding that The nominees are “the best of the best.”
“Living in Bondage: Breaking Free” was the biggest winner with ten nominations. Individually, Ramsey Nouah was the MVP with four noms – three nominations for acting and one for co-directing “Living in Bondage” sequel. Toyin Abraham was nominated thrice and Zainab Balogun got nominated twice while one Ghananian movie “The Perfect Picture: 10 Years Later”, featured among the nominations as Gloria Sarfo got nominated for Best Supporting actress. Uzor Arukwe is a name you may not have heard but he has proved to be a comedian to reckon with with two nominations for best comedian.
Surprisingly, Africa Magic shunned their own by ignoring all their in-house dramas from “Tinsel” to “Ajoche” to “Battleground” and Basketmouth‘s “My Flatmates”. I am most pissed by the fact that “Halita” was ignored. I believe they did this in order not to appear biased against any particular show but they ended up hurting their shows and leaving a plethora of stars and performances go unrewarded. They added an unnecessary award for best-dressed guest male and female on the red carpet to be nominated and given out on the day of the awards.
Here are the full nominees in all the categories.
AMVCA 2020 Nominations
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or TV Series Nominees:
Richard Mofe Damijo (Rmd) – Seven
Ramsey Nouah – Living In Bondage: Breaking Free
Nkem Owoh – God Calling
Remilekun ‘Reminisce’ Safaru – King Of Boys
Pascal Tokodi – Disconnect
Best Writer in a Movie or TV Series Nominees:
BB Sasore – God Calling
Tosin Igho – Seven
Vanessa Kanu – Sylvia
Biodun Stephen – Joba
Nicole Asinugo and CJ Obasi – Living In Bondage: Breaking Free
Akay Mason and Yusuf Carew – Elevator Baby
Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/TV Series) Nominees:
Shola Shobowale – King Of Boys
Zainab Balogun – Sylvia
Zainab Balogun – God Calling
Toyin Abraham – Elevator Baby
Kate Henshaw – The Ghost And The House Of Truth
Best Television Series Drama Or Comedy Nominees:
Jenifa’s Diary – Funke Akindele
Truth – Anis Halloway
Life As It Is – Uche Odoh
Women – Uchenna Mbunabo
Best Actress in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series) Nominees:
Toyin Abraham – Bling Lagosians
Bimbo Ademoye – Looking For Baami
Funke Akindele – Moms At War
Toyin Abraham – Kasanova
Ebele Okaro – Smash
Best Make-Up Category Nominees:
God Calling – Lilian Omozele Paul
The Foreigner’s God – Jude Odoh
King Of Boys – Hakeem Effects
Coming From Insanity – Bio Arimoro
Best Lighting Designer in a Movie or TV Series Nominees:
God Calling – Cardoso
Ratnik – Abiola Ladipo
Elevator Baby – Eleaxu Texas
Plan B – Odhiambo Walter
Best Documentary
Hidden Euphoria – Aderogba Adedeji
Skin – Beverly Naya
Against All Odds: A Tale Of Resilience – Aderemi Davies
Ibadan: Yoruba Heritage – Tunde Oladimeji
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or TV Series Nominees:
Toni Tones – King Of Boys
Eucharia Anunobi – The Foreigner’s God
Tina Mba – The Set Up
Mary Lazarus – Size 12
Gloria Sarfo – The Perfect Picture: 10 Years Later
Best Short Film or Online Video Nominees:
Oga John – Bolanle Akintomide
Thorn – Bola ‘Enigma’ Akanbi
Prueba – Stanlee Ohikuhare
Tokunbo – Bio Arimoro
