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Monday, September 26, 2011

Save Somalia


Somalia is in trouble. Somalis are dying of hunger. Children are dying, nowhere to be buried. This is just like the genocide in Cambodia.

For those who don’t know, Somalia is in Africa – it is the country of K’Naan, that fine goateed musician we all love. He sang ‘Wavin’ Flag’.

Nuruddin Farah is also from Somalia.

Today, K’Naan returns to Somalia after twenty years and this is what he said: “the worst famine in decades pillages the flesh of the already wounded in Somalia. And the world’s collective humanitarian response has been a defeated shrug. If ever there was a best and worst time to return home, it was now.”

He is not joking, the situation is worrisome and catastrophic. As a celebrity, he hopes to bring light to the darkness existing already. He has come with ‘concerned colleagues.’ To not make things worse, I don’t trust the people K’Naan has come with; they have come with cameras to capture what he has also written about.

“I meet a young woman watching over her dying mother, who has been struck by the bullet of famine. The daughter tells me about the journey to Mogadishu — a 200-mile trek across arid, parched land, with adults huddling around children to protect them first. This mother refused to eat her own food in order to feed abandoned children they had picked up along the way. And now she was dying because of that,” the rapper said.

He continues, “the final and most devastating stop for me was Banadir Hospital, where I was born. The doctors are like hostages of hopelessness, surrounded and outnumbered. Mothers hum lullabies holding the skeletal heads of their children. It seems eyes are the only ornament left of their beautiful faces; eyes like lanterns holding out a glimmer of faint hope. Volunteers are doing jobs they aren’t qualified for. The wards are over-crowded, mixing gun wound, malnutrition and cholera patients.”

I’m not thrilled by those who have come with K’Naan, although he is not to blame. The problem is the African approach to many things. We are not letting ourselves help ourselves. While the grass is burning in Somalia, the Nigerian Government is busy donating cars to the Liberian Government and the Liberian Government is busy, collecting the cars and smiling into the cameras, to tell the world that they are receiving ‘relief materials’ from the Nigerian Government for their elections. I haven’t seen a failed government that so much thinks highly of itself. I haven’t seen a leadership so snaily (if such word exists) like Nigeria’s, that issues affecting Somalia seem to be of no connection to them.

Africa – a continent of over 53 countries – continues to pride itself as a continent at peace. Nevertheless, the African is one who finds happiness in communalism, but never gets to practice the love of communalism. So, without rambling so much, it is more painful when you realize that those who ‘save’ Africa are foreigners. We are too lazy to bother about the reasons behind their ‘saving’ Africa. Undoubtedly, we are very weak. We are a people who depend on the others for everything.

There is food in Africa. Somalis are Africans and are dying of hunger. Before we can wake up to see if we can airlift food to the hungry Somalis dying every single day, we had to wait for K’Naan to make a decision all the way from Canada to return home, yet, no one is still making a move. It is annoying that the Nigerian Television Authority has no interest in the case of Somalia. It is appalling to know that Africans don’t care about Somalis now. Everyone is not interested. Where are the anthropology professors who are supposed to jump onto the next flight going to East Africa to see if they can proffer any kind of solution to the hunger striking every household in Somalia?

Right now, Allah is not obliged to do anything. Jesus Christ won’t be crucified again. The joys we share when we call ourselves Africans have to be fully expressed now. The love of Africa has to manifest now; it should be the job of African nations to prevail over this and not those ‘concerned citizens’ with their cameras.

I’m amazed as to how hunger is killing a lot of people on the streets – having walked through a lane where a dead boy lay and someone actually said he died of starvation. Close to that lane, there are fruit stalls. This is in Obalende.

For once, K’Naan has returned home as a star to shine among hungry Somalis, but I shall shower a huge respect to the Nigerian Government if they can ever intervene; let’s send food to Somalia and save a life.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Ven launches out...


21 year-old sensational singer, VEN, is out with a single, This Is Real Love.

VEN got signed onto BLUES & HILLS Music early this year and has been working round the clock in the studio.

A graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, VEN is out to join the league of the new generation of Nigeria's hip-hop scene.

You can hear this amazing song here:
http://www.4shared.com/get/hlSarQTA/02_This_is_real_Love_1.html

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Salman Rushdie and the Cannes


One of the greatest living literary voices, Salman Rushdie is in the news again. His amazing novel, Midnight's Children, which I've read over and over again, has been filmed by the equally amazing Deepa Mehta in Sri Lanka, a country I cherish so much.

And the Cannes Film Festival is on.

I've seen amazing pictures of celebrities from the Red Carpet and it is a good feeling I have that the art of filmmaking is celebrated glamorously, hoping that one day, writers will start walking in the same lane, smiling into the cameras.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Interacting with leading Indian editors

Today, I was invited to the High Commission of India, in the midst of other Nigerian journalists to interact with 10 leading Indian editors.

They represented Mayalala Manorama & The Week, Daily News & Analysis, Navbharat Times, Outlook India, Economic Times, The Telegraph, Prajavani, Headlines Today and Mr. Devaart Chakravorthy from XP Division, Ministry of External Affairs.

The interactions were based on the elections and on the impact the Osama's will make on Nigeria. It was a wonderful session for me until a journalist from the Guardian goofed by asking the Indian delegation: "Do you have any newspaper in English language?"

I squirmed like a bird, looking at a moth.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

BLUES & HILLS Launches tonight...

I'm launching BLUES & HILLS Consultancy's website tonight.

BLUES & HILLS has been struggling to develop itself into a brand which will champion the management, representation and appreciation of the arts. With the vision to be at the forefront of arts consultancy in Nigeria, B & H will recruit young writers, musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, photographers and designers and represent them professionally, helping them curb the stress of image making and publicity surrounding their works. This is to help the young artist succeed in his career, in a very competitive society.

The vision behind the recruitment is to find ways to market these talents, throw them into the consciousness of the people and envisage them being successful and happy people in their chosen careers. This is an extraordinary feat as most artists in Africa work their way through, without managers and agents and this in a way hinders them from achieving more. It is hoped that B & H will help make things easy for them, as the brand will be accepted all over the world.

We are interested in your success as an artist.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Ricoslim - Dream ft Samklef (OFFICIAL VIDEO) AJEfilms/Samklef production



Rico Slim was in my office today. We talked about his career. He is a smart artiste. He knows what he wants. However, I think anyone would mistake his humility for lack of confidence in his art. I'm beginning to believe that there are more younger people out there shaking their worlds, but it's still difficult to hear their voices.

I've always been a fan of SamKlef, especially the single, Labalaba with Skales. And you can always feel the freshness surrounding these guys.

The lyrics will definitely help you.

DREAMS

RICO SLIM a.k.a R.I.C ft. SAMKLEF.

INTRO: Yo!, R.I.C

Samklef on the song

Yes, u know.......

Yo!, dreams

Yeah, ok.

VERSE 1

I have a dream

Matter of fact I have two dreams

Cos I am a happy boy

Never have mood swings

But the industry will wanna make you do things

The truth is I never let go of my

DREAMS

Yeah, straight from my heart mehn!

Bad belle dem, Baba God pass dem

Cos I’m the future and they are like past tense

I never see them, I only see my

DREAMS

Yes na I go dey dream on

Cos they are ups and downs like a see-saw

But free ya’ll cos me i go dey move on

Coz one day I’mma fly like a G4

DREAMS

Yes, till I see more

I go write more songs I go flow more

Coz I have these dreams and I’m so sure

Yes I’m so sure, that one day my..............

CHORUS

Dreams oh!

Sey someday one day

gbo gbo wa ma so ri re (3x)

Ajo ma ko ile mole

Ajo ma lowo lowo

Ajo ma ko ile mole

Ajo ma so rire

VERSE 2

I always used to have big dreams of performing on a stage

And they be talking millions when they wanna pay mehn

Cos I’m sick with the flow like a patient

So I’m praying

AMEN

See I wanna fly high like a plane

And have more hits than Don Baba Jay mehn (Yeah)

And maybe money and fame mehn

So everybody will be calling my name mehn,...

