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And The Continental ‘Acting’ Big Men Take Their Turn

By Shaibu Husseini
25 July 2015   |   4:32 am
BY virtue of their nomination in the category of best actor in a leading role in the 2015 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards, Tony Kgoroge – (lead actor in the movie Cold Harbour), Sdumo Mtshali – (lead actor in the movie iNumber Number
), Abdoul Kareem Konate – (lead actor in the movie Run), Gerard Essomba – (lead actor in the movie Le President) and Nigeria’s Sadiq Daba –(lead actor in the movie October 1), have been admitted into the unofficial club of the continent’s leading actors.
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Sdumo Mtshali

BY virtue of their nomination in the category of best actor in a leading role in the 2015 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards, Tony Kgoroge – (lead actor in the movie Cold Harbour), Sdumo Mtshali – (lead actor in the movie iNumber Number
), Abdoul Kareem Konate – (lead actor in the movie Run), Gerard Essomba – (lead actor in the movie Le President) and Nigeria’s Sadiq Daba –(lead actor in the movie October 1), have been admitted into the unofficial club of the continent’s leading actors.

Their nomination was announced at the colourful nomination event held in Los Angeles recently. Bookmakers have started pointing to the actor they think will carry the day.

But who among them will emerge the continent’s leading actor for 2015 AMAA’s come September 26? Tony Kgoroge – Cold Harbour 
 South African actor Tony Kgoroge is in nomination for the leading actor category of the 2015 AMAA.

Tony earned the nomination for his gritty portrayal of a crack policeman Sizwe who uncovers a smuggling ring in Carey McKenzie’s Cold Harbour.

That portrayal by Tony is his first major appearance as a leading man in a film and that performance has won him a few notable awards including a shared best actor award at the 2014 Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).

Tony shared the award with Timbuktu star Ibrahim Ahmed. In a citation that was read before Tony and Ahmed were presented with the joint award, the DIFF international jury remarked that Tony and Ahmed got the award because of their soulful and compelling performance, which they said was unforgettable.

Tony who does his stunt so he can properly connect to his character needs this AMAA winning to announce his presence in the continent as an actor to watch. Sdumo Mtshali – iNumber Number
 Handsome and intelligent, Sdumo Mtshali is the leading man of the award winning crime thriller by Local director and scriptwriter, Donovan Marsh Having iNumber Number.

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Sadiq Daba

Sdumo started out as a member of a community theatre group and later starred in the in the reality TV competition, Class Act in 2010.However to prepare himself for career and life, Sdumo enrolled to be trained at the New York Film Academy.

He completed a course in drama and it was in between that he starred in the crime thriller that has been shown in the US and that premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Star of the SABC 1’s HIV/AIDS awareness drama, Intersexions, Rhythm City and the highly acclaimed Mzansi Magic soapie Isibaya, Sdumo’s star has continued to rise since he engaged the acting turf.

Twice nominated for the South African Film and Theatre awards (SAFTA), Sdumo is now well regarded as a seasoned theatre actor and one whose foray into television and movies has been a remarkable.

The star of Isibaya, Saints & Sinners and iNumber Number need this AMAA winning to confirm his rating on the continent. Abdoul Kareem Konate – Run Ivorian actor Abdoul Karim Konaté is in nomination for the leading actor crest. Konate earned the nomination for his inimitable run in Phillip Lacote’s well-helmed movie Run. Popular in Ivory Coast, Konate is best known for Run (2014), Le djassa a pris feu (2012) and To Repel Ghosts (2013). He sure needs the AMAA winning to confirm his rating on the continent.

Gerard Essomba – Le President Cameroonian-born actor, comedian and director, Gerard Essomba is a chip off the old block. The veteran actor whose colour signature are, to quote African Film TV ‘’his craggy face, his cheekiness, his sense of humor and derision’ is not new to nominations and awards.

The actor has won many awards just as he has been nominated severally. Gerard, star of critically acclaimed movies and dramas Rue Princesse, Daresalam, Parts Identities and several others has won no less than seven international awards including an award from the Carthage Film Festival of Carthage.

His performance in the political docu-drama ‘Le President’, the film by notable Cameroun born filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bekolo is what has earned him the nominations. The star of Le Président (2013), La première fois (2012), Les veuves volontaires (2011), Manbety forever (2008), L’enfants peu rouge (2006) and Rue princesse (1993) needs the AMAA winning to affirm his position as an old hand in the business of motion picture.

Sadiq Daba -October 1 There are five leading men in contention for the award of best actor in a leading role category of the 2015 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and the veteran actor, television producer and show host Sadiq Daba is the only Nigeria on the list.

Although not a visitor to most homes in the continent in the mould of some of the actors on the nomination list like Gerard Essomba, Daba is undoubtedly a talented and accomplished actor.

He is also deep and many who saw his portrayal of the lead role of Inspector Waziri in Kunle Afolayan’s very successful film October 1 agree that Sadiq still has the acting chops, the chops he exhibited playing Bitrus on the long rested television series Cockcrow at Dawn.

Indeed that role (Bitrus) which he played believably and delightfully made him a household name. A quintessential broadcaster who worked with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for over three decades until he retired, Uncle Sadiq as his junior colleagues simply call him is not new to awards.

He has won several in his long-standing career as an actor and broadcaster. But he sure needs this AMAA winning to affirm that he is still relevant as an actor in the industry and also to affirm that acting gets better with age and experience.

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