Spotlight on top supporting actors in Africa from Nollywood

Nigeria got six spots on the award slate of this year’s Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in the best supporting actor and actress category.When curtain opens on the 15th edition of the prestigious and highly coveted AMAAs on Saturday, October 26, popular actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo (Up North), singer-turned actor, Remilekun Safaru (King of Boys), Bucci Franklin (Knock Out Blessings), Linda Ejiofor (Knock Out Blessings), Adesua Etomi (King of Boys) and veteran actress and multiple AMAA winner, Joke Silva-Jacobs (Light In The Dark) would be battling for honours with other top acting celebrities from other parts of the continent, including South African Zolisa Xaluva (Sew The Winter To My Skin), Kobina Amissah-Sam (The Burial Of Kojo) and Jarrid Geduid (The Ellen-Pakkies Story).

Described as a category with a tough line up, observers predict that any of these acting personalities from Nigeria look good to clinch the diadem that would undoubtedly mark a career peak for some of them. So, who among these acting personalities would do Nollywood proud at the AMAAs?

Kanayo O. Kanayo (Up North)
POPULAR actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, or KOK for short, was nominated this time in the supporting actor category. He has previously received the award as best actor in a leading role, as well as the AMAA Life Time Achievement Award. Focused and principled, KOK made his debut in 1992 as a leading actor (Chief Omego) in the phenomenal Nollywood movie, Living in Bondage. An alumnus of the University of Lagos, the star of four of Nigerian Television Authority’s (NTA’s) rested soaps, Ripples, Checkmates, Village Headmaster and the New Masquerade is listed on the credit lines of hit movies, such as Circle of Doom, Frame Up, Lost Kingdom, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, Apaye and Across the Nigeria.

The actor’s actor of vast credit, who, outside acting, enjoys a lucrative past-time as event compare, communication consultant and politician, has appeared in over 250 movies from 1992 till date and garnered awards at home and abroad. A former chairman of the Governing Board of the NIHOTOURS and a recipient of the national honours- Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), Kanayo, who is cited in ‘Who is Who’ in Nigeria, Year 2000 and The Igbo Icon 2006, is married and the union is blessed with children.

Remilekun Reminisce Safaru (King of Boys)
HAILED as one of the most popular rappers in Nigeria, Pop star, Remilekun Safaru, who is popular as Reminisce, was nominated for his strong interpretation of the character, ‘Makaniki’ in that thriller by Kemi Adetiba King Of Boys (KOB). A singer, rapper and songwriter, who hail from Ogun State, this is his first nomination as an actor and his role in KOB is his first major acting role. No doubt, Reminisce was one of the revelations of that brilliantly helmed movie, and an AMAA endorsement might just make the singer settle for acting as a second career.

Bucci Franklin (Knock Out Blessings)
BEARDED actor, Bucci Franklin, was nominated in the supporting actor category for his role as ‘Dagogo’ in Knock Out Blessing. An emerging actor, this is Bucci’s first major nomination and it would be a great boost to his career if he secures the AMAA crest for best supporting actor. Known for his roles in movies, such as The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Guyn Man, Rule Number One, his other acting credits include Las Gidi Vice and Jimeji.

Linda Ejiofor (Knock Out Blessings)
DELECTABLE Linda Ejiofor earns another AMAA nomination. The star of critically-acclaimed productions, such as Secret Room, Out of Luck, and Ojukokoro, who is married to fellow Tinsel actor, Ibrahim Suleiman, was nominated for her role as ‘Oby’ in Knock Out Blessing. Also called Ihuoma (her middle name) by very close friends, Linda was born and raised in Lagos. The second of five children, the Isuikwuato, Abia State native had her early school at Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha.

A sociology graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, Linda’s other screen credits include A Soldiers Story, Surulere and Heavens Hell. Nominated in 2015 as best actress in a supporting role at the AMAA and television actress of the year by organisers of ELOY awards, Linda won the best supporting actress award at the 2015 edition of the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA).

Adesua Etomi Wellington (King of Boys)
BEAUTIFUL wife of singer, Banky Wellington, Adesua, earns her second AMAA nomination. The actress with an amazing talent was nominated in 2016 for her unerring role in Niyi Akimolayan’s Falling, but she didn’t win. This time, the recipient of the 2016 edition of the AMVCA for best actress is on the AMAA slate for best supporting actress for her role as ‘Kemi’ in KOB.

A thorough bred professional, Adesua has from an appearance in her short film, Brave, to a leading performance in that engaging telling by Royal Pictures Academy Knocking on Heavens Door and the ground breaking television series, Gidi Up, shown stuff and has proven that she is that actress any good producer should engage if he or she wants one that can live a role believably. Born in Owerri, Imo State, to a father from Edo State and Yoruba mother, Adesua acts with a lot of depth. She throws herself into a role and makes every role she has played seem as though it was written with her in mind.

Joke Silva-Jacobs (Light in The Dark)
A RED hot screen and stage star who is totally committed to excellence and who has continued to win the hearts of viewers within and outside Nigeria with grace and charm, Joke Silva-Jacobs is not new to AMAA nominations and winning, having won it twice and earning several nominations.

Wife of the legendary actor, Olu Jacobs, Joke got a confirmation of her status on the continental acting turf in 2006 when she was voted the best actress in Africa at the second edition of the AMAA. An intense and busy actress, who many producers say always try to put a stamp of quality on her performance, Joke has also won the AMAA for best supporting actress. She is in nomination again for the supporting actress category of AMAA.

Clearly one of Nigeria’s hottest celebrity, Joke is regarded as a magnetic star, who though has not allowed success and fame get into her head and has become more of a reference point or something of a parameter for assessing other actresses.

A recipient of several industry and society awards, including EMOTAN, an award by African Independent Television (AIT), Joke is an actress with a passion for humanitarian activities. The actress of repute belongs to a number of associations and boards concerned about gender based issues and the wellbeing of the girl-child and African children in general.