The 20th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) took place on November 2, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, celebrating top achievements in African cinema. The event brought together filmmakers from around the world and honored new talent with a strong lineup of awards.
Nollywood’s Segun Arinze and Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas hosted the ceremony, which featured lively performances by Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti, Yinka Davies, and other artists like Narh Tettey, Bedwei Kwaku, and Adina Thembi.
A respected jury, led by film curator Dorothee Wenner, judged the nominated films and recognized outstanding talent and storytelling.
The Nigerian drama The Weekend took home the “Best Film Award” for both Nigeria and Africa. Nigerian filmmaker Femi Adebayo won “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” for his work in Jagun Jagun, a historical thriller that also won awards for Visual Effects and Make-up.
Elsie Abang was named “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” for her role in KIPKEMBOI, and Michell Lemuya won “Best Young Promising Actor” for NAWI.
In lead roles, South Africa’s Zolisa Xaluva won “Best Actor in a Leading Role” for The Queenstown King, while Ghana’s Jackie Appiah earned “Best Actress in a Leading Role” for her performance in Red Carpet.
Harry Bentil’s Letters to Goddo won “Best Feature Film by a Director,” and The Queenstown Kings director Jahmil X.T. Qubeka took home the award for “Best Director.”
The ceremony also included Lifetime Achievement Awards for Souleymane Cissé (Mali), Nacer Khemir (Tunisia), and Haile Gerima (Ethiopia). Special recognition awards went to Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon) and Zimbabwean author and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga for their contributions to African cinema.
Here’s the full list of AMAA 2024 winners:
Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film
- The Last Shoe Maker (Uganda)- WINNER
- Seben (Mali)
- Dear Future Wife (South Africa)
- Isolated (Nigeria)
- Joia (Angola)
- Strike A Blow And Die (Malawi)
- Don’t Call Me Beautiful (Ghana)
- Sins Of A Father (Zimbabwe/USA)
Jubril Malafia Award for Best Animation
- Heavy Crown (Libya)
- Counter Punch (Kenya) – WINNER
- Journey of the Legend (Cameroon)
- Hadu (Nigeria)
- Between Paya and Koulou (Senegal)
- Oya (The goddess of gods) (Nigeria)
- Set Pieces (Sudan)
Best Documentary
- A Quand L’Afrique (Congo Brazzaville)
- The Night Still Smells of Gun Powder (Mozambique) – WINNER
- The Return Train (Mali)
- Gateway To Dreams (Cameroon)
- Rainbow Nation (South Africa)
- Dela- The Making of EL-Anatsui (Nigeria)
- Donga (Libya)
- Rising Up At Night (DRC)
Best Diaspora Short Film
- The Neighbourhood Alert (USA)- WINNER
- Bottled Up (Jamaica)
- The Golden Boy (USA)
Best Diaspora Documentary
- The Wu Tang Clan: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA) – WINNER
- A Rising Tide (USA)
- Colour (USA)
Best Diaspora Narrative Feature
- Outlaw Posse (USA)- WINNER
- Mickey Hardaway (USA)
- Love After Holidays (USA)
Michael Anyiam Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad
- Out Of Breath (Nigeria/UK)
- Orah (Nigeria/Canada)
- Isolated (Nigeria/UK)
- Under The Hanging Tree (Namibia/UK)- WINNER
- Kipkemboi (Nigeria/ Canada)
Ousmane Sembène Award for Best Film in an African Language
- Makula (Uganda)
- Jagun Jagun (Nigeria)
- The Queenstown Kings (South Africa)- WINNER
- Kaka (Nigeria)
- Eskhalemi Sikantombella (South Africa)
- Unheard (Uganda)
- Out of Breath (Nigeria)
Achievement in Costume Design
- The Beads
- The Weekend
- White and Black
- Jagun Jagun
- The Queenstown Kings
- Mai Martaba- WINNER
- Out of Breath
Achievement in Make-Up