Best Indigenous Language Movie/TV Series Igbo Nominees:
Isianyaocha – Brown Ene
Nekwa – Paul Igwe
Nne – Victor Iyke
Obiakpor – Evan Okechukwu
Best Indigenous Language Movie/TV Series Hausa Nominees
Tuntube – Muhammad T. Finisher
Mariya – Abubakar Bashir Abarawa
Rai – Muhammad Adam and Tundun Murtala
Sadauki – Hassan Giggs
Best Indigenous Language Movie/TV Series Yoruba Nominees:
Ronke Odusanya – Ajoji Godogbo
Yewande Famakin – Alubarika
Oyebade Adebimpe – Adebimpe Omo Oba
Wumi Olabimtan – Intent
Best Indigenous Language Movie/TV Series Swahili
Raveet Sippy Chadh – Subira Timoth
Conrad Kachumka – Sema
Victor Gatonye –Dream Child
Joan Kabugu – Toy Car
Best Picture Editor Nominees:
God Calling – Holmes Awa
Ratnik – Dimeji Ajibola
Living In Bondage – Antonio Rebeiro
Seven – Tosin Igho and Bryan Dike
Elevator Baby – Emiola Fagbenle
Best Movie East Africa Nominees:
Disconnect – Iman Mueke
Lost In Time – Edijoe Mwaniki
Plan B – Sarah Hassan
94 Terror – Mulinwa Richard
Best Movie Southern Africa Nominees:
Kukuri – Philippe Talavera
Dalitso – Abraham Kabwe
Kwacha – Cassie Kabwikta
The Beautiful Hen Behind Yao Mountain – Imran Kaisi
Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series) Nominees:
Swanky JKA – Living In Bondage: Breaking Free
Timini Egbuson – Elevator Baby
Efa Iwara – Seven
Gabriel Afolayan – Coming From Insanity
Ramsey Nouah – Levi
Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie or TV Series) Nominees:
Uzor Arukwe – Smash
Chibunna “Funny Bone” Stanley – Smash
Uzor Arukwe – Size 12
Ramsey Nouah – Merry Men 1
Etim Effiong – Plan B Daniel
Best Costume Designer Movie or TV Series Nominees:
Living In Bondage – Olohigbe Nwagwu
The Foreigner’s God – Ifan Michael
Ratnik – Dimeji Ajibola
King Of Boys – Yolanda Okereke
Best Cinematographer Nominees:
God Calling – Cardoso
Living In Bondage – John Demps
Ratnik – Niyi White, Gbenga Fifolabi and Abiola Ladipo
The Set Up – Mohammed Attah
Best Movie West Africa Nominees:
God Calling – Momo Spaine
Seven – Tosin Igho
Elevator Baby – Victoria Akujobi
Living In Bondage – Steve Gukas Ratnik – Dimeji Ajibola
Best Director Nominees:
Living In Bondage – Steve Gukas and Ramsey Nouah
God Calling – Bb Sasore
The Set Up – Niyi Akinmolayan
King Of Boys – Kemi Adetiba
Ratnik – Dimeji Ajibola
The Ghost And The House Of Truth – Akin Omotosho
Seven – Tosin Igho
Multichoice Talent Factory Award Nominees:
Life of Bim – West Africa
Dreamchaser – West Africa
Ensulo – East Africa
Promises – East Africa
Savana Skies – Southern Africa
The Painting – Southern Africa
Best Sound Track Movie/TV Series Nominees:
King Of Boys – Sess, Reminisce & Adekunle Gold “Original Gangster”
Living In Bondage – Larry Gaga and Flavour “Tene”
God Calling – Ighwiyisi Jacobs “Stay With Me”
The Gift – Mercy Aghedo “The Gift”
Run -Timzil “Run”
Best Art Director Movie/TV Series Nominees:
Living In Bondage – Victor Afrigold, Ayanda Carter, Jim Franklin, Zimasa Ndamase
Ratnik – Dimeji Ajibola, Iwaotan Olusola Roberts
God Calling – Omotola Alade
The Bling Lagosians – Bolanle Austen Peters
The awards will be given in a reception on the 14th of March, 2020. Voting for the categories open for public judgement has begun and will continue till 7th March.
Update: Here is the full list of winners
Image source: Africamagic
