The AMVCA has come and
gone. Charles Novia a renowned Nigerian
film director, actor and social commentator has put pen to paper to express his thought on the AMVCA.
gone. Charles Novia a renowned Nigerian
film director, actor and social commentator has put pen to paper to express his thought on the AMVCA.
He thinks AMVCA was glamorous but lacked the necessary glits. This piece is very witty and interesting. Please
enjoy
enjoy
”At 21:52 pm CAT, when
IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai, hosts of the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards,
had signed off from the show and brought in P Square, I was left scratching my
head a bit as I walked out slowly out of the hall with some of the invited
guests.
IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai, hosts of the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards,
had signed off from the show and brought in P Square, I was left scratching my
head a bit as I walked out slowly out of the hall with some of the invited
guests.
I was puzzled. There
was something about this year’s AMVCA which lacked the punch the last two
editions had. I couldn’t place my finger on it and it kept nagging me all night
as I played the event over and over in my mind.
was something about this year’s AMVCA which lacked the punch the last two
editions had. I couldn’t place my finger on it and it kept nagging me all night
as I played the event over and over in my mind.
You see, I have
attended lots of high-profile events and the AMVCA is one I always look forward
to attending, not just as a filmmaker but also as a reviewer and this year’s
was no exception. And the chaps at MNET have told me a number of times that my
annual reviews are read sometimes in post-event meetings and no matter how
scathing the reviews might be in some areas, they good-naturedly take the
corrections and plan to plug loopholes for the next edition.
attended lots of high-profile events and the AMVCA is one I always look forward
to attending, not just as a filmmaker but also as a reviewer and this year’s
was no exception. And the chaps at MNET have told me a number of times that my
annual reviews are read sometimes in post-event meetings and no matter how
scathing the reviews might be in some areas, they good-naturedly take the
corrections and plan to plug loopholes for the next edition.
And so, I decided to
understand more of the behind-the-scenes planning of the AMVCA this year. A day
before the event, I silently sneaked into the hall at Eko Hotels and Suites,
where I watched the professional crew rehearse both the presenters and the host
and hostess, painstakingly. No one really noticed me in the hall and the
attention to detail during the rehearsals was impressive.
understand more of the behind-the-scenes planning of the AMVCA this year. A day
before the event, I silently sneaked into the hall at Eko Hotels and Suites,
where I watched the professional crew rehearse both the presenters and the host
and hostess, painstakingly. No one really noticed me in the hall and the
attention to detail during the rehearsals was impressive.
I only spent thirty minutes in the hall but I
appreciated the efforts put in by the crew.
appreciated the efforts put in by the crew.
And so, the evening of
the show came upon us all. And walking on the red carpet to the main hall, one
had to appreciate the fashion sense on display. I can bet that the fashion and make-up industry must have made a few
millions in Nigeria yesterday because of the AMVCA. Everyone looked quite glam
in their own estimation!
the show came upon us all. And walking on the red carpet to the main hall, one
had to appreciate the fashion sense on display. I can bet that the fashion and make-up industry must have made a few
millions in Nigeria yesterday because of the AMVCA. Everyone looked quite glam
in their own estimation!
Everyone? So, it seemed to me, even though I
can safely say that the fashion on display was a combination of the
outstanding, the outlandish and the
outrageous! Fashion wise, I think the irrepresible Denrele Edun flew over the
cuckoo’s nest. LMAOOOO
can safely say that the fashion on display was a combination of the
outstanding, the outlandish and the
outrageous! Fashion wise, I think the irrepresible Denrele Edun flew over the
cuckoo’s nest. LMAOOOO
I noticed earlier a
masked lady walking the red carpet and thought to myself that someone was
perhaps doing an artistic Peter Cech of Chelsea on the red carpet. Imagine my
surprise when the ‘lady’ walked up to me and called my name in Denrele’s voice!
