Sat, 27 Oct 2007

Africa’s most prestigious film industry awards holds today at the London Hilton Metropole in West London.

The African Film Awards, popularly known as Afro Hollywood Awards, is expected to have the greatest assembly of the crËme de la crËme in the community all under one roof in London this weekend.

The gathering of African film talents will be rewarded for their excellence. Stakeholders in the industry from South Africa, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria’s fast growing industry known as Nollywood will be deliberating on opportunities available for interested international investors.

The awards ceremony will parade arrays of stars from the British Film and Television industry. Famous screen personalities will be attending to lend support to the fast growing industry in Africa. Stephen Bayly, Jocelyn Gee, Ellen Thomas, Cyril Nri, Tunde Babalola and others.

Household names from Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry acclaimed as the third largest film-producing nation in the world are expected to dominate the list of recipients. Nollywood films are increasingly popular within the British African Caribbean community and have become a regular feature on the ethnic minority channels 155, 169 and 194 on Sky digital network.

The Nollywood award winners include Patience Ozokwor, Dakore Egbuson, Grace Amah, Fred Aseroma, Ayo Badmus, Aisha Abimbola, Rita Dominic, Sani Muazu, Funke Akindele, Clem Ohameze, Remilekun Oshodi, Lillian Amah - Aluko, Ejike Asiegbu and Kenny St. Brown in the music award category. Others are entertainment writer Seni Durojaiye of Independent Newspapers Limited and Gbenga Adeyinka in the comedy category.

The 2007 Afro Hollywood Outstanding Contribution to development of film industry in Nigeria is presented to key administrative individuals who are responsible for policy interpretation and development of new talents, Emeka Mba is to be honoured with the Innovative award, Afolabi Adesanya will receive an inspiration award. Nigerian Breweries Plc Outstanding film from West Africa for the film Sitanda.

The awards ceremony is enjoying the support of the Mayor of London as part of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Bicentennial 2007 and Black History month.
http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=154&a=4289

The Great Nollywood Party
Olumide Iyanda, oiyanda@yahoo.com
Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:00:00
Sorry, Mr DG, but this was our favourite part of the road show. And thanks for giving us something to dance to.

The road show ended on Saturday with a celebrity party sponsored by HiTV and Nigezie. It was fun seeing people like Ossy Afason, Andy Amechi, Emalex, Oga Bello, Jide Kosoko, Gabriel ‘Gabosky’ Okoye, Madu Chikwendu, Ejike Asiegbu, Paul Obazele and a slew of others tried to get funky. The London cold may not have been kind on their creaky bones, but they did manage to get their groove on. Although, May Fair is not the kind of place you find regular Nigerians, a fair number of people came to dance to the music of D’banj, 2face, Olu Maintain, Faze and other such afro hip-hoppers. DJ Abass was on the turntables for a short spell and there were dance compelling songs. A number of people were plastered by the time the bar closed at 1-30am but the music flowed on till much longer. Chioma Chukwura who is on a post partum holiday in London came out with her baby and danced the night away. She was accompanied by Fathia Balogun, who is now to her what Aki is to Paw Paw.

We should just shut up and let the pictures do the talking.