AMAA 2024: Ghana’s Jackie Appiah Is Africa’s Best As ‘Jagunjagun’, ‘The Weekend’, ‘The Queenstown Kings’ Cause Stir

Posted on November 3, 2024

BY MICHAEL AKINOLA

Ghanaian big screen delight, Jackie Appiah has emerged the winner of the most coveted Best Actress in a Leading Role honour at the highly anticipated 20th edition of the continental leading film awards ceremony, Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, held to a fully packed venue on Saturday, 2 November in Lagos, Nigeria.

Jackie won the award for her role in the movie, ‘Red Carpet’ while ‘The Weekend’, a Nigeria production directed by Daniel Oriahi and starring Bucci Franklin, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Meg Otanwa and Keppy Ekpenyong goes home with the biggest award of the night for AMAA 2024 Best Film as well as Best Achievement in Screenplay and Best Cinematography.

South African Jahmil X.T. Qubeka wins Best Director for Netflix’s sports drama, The Queenstown Kings; Femi Adebayo wins Best Supporting Actor award for his role as Ogundiji in ‘JagunJagun’, with the same flick wins Best Makeup and Best Visual Effect Awards.

AMAA is Africa’s premier and most prestigious film Awards rewarding excellence in film making by Africans and People of African descent from across the globe.

The Board of the Africa Film Academy (AFA), the organisers of the award held the 2024 edition and 20th celebration of the recognition ceremony amidst pomp and glee at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja with a total of 26 awards won by African film practitioners that include actors, cinematographers, producers, costumiers, set designers and more.

The five-hour long ceremony —co-produced by Kingsley James and Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe— had over 700 guests from different parts of Africa converging at the venue to celebrate a memorable night dedicated to honouring the brilliance, talent, and creativity of African cinema.

AMAA CEO, Dr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, reiterated the need for African creatives to remain united while leveraging on platforms like AMAA as a springboard to global fame.

Anyiam-Osigwe also promised that the family will continue with the legacies of late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, who impacted on the African film industry and filmmakers before her passing away.

He stressed that the preparation for the 20th edition began before the death of the founder and promised to continue partnerships that have been created and made since the inception of the continental film award.

The Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, led a long list of dignitaries that included captains of industries and film practitioners across Africa and beyond.

With breath-taking performances from legendary Afrobeat star Femi Kuti to Yinka Davies, the night was brightened up by a long list of pan African artists including Narh Tettey, Bedwei Kwaku and Adina Thembi.

Guests and attendees couldn’t get enough of Femi Kuti and Yinka Davies, who gave stellar performances to set the pace for what became a memorable night.

Full list of winners:

1. EFERE OZAKO AMAA 2024 AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM

The Last Shoe Maker – Uganda

2. JUBRIL MALAFIA AMAA 2024 AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION

CounterPunch – Kenya

3. AMAA 2024 AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder- Mozambique

4. OUSMANE SEMBENE AMAA 2024 AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE

The Queenstown Kings – South Africa

5. MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AMAA 2024 AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD:

Under The Hanging Tree- Namibia/UK

6. AMAA 2024 AWARD FOR BEST DIASPORA SHORT