AMAAs-Holds Tonight In Port Harcourt: What To Expect!

The Garden City of Port Harcourt will come alive today, Saturday 11th of June, 2016 as the good people of Rivers State play host to celebrities, high society personalities, business leaders, film makers and allied professionals from Africa and around the world for the AMA Awards night tonight.

All eyes will be on Mike Ezuruonye at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, tonight; the Nollywood golden boy who hardly has functioned as a show host before now. But tonight, he will be joining forces with Ghanaian musician, John Germain and South Africa’s On-Air Personality, Kgopedi Lilokoe to deliver a memorable show. As a radio and television personality, John Germain will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the show, just as the South Africa’s charismatic entertainer, Kgopedi Lilokoe will not disappoint her fans.

The 2016 AMAAs event will be the 12th consecutive edition and the 11th time it will hold in Nigeria having been hosted in 2015 by the City of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Speaking on tonight’s event, Tony Anih, Director Of Administration for the organisation, says; “It is a great development in the evolution of AMAA; that we are back home this year having made the first voyage outside Nigeria last year to South Africa. We are indeed grateful to His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, the government and good people of Rivers State for accepting to host us this year. We are set to forge a good relationship with the state, going forward. Rivers State is a very strong brand and partnering with AMAA, an equally strong continental awards brand will provide a win-win for the state and the work we do to promote Africa to the rest of the world through our films,”

On the readiness of the State to host the guests coming from over 40 countries within and outside Africa and security, Mr. Anih said Governor Wike and his government have made adequate arrangement to ensure visitors and residents in the state live in peace and harmony.

What to expect from the show tonight!

With movie stars and film makers from over 40 countries of the continent and beyond already looking forward to the event, you don’t expect anything less than the best tonight. If you are residing in the oil-rich city and act early enough, it’s possible for you to be on the red carpet, watching the celebrity arrivals and catching a glimpse of the razzmatazz that is associated with the event; the head turns, the glamour, the whispers and the fashion show among side attractions. The red carpet event is expected to kick off around 7 pm, as the celebrities will take turns to display their latest wardrobe acquisition.

Who wins what tonight?

The highpoint of the event, however, will be the presentation of awards to the deserving winners. And rising actress, Adesua Etomi, is one of the nominees to watch out for tonight. After she won the 2016 AMVCA Best Actress for her role as Muna in the movie, “Falling”, she’s up for another grab. The beautiful actress was nominated for the Best Actress award again for her role in the same movie. She was pitched against Thishiwe Ziqubu also nominated for her role in “Tell me Sweet Something”, Maureen Okpoko (Missing God), Ijeoma Grace Agu (Jimi Bendel/ Taxi Driver), Bontte Modiselle (Hear Me Move), Fulu Mugovhani (Ayanda), Maimouna N’Daiye (Eye of the Storm),Iretiola Doyle, Dakore Egbuson, Nse Ikpe Etim, Omoni Oboli (Fifty) and Nomzamo Mbatha who was nominated for her role in “Tell me Sweet Something.”

Adesua who’s only two years old in Nollywood, is already making waves in the industry. But can she take the shine away from the likes of Iretiola Doyle, Dakore Egbuson, Nse Ikpe Etim and Omoni Oboli tonight? She broke record early this year when she beat the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Belinda Effah, Fulu Mugovhani and Mary Lazarus to clinch the AMVCA Best Actress award. All eyes will definitely be on her tonight as she makes history again.

Like Adesua, pretty Linda Ejiofor is another actress to watch out for tonight. Soft-spoken and daring, Linda has carved a niche for herself as a forward-looking actress. If she wins the award for Best Actress in a supporting role, having been nominated for her role in “Out of Luck” tonight, many will not be surprised because she has worked so hard to stay on top of her game. The same goes to Ijeoma Grace Agu, who has made a name for herself after she debuted her one-woman-show, where she played eight different female characters. She was nominated for her role in “Jimi Bendel/ Taxi Driver,” which many have adjudged as excellent.

Their counterparts from South Africa and others countries stronger contenders for the award. On the Best Actor category, many are tipping OC Ukeje to clinch the prize for his role in South African film, ‘Ayanda.’ He played a leading role in the film, which was premiered last year, at the LA Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize in the World Fiction Competition. OC Ukeje and Daniel K Daniel will be slugging it out alongside their contemporaries from other parts of Africa. The Best Actor category is one of the major awards that everyone will be looking forward to seeing the winner.

Which movie will be adjudged the best in Africa? Biyi Bandele-directed “FIFTY” emerged the film from Nigeria with six nominations including Achievement in Cinematography, Best Director, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Nigerian Film and Achievement in Sound. The film, which grossed N400 million in four month cinema run in Nigeria, and explores the lives of four successful African Women in 21st century Lagos is being tipped for the Best film award. But South Africa’s “Äyanda”, starring Nigeria’s OC Ukeje, and which was screened at the just concluded the Cannes Film Market, from all indications remains a major contender for the award.

Also, not to be ruled out here is the possibility of such films as “The Cursed One”from Ghana and Burkina Faso’s “Eye of the Storm” clinching the prize. Meanwhile, Stephanie Linus’ award winning advocacy film, “Dry” may not be a film to beat in this category, having once been adjudged the Best Overall Movie in Africa at this year’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards,AMVCA, which held in March. The film was tied with “A Soldier’s Story” with four nominations each. Dry was nominated in the categories for Best Young/Promising Actor, Best Nigerian Film, Best Film and Best Director and it’s expected that “Dry”will rewrite history tonight. Other Nigerian films expected to do the country proud include, “Out of Luck”, “Falling, Oshimiri”, “Stupid Movie”, “Beyond Blood” and “Missing God.”
Who headlines the show!

Look out for performances from the likes of P-Square, K-cee, Harry Song, Phyno and Tecno who are already on the line up of artistes who would be taking the centre stage at this year’s awards night. More-so, feelers from the Garden city revealed that scores of music acts have expressed their willingness to thrill guests tonight.

We hope to get you more news as the event unfolds!