Nollywood dazzles Hollywood at NAFCA Awards

History was made on the night of Saturday September 13, 2014, as the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) became the first awards of its kind to break into Hollywood.
Held at the Saban Theater, Beverly Hills, California, United States of America, NAFCA 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 Hancock (Of Sentimental Value), and Chima Austin (Busted Life)

The ‘African Oscars’ or ‘Black Oscars’ as it is popularly called heaped honours on several notable personalities including Louis Gossett Jr., 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 drama, ‘House of Lies’. Both received Lifetime Achievement Awards in Cinema. Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, CEO, Silverbird Group and actor Keith David also received Special NAFCA Image Award for their personal and professional achievements. Other honourees included Eeefy Ify Ike, Michael Adegoke, Colonel Adegbe, Hon. Chief Alexander Ejiamatu, and music executive, Bright Enabulele.
NAFCA’s Grand Patron, His Royal Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife, was honoured with the first ever Special NAFCA Legend Award. His Royal Highness, Oba Kole Ojutalayo, received the 18-karat gold plated NAFCA trophy on his behalf.
Among those honoured by NAFCA were Nollywood diva, Patience Ozokwor, Dr. Chika Onu, Bishop Noel Jones, and Ayo Makun, who won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the movie, ‘Being Mrs. Elliot’. Don Okolo received Best Director award 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 the film, ‘Woman Thou Art Loosed on the 7th Day’ directed by Neema Bernette, who won the Best Director in a Foreign Film award.
‘Busted Life’, which was nominated twice for both Best Film and Best Drama awards, was beaten to it by ‘Adora’ but went ahead to win Best Drama award. Artiste of the Year award went to Werranson, Song of the Year to Davido for the song, ‘Aye’ and U.K’s Ken Smart received Nollywood’s People’s Choice award for Favourite Actor, while Clara Folashade Fernaldo won People’s Choice for Best Promising Actor.
Taking a cue from the Oscars, co-host and dancing champion, Michael Adejoke, who also performed, had goat meat served to the audience. He later left the stage for a customary selfie with the ecstatic audience. Movie stars from Nollywood, USA and UK that graced the occasion included Paul Igwe, 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, and Robert Peters.
Others are Clara Folashade Fernaldo, Ivie Omo, Chisom Oz Lee, Ben Awushie, Moses Efret, Majid Michel, Artus Frank, Henry O, Mike Aki, Jennifer Oguzie, Papa Gee, John Okafor, Soleil Diva and Monica Swaida, Charles Okocha and Sputnic Erawoc.
From Cameroon came Hon. Ama Tutu Muna, Minister of Arts and Culture, Elian Mambo, Blaise Stichet and three others. The Cameroonians went away with four NAFCA trophies including Lifetime Achievement Award won by President Paul Biya and Image & Humanitarian Award won by the First Lady, Chantal Biya, for her work at the Chantal Biya Foundation. Haitian Governor, Yvon Aeton, who promised that Haiti would henceforth get involved and support NAFCA, led Haitian delegates to the awards.
However, the most moving moment of the night came from reality TV star, Omarosa Manigault, who was 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.
One of the greatest highlights of the awards ceremony was the aerial dancing by Karen Ruby and Michael Adegoke, while philanthropist Davood Roostaei, who received a Special NAFCA Humanitarian Award, donated a painting tagged ‘Leaders of the World’, valued at $3 million to NAFCA.