It was Denrele, dressed as a lady, with butt pads and all!
masked lady walking the red carpet and thought to myself that someone was
perhaps doing an artistic Peter Cech of Chelsea on the red carpet. Imagine my
surprise when the ‘lady’ walked up to me and called my name in Denrele’s voice!
It was Denrele, dressed as a lady, with butt pads and all!
‘Uncle Charles, that’s
the idea!’ He laughed as I took a picture with him, telling him in the process
that he was crazy! Did I say he was doing a Cech? Change that to Bruce Jenner,
maybe! I can safely say though, that Seyi Shay could take appropriate dress
lessons from Denrele though, when next she’s performing for the President or
top dignitaries!
the idea!’ He laughed as I took a picture with him, telling him in the process
that he was crazy! Did I say he was doing a Cech? Change that to Bruce Jenner,
maybe! I can safely say though, that Seyi Shay could take appropriate dress
lessons from Denrele though, when next she’s performing for the President or
top dignitaries!
But I digress.
The show started at
6.30pm CAT with an opening performance by an African dance troupe. An interesting
monologue by Osas Ighodaro, dressed somewhat like an African queen, asked the
niggling African question ‘What if I am African?’.
6.30pm CAT with an opening performance by an African dance troupe. An interesting
monologue by Osas Ighodaro, dressed somewhat like an African queen, asked the
niggling African question ‘What if I am African?’.
I don’t know how the Shakira-styled hip
shaking which Osas and a couple of female dancers did while that question was
being asked, had to do with being African but I kinda thought those hips
onstage lied a bit during the wriggle.
shaking which Osas and a couple of female dancers did while that question was
being asked, had to do with being African but I kinda thought those hips
onstage lied a bit during the wriggle.
The opening performance
was average, in my opinion. It seemed more like the kind of performance for a
boring gala night for African Heads of states than for a top profile event like
AMVCA.
was average, in my opinion. It seemed more like the kind of performance for a
boring gala night for African Heads of states than for a top profile event like
AMVCA.
That flat opening skit
set the tone for the drone first half of the show. The show dragged a bit and
looking at some faces seated in the hall, behind the heavily caked make-up of
some people in the hall, one saw a bit of irritation during the first thirty
minutes of the show.
set the tone for the drone first half of the show. The show dragged a bit and
looking at some faces seated in the hall, behind the heavily caked make-up of
some people in the hall, one saw a bit of irritation during the first thirty
minutes of the show.
IK and Vimbai tried to
spike up the show those first few minutes. However, I had the feeling that
Vimbai’s sing-song voice wasn’t helping the nerves in the hall. IK and Vimbai
tried a couple of banter which the audience received with polite laughter. IK cracked
a joke about make-up and how a white lady he shagged turned out to be Mercy
Johnson the next morning! Now, that was…well..politically inappropriate…for
lack of a better phrase. That joke was overboard and IK got away with it,
perhaps. Anyway, I think IK and Vimbai found their presenting mojo later in the
show though.
spike up the show those first few minutes. However, I had the feeling that
Vimbai’s sing-song voice wasn’t helping the nerves in the hall. IK and Vimbai
tried a couple of banter which the audience received with polite laughter. IK cracked
a joke about make-up and how a white lady he shagged turned out to be Mercy
Johnson the next morning! Now, that was…well..politically inappropriate…for
lack of a better phrase. That joke was overboard and IK got away with it,
perhaps. Anyway, I think IK and Vimbai found their presenting mojo later in the
show though.
Nonso Diobi and Linda
Ejiofor came onstage to present the first award of the night. Nonso seemed to
like the sound of his voice as he went on a bit about how it was a tough
category and how every nominee bla bla bla.Next time, keep it straight and
simple, please!
Ejiofor came onstage to present the first award of the night. Nonso seemed to
like the sound of his voice as he went on a bit about how it was a tough
category and how every nominee bla bla bla.Next time, keep it straight and
simple, please!
