STUNNING: 2013 African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) Winners List

The first African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) which was sponsored by Amstel Malta took place Saturday Night at the prestigious Eko Hotel in Victoria Island Lagos. Amstel Malta sponsored the Awards in partnership with Multi Choice TV and attracted the best of Nollywood actors and actresses including Liz Benson and others veterans who have been out of limelight for years.

The legendary Nigerian movie Olu Jacobs and his renowned actress wife Joke Silva were at the event that attracted the best in the industry including Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jelade, St. Obi, Stephanie Okereke among others.

The evening was blessed with performances by music and comedy icons like Femi Kuti who sang Bang bang bang at the beginning of the show. He also made the closing appearance  but not before the likes of Inyanya and Banky had time to trill the hundreds of Nigerians and other nationals who attended the programme.

It was fun at the beginning and through most of the events with actors and actresses who were supposed to win awards being called out to announce winners rather. Those who presented awards to winners include Genevieve Nnaji, Richard Mofe Damijo alongside Rita Dominic, Stephanie Okereke, Chinedu Ikebuife, Nadia Buari, Joke Silva, Desmond Elliot and Jim Iyk among others.

Olu Jacobs was honored with the industry’s Merit Award while Tunde Kelani won the Best Local Language movies (Yoruba) category. Mercy Johnson who recently had a baby in the United States got the Best Actress in Comedy award which was received on her behalf by Patience Ozokwor (Mama G).

The low point of the event was when Okechukwu Ukeje’s name was announced as the Best Actor in Drama, the hall went quiet as people could not believe their eyes and what they heard.

As if he knew that an arrangement has been put in place for his day of glory, Ukeje had been very visible throughout the period the event lasted from the red carpet interviews to the show proper. He also presented awards to winners twice within the night.

The eyebrows that were raised by the attendees may have been related to the fact that Amstel Malta, sponsors of the award ceremony was the organization that threw up Ukeje in the first place. He was once a winner of the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) competition and the have been sponsored to other competitions since then. There were suspicions that his victory must have been influenced by the sponsors of the Awards as a way to further promote the Amstel brand.

Ukeje began his career in acting from his first year at the University of Lagos with a lead role on a stage play. His father, a caterer and his mum,  a civil servant were ever supportive and he went on to pursue both music and acting focusing on the acting, on stage plays specifically for the first 4 years of his career, before attempting and winning a reality TV show for actors, Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO).

At the Awards, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Petroleum Deizeani Madueke congratulated African Magic and MNET for the show. He said Africa is now a much sought after market for entertainment which was a reversal of what obtained in the past.
He promised his administration’s determination to continue to support Nollywood for the best interest of the country.

Others who spoke there include Minister of Trade and Industry Olusegn Aganga, that of Culture and tourism.


2013 African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) Winners include:

Best Costume Designer – Ngozi Obasi (The Mirror Boy)

 Best make up Artiste– Jacgui Bannermen (Otele Burning)

Best Art Director – Anita Van Hermet & Chantel Carter (Otelo Burning)

Best Lighting Design – Dave Howe (Otele Burning) Click read more to see the rest of the winners.

Best Cinematography – Paul Michelson (Man on Ground)

Best Writer in a Comedy – Tim Greene (Skeem)

Best Local Language Swahili – Sameer Srivastava (The Ray of Hope)

Best Local Language Hausa – A. Ali and Hafizu Bello (Faida Nura)

Best Local Language Yoruba – Tunde Kelani (Maami)

Best Television Series – Godfrey & Marie Lora-Mungai (The XYZ Show)

Best writer Drama – Precious & Amaka Obi Emelonye. (The Mirror Boy)

Best Short Film – Ngendo mukii (Yellow Fever)

Best Actress in a Comedy – Mercy Johnson (Dumebi the Dirty Girl)

Best Actor In A Comedy – Hafiz Oyetoro (House Apart)

Best Supporting Actress In A Drama – Maureen Koech (Lies that Bind)

Best Supporting Actor In A Drama – Mathew Nabwiso (A Good Catholic Girl)

Best Actress In A Drama – Jackie Appiah (Perfect Picture)

Best Actor In A Drama – O.C Ukeje (Two Brides And A Baby)

Best Movie Director – Akin Omotoso (Man On Ground)

Best Comedy Movie – Tim Greene (Skeem)

Best Movie In A Drama – Obi Emelonye (The Mirror Boy)

Best Movie Overall – Othelo Burning by Sara Blecher..