CHILL, what if I have all these

Will it make me happy at least?

But at least I’d be happy cos I getting all the cheese,

So I get down on ma knees, coz my life is on lease

You see?.So me I’mma live life

It’s a free world Jehovah gives life

Keep my eyes on the point like a stiff knife

So the day it’s all over, I’mma see Christ

CHORUS

BRIDGE

Every time I sleep it’s all I see

(i see my dreams)

No matter how them try they can’t stop me

(No, no!)

Make no body tell you sey you nor fit make am, lai lai!!

Make nobody tell you sey, yeah ah!

Oni so rire, yeah ah!!!

Oh, oh, oh, dreams!

No no!!!

Oh oh oh dreams!

Gbo gbo wa ma so ri re!

Oh oh oh oh!


Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Figurine is back in town!

I went to LTV, Ikeja today to see The Figurine, directed by Kunle Afolayan again. This would be the second time I'll be seeing it. I will still see it tomorrow by 12pm and then I will go back to the office.

Truth is, I'm a religious fan of Kunle Afolayan. Yes, I keep thinking about his first film, Irapada, but the truth is that The Figurine is a refined story. It is that story that each character sticks to your heart, after seeing it. Each detail is paid attention to. Are there hitches? I didn't notice them. I paid rapt attention, studying the film like a piece of art. I tried to decipher what makes this story timeless. And I realised it's because of the passion that went into the making of the film and how excited the screenwriters would have felt when they knew they were going to revive Nollywood.

My favourite character in The Figurine is Linda Chukwu, played by the amiable
Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi. She is smart, funny and above all, that character has a sweet charisma. More of such should be recreated in our cinema. The thing is that no matter how jovial and carefree she pretends to be, she is actually the most emotional in the film. What happens to her at the end is what will amaze you.

The Figurine is still showing tomorrow at LTV, Ikeja, by 12pm and 3pm, so please go see it before you become the last to and it will not augur well with you...

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Film Review of DAISY

I have just seen this awesome movie, directed by Nigeria's Bond Emeruwa. It is called DAISY; shot in Ghana and Nigeria.

DAISY is a moving family drama, centred around two families - Ani and Appiah. These are Nigerian and Ghanaian families.

The Appiahs had lived in Nigeria and gone back to Ghana. And before they left, Mrs Appiah had a child at a certian hospital in Lagos and the child was a girl.

The Anis are still in Lagos. Yes, Mrs Ani is actually a lecturer in the Engineering Department of some university here in Lagos, and her husband too. But, the truth is that their daughter, Daisy is an underperforming student, which is the reason why her father, angrily, calls her, a 'nincompoop', when she is asked to withdraw from the department. On this day, we see the emotions displayed by Olu Jacobs, who plays the role of Daisy's father. That scene keeps replaying in my head. I've been through such moment before. And my father had stood that way, but, what my father didn't do was to call me a nincompoop. So, Daisy's father (not Olu Jacobs now!) actually goofed. Such venom could be mistaken and yes, if a father begins to sound way unkind to his daughter, suspicions might arise.

Daisy refuses to withdraw. She has passion for music. "She is busy running around with drop-outs," her mother says. She wants to be an artiste. Her eldest brother detests that and tries to punish her by lying against her to their father when her friend, the musician, in whose music video she has featured, comes to the house to see her.

For the most part, Olu Jacobs adds so much maturity to the level of his delivery. He knows when to hit the audience. He is sober, but at the same time, funny and appeals to anyone seeing his movie for the first time. Each scene is relevant to the heart of the story and connects properly. The mood of every scene is aptly and beautifully handled with the soundtrack. And if Bond Emeruwa had not directed this film, it may not have been as electrifying as it is right now.

