AWARDEES
OUTSTANDING NATIONAL UNIFYING SONG (OLD AND NEW)
OLD AGE
THE WAY FORWARD | King Sunny Ade
Performed by King Sunny Ade and many Nigerian artistes in 1993. The track was sung in Yoruba, English, Igbo, Hausa, Pidgin English, among others. The song was sung after the annulment of the June 12 elections but re-composed in 2003 as a reminder of what the country passed through as the aftermath of the annulment. The song calls for unity from all tribes, calling for the collaborative effort of every Nigerian to make the nation great.
NEW AGE
GREAT NATION by Timi Dakolo
Performed by winner of the maiden edition of Idols West Africa Timi Dakolo, this song glorifies the heritage and unity of Nigeria as seen in the lyrics “Though we are many people, Different tribes, different tongues, we’re united in our strength and resolve, To uphold the honour of our land”.
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL AMBASSADOR TO THE WORLD
Burna Boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. He is one of the biggest and most successful African artists. He rose to prominence in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). His third studio album Outside marked his major-label debut. In 2019, he won Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards, and was announced as an Apple Music Up Next artist. His fourth studio album African Giant was released in July 2019; it won Album of the Year at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. He was awarded the African Artist of the year at the 2020 VGMA’s.
In 2020, his album Twice as Tall was nominated for the same category at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, making him the first Nigerian with back-to-back nominations at the Grammys. In 2021, he won the award for Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
OUTSTANDING RECORD LABEL
Mavin Records
Founded by Michael Collins Ajereh popularly known as Don Jazzy in 2012 following a split with his former co-partner D’Banj. Post-2012, The Mavins Dynasty is the biggest and most influential record label in Nigeria and arguably West Africa. It currently houses top artists like Rema, Johnny Drille, Dr SID, and Ladipoe.
OUTSTANDING VOCALIST (vintage) IN 1960s POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Sir Victor Uwaifo
Prof. Sir Victor Uwaifo (MON) is a Nigerian musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor. A music legend and first Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria. He is the winner of the first gold disc in Africa (Joromi) released in 1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music. He records under the name Victor Uwaifo and His TItibitis.
He is recognized as the most educated performing music legend, musical instrument inventor, artist, worldwide with a B.A Honors (first classvaledictorian), Masters degree and Phd in Architectural Sculpture, (University of Benin, Nigeria).
OUTSTANDING MOVIE ACTORS / ACTRESS
Sola Sobowale
Sola Sobowale is a Nigerian film actress, screenwriter, director and producer. Sola Sobowale got her big break in 2001, in the premiere of Nigeria’s popular television drama series Super Story: Oh Father, Oh Daughter. Before shooting into stardom, Sola Sobowale had roles in The Village Headmaster, Mirror in the Sun, and in the Yoruba film, Asewo To Re Mecca. Over the years, Sola Sobowale had scripted, co-scripted, directed and produced several Nigerian films.
Sola scripted, produced and directed Ohun Oko Somida, a 2010 Nigerian film that stars Adebayo Salami. Sobowale featured in Dangerous Twins, a 2004 Nigerian drama film produced by Tade Ogidan, written and directed by Niji Akanni. Sola Sobowale also featured in Family on Fire produced and directed by Tade Ogidan. in 2019, Sola Sobowale received the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role in 2018 Nigerian film: King of Boys.
Rahama Sadau
Rahama Sadau is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker, Dancer and singer. She rose to fame in late 2013 after joining the Kannywood movie Industry with her first movie “Gani ga Wane”. She is the winner of Best Actress (Kannywood) at the City People Entertainment Awards in 2014 and 2015. She also won Best African Actress at the 19th African Film Awards in 2015 by African Voice. In 2017, she became the first Hausa celebrity to appear in the top ten Hottest Female Nigeria Celebrities.
Yul Edochie
Richard Mofe Damijo
Richard Eyimofe Evans Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD, is a Nigerian actor, writer, producer, and lawyer. He is also a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State. After graduating from the university, Mofe-Damijo took part in a television soap opera in the late 80’s called Ripples. Out of Bounds was the first film for which he received a writer/producer credit.
In 2005 at the maiden edition of the African Movie Academy Awards Mofe-Damijo won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.In 2005 he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016.
OUTSTANDING MOVIE WITH INDIGENOUS CONTENT
October 1st
October 1 is a 2014 Nigerian dark psychological thriller film written by Tunde Babalola, produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan. The film, which is set in Colonial Nigeria, narrates the story of Danladi Waziri, a police officer from Northern Nigeria who is posted to a remote town of Akote in Western Nigeria to investigate the frequent female murder cases in the community, and have the mystery solved before the Nigerian flag is raised on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day
OUTSTANDING INNOVATIVE MOVIE PRODUCER
Charles Okpaleke
Charles Okpaleke popularly known as Charles of Play is a Nigerian businessman and film producer. His debut film, Living In Bondage: Breaking Free won seven awards at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2020, including the Best Movie (West Africa) and Best Overall Movie categories. As the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic almost destabilised Nollywood, Charles Okpaleke introduced drive-in cinemas in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. He did this in collaboration with Silverbird Group and Genesis Cinemas. He has also acquired the rights to remake Nollywood classics including RattleSnake, Nneka the Pretty Serpent and Glamour Girls.
MOVIE WITH HIGHEST PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE
King of Boys by Kemi Adetiba
King of Boys is a 2018 Nigerian crime political thriller film written, co-produced and directed by Kemi Adetiba. It is the second movie directed by Kemi Adetiba following the release of The Wedding Party. It tells the story of Alhaja Eniola Salami, a businesswoman and philanthropist with a promising political future. She is drawn into a struggle for power which in turn threatens everything around her as a result of her growing political ambitions. To come out of this on top, she is caught up in a game of trust, not knowing who to trust, and this leads to her ruthlessness. It reunites Adetiba with Adesua Etomi and Sola Sobowale, after they worked together in her directorial debut, The Wedding Party. The movie is focused on power tussle and stars rappers Illbliss and Reminisce in their movie debut roles. Other cast members include Paul Sambo, Osas Ajibade, Toni Tones, Sani Muazu, Demola Adedoyin and Akin Lewis.