- The Weekend
- Nawi
- Letters to Goddo
- Out of Breath
- Jagun Jagun – WINNER
- Anjola
- White and Black
Achievement in Visual Effects
- Kipkemboi
- Jagun Jagun- WINNER
- Under The Hanging Tree
- The Weekend
- Bokwagter
- Out of Breath
Achievement in Soundtrack
- The Weekend
- Under the Hanging Tree
- The Queenstown Kings
- Orah
- Mojisola
- Red Carpet
- Boda Love – WINNER
Achievement in Sound
- A Smile, A Wink and a Tear
- The Weekend
- Under the Hanging Tree
- The Queenstown Kings- WINNER
- Boda Love
- Kipkemboi
- Boda Love
Achievement in Production Design
- Orah
- The Queenstown Kings
- The Weekend
- Jagun Jagun
- Kipkemboi
- Makula
- Out of Breath- WINNER
Achievement in Cinematography
- The Weekend- WINNER
- Nawi
- Kipkemboi
- Letters to Goddo
- This is Lagos
- The Queenstown Kings
- A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
Achievement in Editing
- Under The Hanging Tree- WINNER
- The Weekend
- This is Lagos
- Nawi
- Kipkemboi
- The Beads
- Anjola
Achievement in Screenplay
- Under The Hanging Tree
- The Weekend- WINNER
- Letter To Goddo
- This is Lagos
- Boda love
- The Queenstown Kings
- Out of Breath
National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Award for Best Nigerian Film
- The Weekend- WINNER
- This is Lagos
- Afamefuna
- Jagun Jagun
- Mai Martaba
- A Smile, A wink and a tear
- Out of Breath
Best Young/Promising Actor
- Michell Lemuya (Nawi)- WINNER
- Likhona Mgali (The Queenstown Kings)
- Agape mngomezulu (Orah)
- William Dias (Bokwagter)
- Kofi Adu-Gyamfi (Tejiri)
- Ruby Akubueze (She)
- Fatima Muhammed (Mai Martaba)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Sandile Mahlangu (The Queenstown Kings)
- Ochungo Benson (Nawi)
- Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey (The Weekend)
- Ikechukwu Onunaku (This is Lagos)
- Lucky Ejim (Orah)
- Solomon Fixon Owoo (Letters to Goddo)
- Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun) – WINNER
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Meg Otanwa (The Weekend)
- Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (The Queenstown Kings)
- Elsie Chidera Abang (Kipkemboi)- WINNNER
- Tessa Twala (The Queenstown Kings)
- Bukunmi Oluwashina (White and Black)
- Somkele Iyamah-Idhalamah (Orah)
- Chioma Akpotha (Mojisola)
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Zolixa Xaluva (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER
- Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos)
- Duncan Murunyu Mungai (Boda Love)
- Nenesenor Abloso (Letters to Goddo)
- Bucci Franklin (The Weekend)
- Femi Jacobs (Anjola)
- Chidi Mokeme (Out of Breath)
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Girley Jazama (Under The Hanging Tree)
- Oyin Oladejo (Orah)
- Unati Faku (The Queenstown Kings)
- Uzoamaka Aniunoh (The Weekend)
- Laura Pepple (This is Lagos)
- Jackie Appiah (Red Carpet)- WINNER
- Efe Irele (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)
Best Debut Feature Film by a Director
- LETTERS TO GODDO (Harry Bentil)- WINNER
- RISING UP AT NIGHT (Nelson Makengo)
- SHE (Seun Richards)
Best Director
- Daniel Emeka Oriahi (The Weekend)
- Kenneth Gyang (This Is Lagos)
- Jahmil X.T Qubeka (The Queenstown Kings)- WINNER
- Perivi Katjavivi (Under The Hanging Tree)
- Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah)
- Harry Bentil ( Letters To Goddo)
- Izu Ojukwu (A Smile, A Wink and A Tear)
Best Film
- Under The Hanging Tree
- The Weekend- WINNER
- This is Lagos
- A Smile, A Wink and A Tear
- Orah
- Letters to Goddo
- The Queenstown Kings
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Souleymane Cisse (Mali)
- Nacer Khemir (Tunisia)
- Haile Gerima (Ethiopia)
Special Recognition
- Alain Gomis (Senegal/Gabon)
- Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)
