Their excellencies, the screen-acting first ladies of Africa are in the Garden City for AMAA

By reason of the mention they received at the May 14 nomination event of this year’s edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held in Lagos, these sterling actresses- Zineb Odeib, Adesua Etomi, Fulu Mugovhani, Maimouna N’Daiye, Nomzamo Mbatha- and the ensemble cast of the movie, Fifty- Iretiola Doyle, Dakore Egbuson, Nse Ikpe Etim and Omoni Oboli- have been admitted into the unofficial class of the continent’s leading actresses, or acting first ladies, if you like.

But who amongst them would emerge the continental screen-acting first lady when the prestigious AMAA award holds this evening at the Gabriel Okara International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State?

Zineb Odeib- Behind Closed Doors

Moroccan actress and television presenter, the delectable Zineb was nominated for her role in the critically acclaimed movie by Mohammed Ahed Bensouda, Behind Closed Doors.

Best known for some of her works, which currently runs on Tunisian Nessma TV, if Zineb, an accomplished high fashion aficionado, wins today, she would be rightly admitted into the unofficial club of the continents leading actresses.

Adesua Etomi- Falling

AN actress with an amazing talent, Adesua Etomi is in nomination for her unerring role in Falling, the movie Niyi Akimolayan.

Interestingly, it was this same role that earned her a winning at this year’s edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA).

So, if she get the AMAA today, it would be double for Adesua, who 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, the Imo State capital, to a father from Edo State and a mother who is Yoruba, 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.

Indeed, most directors who have worked closely with her since she returned from abroad to join the industry after her university education affirm that she is good and that the humble, friendly and amiable actress, who also sings, has brought some spark to the Nigerian stage and screen acting firmament.

Fulu Mugovhani- Ayanda
HAILED roundly as an actress to watch, Fulu is in nomination for her delightful performance as Ayanda in the Sarah Bletcher movie of same title.

Ayanda is Fulu’s first major role as an actress and it is definitely a huge stride for her career, which is picking at a very fast pace.

A devout Catholic, Fulu stole the hearts of eTV viewers in South Africa as Anzani Muneri, the woman who was so attached to her man, Lerumo, that she was willing to sleep with her man’s enemy to ensure he stays alive.

If she gets the AMAA’s today, she would be rightly admitted into the unofficial club of leading ladies of the continent.

Maimouna N’Daiye- Eye of the Storm

THIS Senegalese actress is an award winner. She is in nomination for her role in the award-winning movie, Eye of the Storm, which earned her the best actress award at last year’s edition of Africa’s biggest film festival- the Festival of Pan African Cinema (FESPACO).

Maimouna, who is best known for her role as the Police Inspector, Malika, in the Burkinabe television series, Super Flics, dedicated her FESPACO prize to all women worldwide.

In Eye of the Storm, the Senegalese actress interpreted delightfully the role of the strong-willed lawyer in a delicate justice case.

She succeeded in shading light on a child soldier and diamond traffic case in which her father was involved.

If Maimouna is crowned today, she would be receiving two top continental prizes in a spate of a year, and that is no mean feat.

Iretiola Doyle, Dakore Egbuson, Nse Ikpe Etim, Omoni Oboli- Fifty

THE Mo Abudu ‘girls,’ as a blogger described the leading ladies in the critically acclaimed drama, Fifty, were jointly nominated in the leading actress category of the AMAA.

They have four other sterling actresses to beat for the coveted award.

But Ireti, as the actress and show host is simply called, and Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Nse Ikpe Etim and Omoni Oboli are not new to awards, having received countless industry awards in the past.

However, only Nse and Omoni have featured previously on the AMAA shortlist.

If the AMAA jury finds them worthy in performance today, it would all be their first AMAA win.

Iretiola is an amazing actress. She played Elizabeth a celebrated obstetrician whose penchant for younger men has estranged her from her daughter, and she fitted so well into the role.

In fact, she played the role as if the writers had her in mind when writing the script.

An accomplished writer, actor, producer and presenter, Ireti’s career spans 19 years.

She has featured in a number of stage and screen productions and has equally hosted a number of television programmes.

She won Best Actress in a lead role at the 2014 Nollywood Movie Awards for her portrayal of Ovo, in the psychological thriller, Torn.

Ireti stars in other hit television shows, such as Fuji House of Commotion, Gidi-Up and Tinsel.

Next is Dakore Egbuson-Akande, who played the diva Tola in Fifty.

Tola is the reality television star whose marriage to lawyer, Kunle, never stood a chance, thanks to an invidious family secret.

And Dakore nailed the role. She brought class and finesses to the interpretation and was believable.

Those who have followed her career say they are not surprised at her sharp portrayal, noting that she has always acted with unerring skill and has a way of throwing her whole being into every role she portrays.

A multiple award-winning film and stage actor, television personality, singer and dancer, Dakore, star of hit flicks, like Emotional Cracks and Silent Tears is an ambassador for Amnesty International (AI) and Oxfam of America.

And then there is Omoni Oboli. Award-winning actress, writer, producer and director, Omoni played Maria, a 49-year-old lady who had an affair with a married man that resulted in an unexpected pregnancy.

And Omoni lived the role. She played it to the hilt, and that is Omoni. She is so at ease with character interpretation and has this innate ability of lighting up a dull picture.

A trained digital filmmaker at the New York Film Academy (NYFA), the leading actress has received numerous high-profile awards for her roles in The Figurine and Anchor Baby.

She has also been awarded for directorial debut, Being Mrs. Elliott and for two of her other directorial efforts, The First Lady and Wives on Strike.

In fact, The First Lady recently won the audience choice award at this year’s edition of the Nollywoodweek Film Festival in Paris, France.

And then the fiery actress, Nse Ikpe Etim, the multi-award-winning actress who played Kate in Fifty.

Kate it was who battled with a life-threatening illness that plunged her into religious obsession.

And Nse played the role to the hilt. She showed stuff and was steady.

Star of Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap and Shirley Frimpong Manso’s Devil in the Detail, Nse is easily one of Nollywood’s most sought after actresses.

The Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Calabar has won several acting awards, including the Best Actress in Drama at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for playing ‘Nse’ in Journey to Self.
Nomzamo Mbatha- Tell me Sweet Something

DESCRIBED by Juicyafrica.com as the reigning queen of the small screen and beyond, Nomzamo was nominated for her role in the romantic comedy by Akin Omotosho, Tell me Sweet Something.

The face on most magazine covers, billboards and movie screens, Nomzamo is a trained accountant, actress and television personality.

She was born in KwaMashu, north of Durban, South Africa and she is best known as one of the three finalists in the 2012 MTV Base VJ Search.

But her first major acting role was in the soap, IsiBaya, which ran on the popular Mzansi Magic channel in 2013.

Since then, the actress and screen personality has taken part in a couple of television series and has equally hosted some top events.

Nominees Of The Leading Actor And Best Film Categories At A Glance
AMAA 2016 Award For Best Actor In A Leading Role
Oris Erhuero- The Cursed Ones
OC Ukeje- Ayanda

Fragass Assande- Eye of the Storm
Masego ‘Maps’ Maponyane- Tell me Sweet Something
Daniel K. Daniel- Soldiers Story
Biuferi Yakoubi- La Pagne

Best Film
The Cursed Ones- Ghana
Fifty- Nigeria
Eye of the Storm- Burkina Faso

Ayanda- South Africa
La Pagne- Niger
Dry- Nigeria
Tell me Sweet Something- South Africa
Behind Closed Doors- Morocco