African NAFCA is Officially a Major Hollywood Award

African NAFCA is Officially a Major Hollywood Award

African NAFCA Beverly Hills 2014

 

 

The 4th annual Nollywood African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) split their honors between history and spectacle Saturday night. Honoring actors who have made history, the ‘African Oscars’ or “Black Oscars” as its nicknamed by the press heaped honors on several notable individuals.

Louis Gossett Jr., the first African-American male to win an Academy Award in a supporting role and Glynn Turman who plays Don Cheadle’s dad in the Showtime drams “House of Lies” received lifetime achievement awards in Cinema. Ben Bruce, CEO of the Silverbird Group-Nigeria and actor Keith David both received the special NAFCA Image award for their personal and professional achievements. Other honorees included, Eeefy Ify Ike, Michael Adegoke, Colonel Adegbe, Hon. Chief Alexander Ejiamatu and Music executive Bright Enabulele

With NAFCA trophies going as well to Patience Ozokwor, Dr. Chika Onu and Bishop Noel Jones, others winner included Nigerian actor Ayo Makun, who won best actor in a supporting role for the movie “Being Mrs. Elliot.”

Don Okolo received best director for his film “Gem of the Rainforest,” the best foreign film accolade went to “12 Years a Slave,” while Hollywood actors Sharon Leal and Blair Underwood won best actress and actor in a foreign film respectively for film “Woman Thou Art Loosed on the 7th Day.” directed by Neema Bernette who won the best director in a foreign film.

“Busted Life” which was nominated twice for both best film and best drama, was beat out by “Adora” for best film, but it won for best drama. Artist of the year went to Werranson, Song of the Year to Davido for the son Aye and U.K.’s Ken Smart received Nollywood’s People’s Choice award for favorite actor and Clara Folashade Fernaldo won People’s Choice for Best Promising Actor.

 

Taking a cue from the Oscars, co-host and show-dancing champion Michael Adejoke, who also performed, had goat meat served to the audience and also left the stage for a customary SELFIE with an ecstatic audience.

Held at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, CA, the three-hour show dished out awards in over 40 categories. Presenters included Hawthorn James (“The Five Heartbeats”), Ella Joyce (“My Wife and Kids”), Kellita Smith (“The Bernie Mac Show”), Lester Speight (“My Dad’s a Soccer Mom”), Trae Ireland (“Love That Girl”), Florence LaRue (Former 5th Dimension), Juliet Ibrahim (The Number One Fan), NAFCA award winner Dr. Fumi S. Hancock (Of Sentimental Value) and Chima Austin (Busted Life)

Movie stars from Nollywood, USA and UK included; Paul Igwe the producer of Clinic Matters, Jetta Amata (Black Gold), Ify Hollywood, Chet Anekawe, Adi Alfa, Samuel Ruffy Quansha, Omoni Oboli,  Binta Goudiaby, Merlisa Determined, Eilain Mambo, Robert Peters, Clara Folashade Fernaldo, Ivie Omo, Chisom Oz Lee, Ben Awushie, Moses Efret, Majid Michel, Artus Frank, Moses Efret, Henry O, Nixon Production, Mike Aki, Jennifer Oguzie, Magic Movies, Papa Gee, John Okafor, Soleil Diva and Monica Swaida, Charles Okocha and Sputnic Erawoc.

 

 

Cameroonian Delegate included: Hon. Ama Tutu Muna, Minister of Arts and Culture, Elian Mambo, Blaise Stichet and three man delegates from the Ministry of Arts and culture. Cameroon went away with four NAFCA trophies including a Lifetime Achievement Award for His Excellency President Paul Biya and Image & Humanitarian Award for the Cameroonian First Lady Chantal Biya for her work at the Chantal Biya Foundation

 

Haiti delegates included Governor Yvon Aeton, Falia Justima, Bernard Justima, Sandra Bellefleur, Vladimir Bellefleur, Nikita Turk and Evon Flow. Governor Yvon Aeton promised that Haiti will get involved and support the African NAFCA from now on and they appreciate the bridge between Haiti and Africa made possible through our platform in conjunction with the G. Production and Haiti Movie Academy award.

 

 

 

The most moving moment of the night came from reality star Omarosa Manigault who was clearly choked up with emotion during her tribute to actor Michael Clarke Duncan who she was engaged to prior to his death in September 2012.
“I went from planning a wedding to a funeral,” she told a sympathetic audience.

 

Tribute to the legendary Late Bobby Womack who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Entertainment was impressive. One of the greatest highlight of the night was the Aerial dancing by Karen Ruby and Michael Adegoke finished it off. Filon J, Sam E, Emmanuel Ndupu and Werrason electrified the night.

 

 

Kabiyesi Royal Majesty Oba Kole Ojutalayo who attended the 4th African NAFCA at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on behalf of the NAFCA Grand Patron His Imperial Majesty the Ooni of Ife who was honoured with the first ever Special NAFCA Legend Award. The 18 Karat gold plated NAFCA trophy was delivered to the Oduduwa Palace, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria yesterday and Dr. Victor O. Olatoye the President and CEO of the African NAFCA said our father is happy and has given us his blessing.

 

 

Over 500 Hollywood celebrities came to celebrate the strides being made in Nollywood, the second-biggest film-producer in the world after India. The 4th African NAFCA Awards Show was the most expensive award show in the history of Nollywood and was a true “star-studded gala as the Hollywood legends came out to support the prestigious Film and Honorary Awards.

 

 

Philanthropist Davood Roostaei who received a Special NAFCA Humanitarian Award also donated a painting titled “Leaders of the World” Appraised for 3 million dollars to the African NAFCA.

 

 

African NAFCA was first presented in 2011 at the RTP Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham North Carolina. NAFCA globally promotes African Cinema, culture and celebrates African achievers. Past honorees of NAFCA include President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia, President Jonathan E. Goodluck and President Nelson Mandela who received a special honor in 2011.