Entertainment
Francis Brown’s ‘Jabari’: Ghana’s only win at 19th AMA Awards
Francis Y. Brown and his AnimaxFYB Animation Studios won the Jubril Malaifia Award for Best Animation at the 2023 Africa Movie Academy Awards with their animation film, ‘Jabari.’
This makes them the only Ghanaians to have won a slot in this year’s awards.
Other winners were ‘Le Spectre de Boko Haram’ (Cameroon) for Best Documentary, Anikulapo (Nigeria) for Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Film in an African Language,
Best Achievement in Soundtrack went to Antoine Nshimiyimana – Fight Like a Girl (Rwanda), while Emmanuel Bassey – Gangs of Lagos (Nigeria) won the Best Achievement in Visual Effects award.
In a Facebook post, Francis Y. Brown, the CEO of the company expressed his appreciation.
Read an extract of his acceptance speech as posted on his Facebook page below:
I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the extraordinary AMAA team for their unwavering commitment to recognizing and celebrating excellence in African cinema. Your dedication in creating this world-class awards scheme that honours Africa’s finest in film is truly commendable.
Tonight, this victory is not mine alone, nor does it belong solely to my dedicated team at Animaxfyb in Ghana. Instead, it is a triumph for an entire nation, my beloved motherland, Ghana. “Jabari” stands as the sole Ghanaian film chosen for this year’s awards, and this achievement is nothing short of remarkable. To be not only selected but to take home the award from such a prestigious event is an honour beyond words.
This achievement prompts a profound reflection on how far animation has come in Africa. A single animation piece now represents an entire industry within a nation. I earnestly beseech all executive producers, producers, and investors to pay heed to this burgeoning industry. Animation is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but sadly, Africa has not had its fair share of revenue.
This year’s event was held at the Balmoral Convention Centre of the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday, 29th October 2023.
The Africa Movie Academy Awards, an annual award scheme to reward excellence among film professionals working in Africa, or non-African professionals who have contributed to the African film industry.
The awards scheme is also aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture.
The award presentation is attended by numerous media representatives, celebrities, politicians, journalists, actresses and actors from all across the world.
The continent is brimming with immense talent and untapped potential, ready to make a mark in the global animation industry. I implore you to support us in bridging the revenue gap and help us tell the authentic stories of Africa.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
The biggest event on Ghana’s entertainment calendar is set for a night of honours, pomp, and pageantry.
It is a night where musicians who excelled during the year under review will be rewarded through the endorsement of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards Board, the Academy, and the general public.
The Grand Arena, the ideal venue for the 27th TGMA, will host a star-studded audience of musicians, media personalities, businessmen, politicians, actors, and footballers among others.
On this night, the most coveted prize is the Artiste of the Year (AOTY) category, which will see the crowning of a new king or queen of Ghana music.
Two heavyweights in the category, Stonebwoy and Sarkodie, have the opportunity to set an enviable record as the only artistes to win the coveted title for a third time.
Should they fall short, the opportunity shifts to Black Sherif and Diana Hamilton to equal the record of two wins, joining the elite ranks of past double-winners like VIP.
A win for Diana Hamilton, will set her up in a lonely journey at the top as the only gospel musician, to win the Artiste of the Year for the second time.
Alternatively, Wendy Shay could make her debut by winning the award for the first time. This would make her team up with Diana Hamilton as the only female artistes alive to hold the title. The late Ebony, won it posthumously in 2018.
If the title slips past them and falls to Medikal, he will also become a first-time winner, etching his name into the annals of Ghana music history.
Patrons can look forward to electrifying performances from a long list of confirmed artistes, including Black Sherif, Diana Hamilton, Piesie Esther, R2Bees, Medikal, Wendy Shay, Lasmid, Kofi Kinaata, Samini, and Fido, among others.
Beyond the ultimate prize, several other major categories are up for grabs, including Music Video of the Year, New Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Most Popular Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The fourth edition of International AmoFest lived up to its promise on Saturday, May 2, delivering a vibrant “three-in-one” experience that left the audience at Alliance Française in Accra buzzing.
The night was a masterful blend of sound and stagecraft. Berima Amo, the visionary behind the festival, led an impressive lineup of performers, including Pedro Kastelijns, Martha Apini, Rudy Ray, and Lamisi.
Together, they showcased a fusion of global music and authentic Ghanaian Highlife, staying true to the festival’s mission of preserving Ghana’s original rhythmic soul.
Adding a unique layer to the evening, Uncle Ebo Whyte’s Roverman Productions took to the stage, blending theater with the night’s musical energy.
The experience concluded with a high-energy after-party, fulfilling Berima Amo’s goal of creating a truly immersive and memorable night.
Reflecting on the event’s purpose, Amo emphasised the need for intentionality in protecting Highlife.
He called on every Ghanaian, as well as government institutions, to actively foster an environment where the genre can thrive on the global stage.
The main event followed a successful educational outreach on April 24, where over 250 high school students participated in a Highlife workshop at the Centre for National Culture.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