Back to the story: Daisy's father begins to doubt the paternity of his daughter: "No member of my family will be an illiterate." That is what he says and that line for me is so unforgettable. If being a musician and dropping out makes one illiterate and Daisy's father thinks no member of his family would behave like that, then doubting the paternity of his daughter isn't the best option. However, that is how the story sets.

Now, we are besieged with emotional scenes that made me weep. Daisy's mother is shocked when her husband comes home and shows her a DNA report that contradicts the paternity of Daisy. Here is where the story really begins.

What I like more about the story, is the flow. It is deep, touching and beautifully told. It is one of those movies you finish watch and you go home and say to yourself, 'Nollywood hides talents."

Saturday, April 9, 2011

End of the Book Fair

The Bayelsa Book Fair ended well. It was a successful outing we had there in Yenagoa. I am yet to get a positive response from our invited guests.

Just few days after it, we played host to the amiable Adaora Mbelu of Nigerian Idol. It was an amazing evening, as OC Ukeje, Sage Hasson, Ifeanyi Dike, Naomi Lucas (who was the compere), MC Erem, Princess Chineke and a lot of bright faces were there. The entire BLUES & HILLS Crew gave me hope that such company will never fail in anything they embark on, because it is just a fusion of able-bodied and intelligent young men, trying to make things happen. They want to reposition the future of Nigerian art. No matter what form it is, it is their duty to celebrate those in them.

Next month, we will be celebrating Ferdinand Adimefe who has been celebrating other people.

But before then, we are onto Nollywood Nights, which will feature speaking engagements in Delhi on African cinema. It will be a headlining event for the Nollywood Film Festival, which will happen in Delhi. Dates have not been chosen yet, for several reasons. However, we have confirmed the participation of directors, Kunle Afolayan, Niji Akanni and Bond Emeruwa. They will be speaking in Delhi and their films will be shown to a large Indian audience, to quickly merge Bollywood and Nollywood into the tradition of collaborative filmmaking.

I have not had any time to rest. I'm working on my second novel, which I hope to finally hand over to my publisher this weekend and then I will focus on the film scripts I have to deliver for someone...

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Bayelsa Book & Craft Fair

I've been sitting infront of my computer throughout today, trying to put finishing touches on the brochure for the Bayelsa Book & Craft Fair and trying to respond to emails that have to do with the event.

It is a good feeling that everything is falling in place, but there tension within my walls. Can I actually pull this off successfully? I am very confident about it.

So, here I will try to update you about the nature of the book event tomorrow.

I've been busy to blog, but the thing is that I will keep my eye on the blog as I want you to.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Delhi University Speech...



I spoke at Delhi University last month and this is a clip of the interview.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

From Nairobi

Day One:

This is my personal story of the trip to Kenya for the Africa Academy Movie Awards Nomination Night in Nairobi. There were others and they have their own stories to tell too.

It is 24th February, 2011, I’m at the airport, waiting at the Kenya Airways Counter for other delegates to arrive, waiting for the airlines to start checking in passengers, to Nairobi.

I’m here very early. Around 6.01pm. I had been informed earlier that I should get there by 7pm. Not the kind who would take chances, I get there early enough. Suddenly, others start arriving. I meet Mr. Bond Emeruwa, President, Directors’ Guild of Nigeria. We exchange pleasantries and we start chatting. Then, as I try to walk around for a bit; this is after I have my boarding pass, I meet Molara Wood, an Editor at NEXT. I’m excited seeing her at the airport. She asks me where I’m heading for, with that beautiful smile on her face and I tell her Nairobi and she says, Same here. Now I’m more excited. We walk towards the Kenya Airways Counter.

The journey begins as others arrive for their boarding passes: Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Jim Iyke, P-Square, Chinedu Ihedieze.

There is a long queue at the Immigration Counters, for departure stamping. We are stuck in the queue for long and we start talking about Binyavanga Wainaina, that famous Kenyan writer; myself and Mr. Bond Emeruwa, who happens to be a close friend of the writer. Unfortunately, the ‘best host in the world’, Binyavanga is in far away New York City and we are going to his home country. He could have hosted us, knowing that he’s the best person to be with each time he arrives Lagos.