Next duo of Presenters
were Akin Lewis and Oge Okoye. Oge Okoye got quite some appreciative applause
from the audience for her outfit. By the way, I think her character in ‘Hotel
Majestic’ is one of my favourite characters in the serial and she interpretes
that role quite well.
were Akin Lewis and Oge Okoye. Oge Okoye got quite some appreciative applause
from the audience for her outfit. By the way, I think her character in ‘Hotel
Majestic’ is one of my favourite characters in the serial and she interpretes
that role quite well.
During the commercial
breaks in the hall, the audience was a bit restless. Last year, there was a
Disc Jockey who spinned some vibes which kept the audience all hyped up by the
time the cameras returned to the live event. I wonder why that was not the case
this year? Africa needs to see excited faces all thrilled and happy at the end
of such breaks. Little details such as those help the overall tempo of the
event. And what was wrong with the cooling system in the hall? The temperature
was quite humid in most areas inside the hall and not a few people were fanning
themselves.
breaks in the hall, the audience was a bit restless. Last year, there was a
Disc Jockey who spinned some vibes which kept the audience all hyped up by the
time the cameras returned to the live event. I wonder why that was not the case
this year? Africa needs to see excited faces all thrilled and happy at the end
of such breaks. Little details such as those help the overall tempo of the
event. And what was wrong with the cooling system in the hall? The temperature
was quite humid in most areas inside the hall and not a few people were fanning
themselves.
Tunde Babalola won two
awards in the Writing categories and gave kudos to both Kunle Afolayan and
Mildred Okwo, the Producers of the films which won him both awards in seperate
categories.
awards in the Writing categories and gave kudos to both Kunle Afolayan and
Mildred Okwo, the Producers of the films which won him both awards in seperate
categories.
Tola Odunsi of ‘Tinsel’
and the dreadlocked actor in ‘Hotel Majestic’ presented the ‘Best Editor’ award
to Victoria Akujobi, a young lady. She kept giggling shyly in her acceptance
speech like a village virgin and her gush got the audience laughing too. It was heartwarming though to see that a
woman won in that category, which is usually male dominated.
and the dreadlocked actor in ‘Hotel Majestic’ presented the ‘Best Editor’ award
to Victoria Akujobi, a young lady. She kept giggling shyly in her acceptance
speech like a village virgin and her gush got the audience laughing too. It was heartwarming though to see that a
woman won in that category, which is usually male dominated.
One of the
disappointments of the event was the performance by the Mavins. It was below
par. I do not know how it looked to those who watched it live on television but
to us in the hall, it didn’t do jack. They performed their hit song ‘Dorobucci’
and I must say that maybe the audience was ‘Doro-weary’ because the performance
lacked excitement.
disappointments of the event was the performance by the Mavins. It was below
par. I do not know how it looked to those who watched it live on television but
to us in the hall, it didn’t do jack. They performed their hit song ‘Dorobucci’
and I must say that maybe the audience was ‘Doro-weary’ because the performance
lacked excitement.
The artistes kept singing over each other’s
lines in an ‘I-too-know’ kind of way. Dija sang ( or rather mimed) for Tiwa
Savage who was absent probably for obvious reasons-pregnancy or another
engagement? The performance was sluggish and received just some polite
applause. I wonder why they didn’t move the audience much. I can only believe
that it must be because their appearance in the awards was massively overhyped
and people really didn’t have anything to look forward to. It was a bit too
much of MTN to have hyped their performance so much before the awards that when
they came up and we all expected a bomb (oops..no apologies to Boko Haram!)all
we got was a firecracker!
lines in an ‘I-too-know’ kind of way. Dija sang ( or rather mimed) for Tiwa
Savage who was absent probably for obvious reasons-pregnancy or another
engagement? The performance was sluggish and received just some polite
applause. I wonder why they didn’t move the audience much. I can only believe
that it must be because their appearance in the awards was massively overhyped
and people really didn’t have anything to look forward to. It was a bit too
much of MTN to have hyped their performance so much before the awards that when
they came up and we all expected a bomb (oops..no apologies to Boko Haram!)all
we got was a firecracker!
