Jon Germain, Mike Ezuruonye, Kgopedi Lioane to host AMAA today

Ghana Musician Jon Germain, Nollywood A-list actor Mike Ezuruonye and popular South African radio personality Kgopedi Lilokoe will be hosting the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) tonight at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. According to a release by the Director of Administration of the organization, Mr. Tony Anih, the Minister […]

Ghana Musician Jon Germain, Nollywood A-list actor Mike Ezuruonye and popular South African radio personality Kgopedi Lilokoe will be hosting the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) tonight at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to a release by the Director of Administration of the organization, Mr. Tony Anih, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is expected to lead the Federal Government delegation to the event which is the 12th consecutive edition and the 11th time it will hold in Nigeria having been hosted in 2015 by the City of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Anih said: “It is a great development in the evolution of AMAA that we are back home this year having made the first voyage outside Nigeria last year to South Africa. We are indeed grateful to His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, the government and good people of Rivers State for accepting to host us this year.
“We are set to forge a good relationship with the state, going forward. Rivers State is a very strong brand and partnering with AMAA, an equally strong continental awards brand will provide a win-win for the state and the work we do to promote Africa to the rest of the world through our films,” he said.
With guests expected from over 40 countries across the globe and looming security, Mr. Anih said adequate arrangements to ensure visitors and residents in the state live in peace and harmony have been made.
He said: “Rivers State is a much secured State. Port Harcourt is not just called the Garden City for nothing. It is a city bustling with energy and creativity. Visitors and our international guests will have a good and exciting experience.”
This year, there are 28 categories with films from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Burkina Faso contending for various awards.
In the Best Director’s Category are films such as ‘Fifty,’ ‘Dry,’ ‘The Cursed One,’ ‘Eye of the Storm,’ ‘Ayanda,’ ‘La Pagne,’ ‘Tell me Sweet Something’ and ‘Behind Closed Doors.’
The AMAA Board of Jurors includes members from the academia, filmmakers, critics and film festival curators from Nigeria, Germany, United States, Zimbabwe, Jamaica and Burkina Faso. They will decide on which films and individual talents emerge winners tonight.