Our passports are stamped and we head towards Gate E-54 to board. And we are with Chinedu ‘Aki’ Ihedieze. He has a huge fan base, so all his fans besiege him for photographs. He is already tired and exhausted, but he knows how to control the fame. It hasn’t gotten into his head yet. We move and more fans follow. A man who claims he lives in Durban comes and is very eager to get a shot with him and tells him how proud Nigerians in South Africa are of him. He chats with him for a while and we board.

While on board, I sit in the economy class and all of a sudden, I see Kate Henshaw-Nuttal and Ms Peace Osigwe walking in. Really? They are coming to the same class as me? And the other ‘stars’ are boarding business class? Who’s taking who to Kenya? I ask myself. So, I say to my friend sitting beside me, This kind of humility is annoying. And oh yes, Ms Peace Osigwe seems like she doesn’t care at all.

I’m surprised.

After 25 minutes, our airline lands in Cotonou.

Then, we spend another 25 minutes there before departing finally to Nairobi.

The thing is that I sleep each time I’m on board an aircraft, so I do the same, but each time I open my eyes, I see the bodyguard of P-Square, this huge man, with heavy hands and he keeps walking up and down the aisle of the aircraft. For me, it is very comic and funny. He is still wearing his sun-shades and I laugh each time I see him moving around. Firstly, he appears scary, but then, I see him as very cartoonish.

After some hours, we finally land at Jomo Kenyatta International airport.

I start having bad feelings when I step in, towards the Immigration Counter. It could be a poor version of the Murtala Muhammad airport in Lagos. The airport looks lousy in a way. And then, we start filling up the forms for our visa. Again, I’m very excited, having read Ngugi wa Thiong’o very much and this likeness I have for the Gikuyu language. There is always a ‘K’ in anything a Kenyan says in his language, I say to myself.

We get our visas stamped onto our passport pages.

Then, where the heck is the carousel?

We go there and many of the delegates realize their luggage didn’t arrive with them.

Mine could be seen, but the zips destroyed and the bag left ajar. Open. Luckily, only books and clothes are in the bag, so I don’t bother to check if anything is lost. I bend down and repair the zips, close the bag and carry it with me, mildly.

Those whose luggage haven’t arrived fill up forms to retrieve them. Then we spend many minutes standing around and then we head out to the two buses that have come to pick us up.

Jim Iyke is sitting just infront of me. He is a different Jim from the movies. He has a wonderful sense of humour. He makes everyone laugh each time he talks. They are not laughing, because it is amusing listening to this big shot talk, but because he is really saying funny stuff. Another comedian on the bus is Mr. Emmanuel Isikaku, the President of Movie Marketers’ Association of Nigeria, whose sense of humour is 100%. It is amazing when you listen to him talk. Wise, but very humourous.

Our buses move.

We ride through the streets of Nairobi.

We see a group of commercial motorcyclists and I’m surprised. The traffic is maddening too, like that of Lagos.

Infact, Nairobi is just as congested as Lagos, so I don’t feel alienated here. The streets look similar; the billboards remind me so much of the city I just left.

After a long trip, we made it to Safari Park Hotel & Resort, where we were being lodged. It is exquisitely made and traditionally African. It has the trappings of an ancient palace. We had to again write down our names to get our rooms and when I got mine, one of the bellboys (a man actually), led me to my room, which was Room 100. Awesome number! The key to my room was activated and I moved in.

Incredible Nairobi!

The room is large, with two white-blanketed beds, a large Plasma TV, a fridge stuffed with assorted types of drinks. There is a wardrobe that has thick-woolly night-gowns and the bathroom is heavenly. I quickly rush in and take my bath, spending close to one hour soothing myself and never bothering about sleep. I never get jet-lagged. So, what I do is bath, dress up and then gulp two bottles of Tusker Malt Lager, with Potato Chips, while I write this. And I sit at the terrace of my room, writing, looking out at the green grass sprawling infront of me, a beautiful garden that is surrounded by trees, looking serene and quiet.

