Entertainment
2023 AMVCA’s Top Four Female Nominees
The Nigerian film and movie industry and the continent at large are gearing up for another exciting edition of the prestigious Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA) organized by MultiChoice. This year’s nominees list is a testament to the growth of the film and movie industry in Nigeria. Among the nominees are some A-list female acts who are no strangers to the AMVCA stage. Listed in no particular order here are four female nominees to watch out for.
Funke Akindele
Funke Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa, has made her mark on the big screen. She won the Best Actress in a Comedy award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for her lead role in the show Jenifa’s Diary. She repeated the feat in 2020 and earned nine nominations in 2022, including Best Actress for her movie ‘Omo Ghetto’. This year, Funke Akindele’s ‘Battle on Buka Street’ has garnered ten nominations, surpassing her previous record.
Mercy Johnson
Mercy Johnson’s career in the Nigerian film industry speaks for itself. She has been recognized for her onscreen talent with multiple AMVCA nominations, dating back to 2013 when she was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy, alongside Funke Akindele. In 2022, she was nominated for her role in the movie ‘The New Normal’ as Best Supporting Actress. This year, she is a contender in the category for Best Actress in a Comedy/TV Series.
Osas Ighodaro
Osas Ighodaro, a former beauty queen and winner of the Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 8th edition of the AMVCAs, has been in the acting industry since 2014. She also co-hosted the 2014 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards. This year, she is gunning for a consecutive grab. Osas is a contender for the Best Actress in a Drama, Movie, or TV Series category for her performance in the movie ‘Man of God’.
Bimbo Ademoye
Bimbo Ademoye is a rising star in the Nigerian movie industry, known for her versatile acting skills and ability to take on multiple roles. She has been nominated for three awards at the 9th Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA), including Best Actress in a Comedy, Best Online Social Content Creator, and Best Actress in a Drama. She began her acting career in 2014 with the short film ‘Where Talent Lies’ and was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy/TV Series at the AMVCA in 2018 and 2022 for her roles in the films ‘Backup Wife’ and ‘Breaded Life’, respectively.
Other returning AMVCA nominees to watch out for include Sola Sobowale, Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, and Toni Tones. Voting has commenced. Visit Africa Magic website– www.africamagic.tv/amvca to vote for your favourite nominee(s).
The AMVCA 9 will be a three-day event from May 18-20, 2023, celebrating the talents of African film production, culture, fashion, music, and more. The awards are proudly brought to you by Africa Magic in Association with Multichoice and sponsored by Amstel Malta and Zagg Energy Drink. Join the conversation using the hashtag #AMVCA9 and follow @africamagictv for live tweets.
Entertainment
Actor Lalude Laments Unpaid N1.5m Promised Him by MC Oluomo to Campaign for Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu
Nollywood actor, Fatai Adekunle Adetayo, popularly known as Lalude, has accused the president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), MC Oluomo, of failing to fulfil financial promises made to celebrities who campaigned for President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Beyond the Fame podcast, Lalude expressed deep disappointment over what he described as abandonment, revealing that he and other entertainers were promised N1.5 million each by MC Oluomo but never received a dime.
Lalude, known for his iconic ‘babalawo’ roles in Yoruba movies, said he and other actors, including comedian Ganiu ‘Alapini’ Nofiu, were lodged and made to campaign for weeks without proper compensation.
According to him, they initially received N10,000 daily for feeding, but even that was stopped abruptly.
“We were camped for seven weeks. We trekked long distances every day while MC Oluomo followed us in his car. In the end, we were abandoned,” he lamented.
He claimed that both he and Alapini were promised N1.5 million each, a promise that was never fulfilled.
‘We finished the work and no dime was given to us. Is it good? It was MC who called us.
“MC promised me and Alapini. He asked us to demand for whatever we wanted. We did but we got nothing up till date.
“He took us to where we lodged to campaign for the president. He promised to give us N1.5 million each.
“Whoever is behind these misdeeds will not prosper. I know they will still come to us by 2027 and we are waiting for them?” He added bitterly.
This comes just days after veteran Nollywood actor Ganiu Nafiu, popularly known as Alapini, and actress Bukky Adekogbe Raji, also known as Aminatu Papapa, expressed deep regret for supporting President Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Popular Nigerian film and stage producer, Kayode Peters, has passed away in Canada.
“Yes, he is,” Yaw told Peoples Gazette when asked if Mr Peters had died. “I am still trying to speak with his brother but he is not picking.”
Circumstances surrounding the producer’s death remain unclear as of the time of this report.
Mr Peters was known for his work on several stage plays and sitcoms, including Extended Family, and he was behind the hit comedy sitcom Flatmates in the early 2000s. He was also regarded as a significant contributor to Nigeria’s contemporary theatre and television space.
Anna Wintour has stepped down as the editor-in-chief of Vogue after an impressive 37-year tenure.
According to recent reports, Condé Nast, the publisher of Vogue, has initiated the search for her successor.
This significant development marks a new era in the fashion industry, given Wintour’s unparalleled influence in shaping Vogue’s editorial direction and cementing its position as a global fashion authority.
As Wintour’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of fashion enthusiasts and industry professionals, her departure raises questions about Vogue’s future direction and the potential shifts in editorial focus.
However, the circumstances surrounding her departure remain undisclosed.