Funlola Aifoyebi and
Ali Nuhu had quite a good banter on stage as they presented the ‘Best
Indigenous Language-Hausa’ awards. And when Fathia Balogun won in the Yoruba
category, she identified with her roots by revealing that she’s just an Urhobo
Babe who speaks Yoruba fluently, even though she had a couple of her Yoruba
‘supporters club’ members with her
onstage.
Ali Nuhu had quite a good banter on stage as they presented the ‘Best
Indigenous Language-Hausa’ awards. And when Fathia Balogun won in the Yoruba
category, she identified with her roots by revealing that she’s just an Urhobo
Babe who speaks Yoruba fluently, even though she had a couple of her Yoruba
‘supporters club’ members with her
onstage.
Obi Emelonye, who won
in the Igbo category, commendably spiked the audience with his Igbo acceptance
speech, after Mike Ezuronye had gingered the category with his ‘Igbo Kwenu’
greetings.
in the Igbo category, commendably spiked the audience with his Igbo acceptance
speech, after Mike Ezuronye had gingered the category with his ‘Igbo Kwenu’
greetings.
Comedians, Eddie Kadi
and Basketmouth gave good account of themselves in their stand-up segments.
and Basketmouth gave good account of themselves in their stand-up segments.
Tuface Idibia also
performed. I felt it was an average performance. Maybe it had to do with the
din from his live band or his raunchy-looking dancers onstage, which seemed
unlike Tuface. I’m wondering if he’s trying hard at this period in his career
to show us he too can do the lewd background dancers stuff too? I think he’s
too much of a superstar to fall for that.
performed. I felt it was an average performance. Maybe it had to do with the
din from his live band or his raunchy-looking dancers onstage, which seemed
unlike Tuface. I’m wondering if he’s trying hard at this period in his career
to show us he too can do the lewd background dancers stuff too? I think he’s
too much of a superstar to fall for that.
Ivie Okujaye, another
actress who has impressed me in her outing on ‘Hotel Majestic’, presented The
Trailblazer Award which was won by CJ Obasi. Obasi climbed up the stage and
seemed to snatch the microphone from Ivie! LMAO!
actress who has impressed me in her outing on ‘Hotel Majestic’, presented The
Trailblazer Award which was won by CJ Obasi. Obasi climbed up the stage and
seemed to snatch the microphone from Ivie! LMAO!
The late Amaka Igwe got
a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented by Richard
Mofe-Damijo, whose voice broke in pain when he called up Charles Igwe to
receive the award on her behalf. The whole hall gave a standing ovation in her
honour. Rest in peace, Amaka. It was heartwarming to note that she was
remembered and honoured. Before that category, the names of the departed
artistes in the past year scrolled across the screen, most poignantly was Muna
Obiekwe’s.
a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented by Richard
Mofe-Damijo, whose voice broke in pain when he called up Charles Igwe to
receive the award on her behalf. The whole hall gave a standing ovation in her
honour. Rest in peace, Amaka. It was heartwarming to note that she was
remembered and honoured. Before that category, the names of the departed
artistes in the past year scrolled across the screen, most poignantly was Muna
Obiekwe’s.
OC Ukeje won the ‘Best
Actor in a drama’ category, making it
the second time he would be winning an AMVCA. He was gracious enough to
recognise Peace Anyiam-Osigwe of AMAA who gave him his big break, according to
him. His award was presented to him by Genevieve Nnaji , who really looked good
in her evening gown. Genevieve though, made a slip when she extolled Amstel
Malta. She announced that the winner in that category gets a million naira and
six months of Amstel Malta, a brand which she endorses as a brand ambassador.