AMAA Nominations 2011

Category
Nominated Films
Winners
Best Short Film BOUGFEN – PETRA BANINLA SUNJO (CAMEROUN)
WEAKNESS – WANJIRU KAIRU (KENYA)
NO JERSEY NO MATCH – DANIEL ADEMINOKAN (NIGERIA)
DUTY – MAK KUSARE (NIGERIA)
BONLAMBO – ZWE LESIZWE NTULI (SOUTH AFRICA)
ZEBU AND THE PHOTOFISH – ZIPPORAH NYARORI (KENYA)
DINA – MICKEY FONSECA (MOZAMBIQUE)
ALLAHKABO – BOUNA CHERIF FOFANA (TOGO)

Best Short Documentary SYMPHONY KINSASHA – DIENDO HAMADI & DINTA WA LUSULA (CONGO)
NAIJA DIAMOND (Feature on Dr. Rahmat Mohammed) – NFORM LEONARD (NIGERIA)
AFTER THE MINE - DIENDO HAMADI & DINTA WA LUSULA (DRC)
STEPPING INTO THE UNKNOWN – ROWENA ALDOUS & JILL HANAS-HANCOCK (SOUTH AFRICA)
YEABU’S HOMECOMING – JENNY CHU (SIERRALEONE)

Best Documentary KONDI ET LE JEUDI NATIONALE – ARIANA ASTRID ATODJI (CAMEROUN)
HEADLINES IN HISTORY – ZOBBY BRESSON (KENYA)
CO-EXIST - ADAM MAZO (RWANDA)
STATE OF MIND- DJO TUNDA WA MUNGA (CONGO)
NAIJA DIAMONDS- NFROM LEONARD (NIGERIA)

Best Diaspora Feature SUICIDE DOLLS – KEITH SHAW (USA)
TESTED – RUSSELL COSTANZO (USA)
NOTHING LESS-WAYNE SAUNDERS (UK)
THE VILLAGE -WAYNE SAUNDERS (UK)

Best Diaspora Documentary STUBORN AS A MULE – MILLER BARGERON JR & ARCELOUS DEIELS (USA)
MOMENTUM- ZEINABU IRENE DAVIS (USA)
IF NOT NOW – LOUIS HAGGART (USA)
MOTHERLAND – OWEN ALIK SHAHADAH (USA)
CHANGEMENT – CHIARA CAVALLAZI (ITALY)

Best Diaspora Short Film CYCLE- ROY CLOVIS (USA)
UNDER TOW – MILES ORION FELD (USA)
HABITUAL AGGRESSION – TEMI OJO (USA)
LITTLE SOLDIER – DALLAS KING (USA)
THE NEW N WORD – SOWANDE TICHAWONNA (USA)
PRECIPICE – JULIUS AMEDUME (UK)

Best Film for African Abroad ANCHOR BABY – LONZO NZEKWE (NIGERIA/CANADA)
IN AMERICA: THE STORY OF THE SOUL SISTERS- RAHMAN OLADIGBOLU (NIGERIA/USA)
MIRROR BOY – OBI EMELONYE (NIGERIA/UK)
AFRICA UNITED - DEBS GARDNER-BROOK (RWANDA/UK)

Best Production Design TANGO WITH ME
VIVA RIVA
HOPEVILLE
6 HOURS TO CHRISTMAS
MAAMI

Best Costume Design INALE
YEMOJA
SINKING SANDS
ARAMOTU
ELMINA

Best Make Up INALE
SINKING SANDS
A PRIVATE STORM
VIVA RIVA
A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT

Best Soundtrack VIVA RIVA
AFRICA UNITED
IZULU LAMI
INALE
A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT

Best Visual Effects ARAMOTU
NANI
WHO OWNS DA CITY
INALE
A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT

Best Achievement in Sound SINKING SANDS
SHIRLEY ADAMS
IZULU LAMI
VIVA RIVA
TANGO WITH ME

