Richard Mofe Damijo
They are not the only nominees on the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) shortlist for this year. There are eight leading men and eight leading actresses that would be competing for the coveted award of the actor and actress in a leading role category of Africa’s notable global reward scheme for filmmakers- AMAA, which holds today in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
Of that number, there are only four leading actors who have won the AMAA previously, and they all products of Nollywood. They are Richard Mofe Damijo (Cross Roads), OC Ukeje (Potato Potahto), Sam Dede (In My Country) and Kate Henshaw (Roti). Others like Dakore Egbuson- Akande and Jocelyn Dumas have both been nominated previously.
Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson, previously, who is also in contention this year for a joint award, had won a joint award previously.
But the spotlight would be on those leading actors and actresses who have lifted the AMAA crest previously. Would it be double for any of them after curtain closes on the award tonight?
Kate Henshaw (Roti)
Actresses, Kate Henshaw, received the AMAA for an actress in a leading role in 2008. The precious talent and Efik princess is in nomination in the leading actress category for her performance in Kunle Afolayan’s film, Roti.
So, this would be double for her if she gets the AMAA juror’s nod at the award ceremony in Kigali tonight.
An award-winning actress who has walked herself to a level where she gets the sort of adulation that stars in Hollywood get, acting for the trained microbiologist began in Lagos in 1993 after a chanced opportunity to audition for a role in a movie, When the sunset.
Today, the screen diva has, through dint of hard work, risen to become one of the celebrated actresses in Nollywood.
Richard Mofe Damijo (Cross Roads)
Notable actor, Richard Mofe Damijo, or RMD for short, is in nomination for the leading actors award. He was voted best actor in the maiden edition of the award held in Bayelsa in 2006 and has been nominated twice since then.
Last year, he was nominated for his inimitable role in the comic film, Three Wise Men, and this time, he is on the nomination grid for his role in the thriller, Cross Roads.
Kate Henshaw
If RMD grabs the award today, it would be a double for him and he would be recorded as the first actor to win the leading actor award twice.
Approachable, quintessential, magnetic and immensely talented actor, Richard played senior detective Kilanko in the crime drama by Seyi Siwoku, titled, Cross Roads. The deft interpretation of the role by the Warri, Delta State-born actor earned the one time recipient of the AMAA best actor award a nomination this time.
Actor, journalist, publisher, lawyer, public relations practitioner and former Delta State commissioner for Culture and Tourism under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, RMD, who in 2016 received the AMAA lifetime achievement award, has signed a few works as producer and has a rich pouch of motion picture appearances.
A world-class material, RMD has had a remarkable career as an actor and has indeed enjoyed super roles on stage, on the movie turf and outside the turf.
Born on July 6, 1961 in Warri, the Dramatic Theatre and Criticism product of the University of Benin later studied Law and has been called to the Nigerian Bar.
OC Ukeje (Potato Potahto)
OC Ukeje had previously won the AMAA as a promising actor, but this time, the multi-award winning actor is in nomination for the leading acting crest of this year’s award for his believable interpretation in Shirley Frimpong Manso’s romantic drama, Potato Potahto.
OC’s surreal performance in that engaging drama, which stars notable actors, such as Joke Silva and Joselyn Dumas, earned the actor the deserved nomination.
Past winner of the rested Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show, OC has grown far above his reality show winning to become one of Nigeria’s notable screen personalities. Indeed, his artistic contributions, apart from his winning AMBO, is making a way for him in Nollywood and beyond.
Star of White Water, his debut film, OC, as the Marine Science graduate of the University of Lagos is also called by close friends, would join the list of actors in the continent that have received the best actor crest, if he gets the nod of the jurors of the AMAA.
It would also be double for the product of the New York Film Academy and star of Sarah Blatcher’s Ayanda, if he wins today.
Sam Dede (In My Country)
Tall, dark and well built, Achibi Sam Dede is in nomination for the leading actor crest for his deep portrayal in the epic drama by Frank Rajah Arase, titled, In my Country.
The senior lecturer at the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt, and one-time director of the Rivers State Tourism Board, has previously received a couple of nomination at the AMAA.
The Rivers State-born actor, director and producer had previously won the supporting actor crest at the AMAA. So, if the deep actor, who is rightly respected for being steady, clear and reliable, gets the AMAA jurors pick today, it would be double for the actors’ actor, who possesses undeniable charm and strong screen and stage presence and who ranks high among the most significant figures and brightest stars in the Nigerian and by far, continental acting galaxy.
Nominees In The Category Of Actor In A Leading Role
They include Richard Mofe Damijo (Cross Roads), OC Ukeje (Potato Potahto), Chris Attoh (Esohe), Vuyo Dabula (Five Fingers For Marseille), Sam Dede (In My Country), Sani Bouajla (The Blessed Vost), Frank Donga (Hakkunde) and Orus Mampofu (Lucky Specials).
Nominees In The Category Of Actress In A Leading Role
They are Reine Swart, Okawa Shaznay, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Miriam Phiri, Joselyn Dumas, Kate Henshaw, Nana Ama McBrown, Lydia Forson and Sika Osei.
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