Actor in a drama’ category, making it
the second time he would be winning an AMVCA. He was gracious enough to
recognise Peace Anyiam-Osigwe of AMAA who gave him his big break, according to
him. His award was presented to him by Genevieve Nnaji , who really looked good
in her evening gown. Genevieve though, made a slip when she extolled Amstel
Malta. She announced that the winner in that category gets a million naira and
six months of Amstel Malta, a brand which she endorses as a brand ambassador.
She ended her speech by
cheekily saying ‘Get fat!’. Huh? I thought Amstel Malta projects itself as a
low sugar, healthy, low fat beverage? Why would a brand ambassador quip on
international television that it has fat, even if it was light-hearted? If I
talk now, una go say….anyway. Lef matter.
cheekily saying ‘Get fat!’. Huh? I thought Amstel Malta projects itself as a
low sugar, healthy, low fat beverage? Why would a brand ambassador quip on
international television that it has fat, even if it was light-hearted? If I
talk now, una go say….anyway. Lef matter.
Kunle Afolayan won the
‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Movie’ categories and I think it was well deserved.
‘October 1′ is quite a formidable movie. Congrats, Kunle.
‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Movie’ categories and I think it was well deserved.
‘October 1′ is quite a formidable movie. Congrats, Kunle.
The show ended with a
performance by P Square, which was more for the watching viewers as most of the
guests trooped out of the hall.
performance by P Square, which was more for the watching viewers as most of the
guests trooped out of the hall.
Having observed a bit
of the rehearsals a day before, I must commend the organisers for planning an
event which had less mistakes this year. Everyone seemed guarded and one could
not really point to any bloopers during the awards. However, in my honest
opinion, I think the event lacked the full punch.
of the rehearsals a day before, I must commend the organisers for planning an
event which had less mistakes this year. Everyone seemed guarded and one could
not really point to any bloopers during the awards. However, in my honest
opinion, I think the event lacked the full punch.
Perhaps the show had
been overhyped and one expected more? Or what? Let me put it this way; the show
scores full marks for glamour. I am yet
to see a more glamourous entertainment event like the AMVCA. But the excitement
for the show itself was damp. My thoughts? Next year, give us a surprise guest
appearance or something. I can bet that current raves like Kiss Daniels could
have spiked that crowd.
been overhyped and one expected more? Or what? Let me put it this way; the show
scores full marks for glamour. I am yet
to see a more glamourous entertainment event like the AMVCA. But the excitement
for the show itself was damp. My thoughts? Next year, give us a surprise guest
appearance or something. I can bet that current raves like Kiss Daniels could
have spiked that crowd.
Give us better entertainment
value. A movie award show should leave the audience and viewers gasping. This
year, people are going to talk more about who wore what ( or is it who wore who
as those sneer-inducing Naija red carpet presenters would ask!)than who won
which. Perhaps a Bovi could join next year as host or even Eddie Kadi or
Basketmouth? Perhaps something not expected could be added to the show? It’s
Africa Magic, come on! Where did the magic go?
value. A movie award show should leave the audience and viewers gasping. This
year, people are going to talk more about who wore what ( or is it who wore who
as those sneer-inducing Naija red carpet presenters would ask!)than who won
which. Perhaps a Bovi could join next year as host or even Eddie Kadi or
Basketmouth? Perhaps something not expected could be added to the show? It’s
Africa Magic, come on! Where did the magic go?
And something has to be
upgraded about the writers who scripted the show? I didn’t feel the jokes, if
any. The Presenters mostly improvised unlike last year which had a good script
prompt. This year was quite bland.
upgraded about the writers who scripted the show? I didn’t feel the jokes, if
any. The Presenters mostly improvised unlike last year which had a good script
prompt. This year was quite bland.
The 2015 AMVCA had the
best of glamour and much guts. I just didn’t see the glitter in the event”.
best of glamour and much guts. I just didn’t see the glitter in the event”.