by Wilfred Okiche

Africa’s longest running and perhaps most legitimate film awards was held over the weekend at the Glory Cultural Centre, Yenagoa in Bayelsa state. We were on ground and bring you snippets you may not have gotten to see on tv. What worked and what didn’t? Who was a hit and who missed?

Nollywood has got it’s groove back

After a lackluster showing in recent years, Nollywood films took centre stage once more with important wins in key categories. The previously unheard of ‘Confusion na wa’ directed by little-known Kenneth Gyang was an upset winner for Best film. The male acting categories were swept by the late Justus Esiri (Assassin’s Practice)and Gabriel Afolayan (Hoodrush) and another Nigerian Niji Akanni (Heroes and Zeroes) won Best Director. Other wins came in the screenplay, make up and editing categories. Even the FG banned documentary ‘Fueling Poverty’ emerged triumphant. Nollywood’s got it after all.

Timi Dakolo is a man on fire

For a show about movies, the best moment was strangely a musical one. Bayelsa-born Timi Dakolo returned to his roots and (it must be the air, or water, or both) gave the performance of his life. He surmounted nagging sound issues and played the crowd like a maestro, ending with a hair-raising rendition of his ‘Great nation’ anthem. We are still in awe.

Too many politicians spoil the broth

Perhaps enough is not being said about how politicians ruin award shows like this. We appreciate their support (and millions), we really do but we don’t want them to bore us with their tedious and self serving speeches. Governor Seriake Dickson surely must have had other chances in the week long programme to address the guests and Chief Edem Duke, enough already. We shall not even go into the South African or Malawi connection. All we are trying to say is just stop it. Or for chrisakes cut it short. Cut it very short. Cut it very very short.

AY Makun and his love for some ‘aesthetic balance’

Popular comedian AY Makun hosted the big event alongside former AMAA Best Actress, Ghaniaian Ama K. Abebrese and homegirl Dakore Egbuson-Akande. While they all put up spirited efforts, we noticed AY kept trying to bring in some ‘aesthetic balance’ to the proceedings. He must have used those 2 words at least 4 times. Was the show not scripted or what?

No show whatsoever should go on that long

We are not blaming AMAA organizers for starting behind schedule (everyone does that) but we are holding them responsible for the marathon exercise they put us through. Running up until the wee hours of the morning, it was a struggle staying awake through all of it. No show, not even the greatest one on earth has a right to be this overstretched. Enough said

Logistics need to be improved upon. Fast.

It must be a daunting task gathering celebrities, entertainers and media people from all over the world to one tiny state that does not boast an airspace and we applaud the AMAA team for taking on such a task and the successes recorded. However for an event of it’s ever-increasing clout and especially for one in it’s 9^th year, some errors are just embarrassing. Things like proper and timely movement of guests to the various venues so that they don’t have to miss a thing, accommodation, logistics, transportation back to various destinations, time management, co-ordination of nominees for press parleys, did we mention transportation? Of course we did. Is someone taking notes?

Lights, camera, action! There is work to be done

For a show that awards excellence in film, the production of the award show proper was terribly deficient. Sound was a thorn in the flesh and refused to cooperate a lot of times, lightning was less than stellar, copious gaps in the sequence were noticeable and frankly the scripting was boring. No spontaneity, no rehearsed magic. It was all like everyone was just trudging through the motions. Is it a wonder the audience appeared morose at times?

Kenneth Okonkwo’s ‘Obama’ moment

The veteran actor on accepting his ‘Icons of Nollywood’ trophy milked his 5 minutes and gave a befuddling but rousing speech- complete with dramatic gestures and tonal inflections- that seemed to be swallowed wholesomely by the audience.

Does Ibinabo Fiberesima ever age?

Random and totally irrelevant question time. Does the increasingly powerful first female president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria ever seem to age?

The fashion hits and misses

Wouldn’t be an award show without the fashion frenzy. Rita Dominic and Yvonne Okoro place high on the best dressed list but Foluke Daramola’s cape/hood reminds us of the evil queen in the Snow white fairytale. Linda Ejiofor may have been going for a Joliesque leg reveal but we are not so sure anymore.

Governor Seriake Dickson’s ululating women

We noticed that the Bayelsa women possess mad love for their governor. Anywhere he appeared, they were there before him, cheering him on and wailing their lungs out. Curious about this special kind of love, we followed up and spotted them gathered at a spot after the main event, waiting. Not to start a rumour or anything (yes there are such anti-rumour billboards all over Yenagoa) but we still wonder what they were waiting for.