Kenya hosts African Oscars this weekend

      Nairobi is about to witness a major invasion of Nollywood stars as several major Nollywood actors are set to descend on Nairobi for the AMAA (Afican Movie Academy Awards) nomination night and musical concert. 

    The African Movie Academy Awards or the “African Oscars” have not attained the pomp and colour associated with the American Oscars but we are heading there.
The seventh edition of the awards has the 2011 Nomination Night scheduled in Nairobi this Sunday, two months ahead of the award ceremony.

The African Movie Academy Awards is an offshoot of the African Film Academy and aims at honouring the brightest and best actors, actresses, directors and writers in the African film industry, besides promoting their works internationally.

     The best year for Kenya at the African Oscars was in 2009 the country had seven entries. That year, Wanuri Kahiu won five awards including Best Picture and Director with her bomb blast inspired film, From a Whisper.

   Last year there were only two local films. Judy Kibinge’s Peace wanted Alive, a documentary on the 2007 post election violence, and Nathan Collet’s Togetherness Supreme that was entered in the Best Film in African Language category.

   The film, also about post election violence bagged Wilson Maina Most promising actor Award while Teddy Onyango and Bill Oloo, won for Best Performances by a Child Actor. “It feels great” said Collect.

    The Best Picture in the Africa Oscars 2010 went to Nigerian director, Kunle Afolayan’s film, Figurine, which also won AMAA Achievement in Cinematography, while the Best Directors award went to Ghana’s Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s film, The Perfect Picture.

The awards ceremony was held in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Local actor Godfrey Odhiambo, a 2009 AMAA nominee for Best Actor in a Lead Role co-hosted the 2010 awards with Nollywood star, Rita Dominic.

Ama website