Best Cinematography SINKING SANDS
MAAMI
IZULU LAMI
HOPEVILLE
VIVA RIVA

Best Screenplay SOUL BOY
SINKING SANDS
HOPEVILLE
SHIRLEY ADAMS
IZULU LAMI

Best Nigerian Film MAAMI - TUNDE KELANI
ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI
TANGO WITH ME – MAHMOOD ALI- BALOGUN
INALE – JETA AMATA
A PRIVATE STORM – LANCELOT ODUWA IMASEUN/IKECHUKWU ONYEKA

Best Film in African Language ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI (NIGERIA)
IZULU LAMI – MADODA NCAYIYANA (SOUTH AFRICA)
SOUL BOY- HAWA ESSUMAN (KENYA)
SUWI – MUSOLA CATHERINE KASEKETI (ZAMBIA)
FISHING THE LITTLE STONE – KAZ KASOZI (UGANDA)

Best Child Actor SOBAHLE MKHABASE (THEMBI), TSCHEPANG MOHLOMI (CHILI-BITE) AND SIBONELO MALINGA(KHWEZI) - IZULU LAMI
ERIYA NDAYAMBAJE- DUDU IN AFRICA UNITED
JORDAN NTUNGA- ANTO IN VIVA RIVA
AYOMIDE ABATTI- YOUNG KASHI IN MAAMI
BENJAMIN ABEMIGISHA- ZEBU IN ZEBU AND THE PHOTOFISH
SHANTEL MWABI- BUPE IN SUWI

Best Young Actor YVES DUSENGE (CHILD SOLDIER) AND ROGER NSENGIYUMUA (FOOTBALLER)- AFRICA UNITED
SAMSON ODHIAMBO AND LEILA DAYAN OPOU - SOUL BOY
EDWARD KAGUTUZI - MIRROR BOY
DONOVAN ADAMS - SHIRLEY ADAMS
JUNIOR SINGO - HOPEVILLE

Best Actor in Supporting Role OSITA IHEME - MIRROR BOY
HOJI FORTUNA - VIVA RIVA
MPILO VUSI KUNENE - A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT
JOHN DUMELO – A PRIVATE STORM
DESMOND DUBE- HOPEVILLE

Best Actress in Supporting Role MARY TWALA - HOPEVILLE
JOYCE NTALABE - THE RIVALING SHADOW
MARLENE LONGAGE- VIVA RIVA
TINA MBA -TANGO WITH ME
YVONNE OKORO - POOL PARTY

Best Actor in Leading Role THEMBA NDABA - HOPEVILLE
PATSHA BAY -VIVA RIVA
JIMMY JEAN-LOUIS - SINKING SANDS
EKON BLANKSON - CHECKMATE
ANTAR LANIYAN - YEMOJA
MAJID MICHAEL – POOL PARTY

Best Actress in Leading Role IDIAT SHOBANDE -ARAMOTU
OMONI OBOLI- ANCHOR BABY
MANIE MALONE - VIVA RIVA
AMAKE ABEBRESE- SINKING SANDS
DENISE NEWMAN -SHIRLEY ADAMS
GENEVIEVE NNAJI – TANGO WITH ME

Best Director SOUL BOY - HAWA ESSUMAN
SHIRLEY ADAMS – OLIVER HERMANUS
VIVA RIVA – DJO TUNDA WA MUNGA
ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI
A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT – JAHMAIL. X. T QUBEKA
SINKING SANDS – LEILA DJANSI

Best Film VIVA RIVA – DJO TUNDA WA MUNGA (CONGO)
SINKING SANDS – LEILA DJANSI (GHANA)
ARAMOTU – NIJI AKANNI (NIGERIA)
SOUL BOY – HAWA ESSUMAN (KENYA)
HOPEVILLE – JOHN TRENGOVE (SOUTH AFRICA)
A SMALL TOWN CALLED DESCENT - JAHMIL X.T QUBEKA (SOUTH AFRICA)