’76, Nigerian historical fiction drama film produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa and Izu Ojukwu and directed by Izu Ojukwu whicn took them about 7 years to produce has been crowned as the best film in Africa at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) held at the exquisite Eko Hotels in Lagos.
Most African artists, directors and other guests numbering over 3,000 from the continent who gathered at the successful 5th edition of the prestigious award nodded their head in agreement with the judgement from public voters in classifying ’76 as the best overall film in Africa.
’76’ is a Nigerian historical film set during the botched 1976 coup d’etat era of military assassinations and political unrest in Nigeria.
It is a story told from a dual point of view – from the soldiers’ perspective accused of being involved in the 1976 military coup and assassination of General Murtala Muhammed, and from that of the officer’s wife. The film pays homage to the strength of soldiers’ wives who are the real soldiers, the ones who suffer from whatever decisions their husbands make, whether on the battlefield or off it. Issues reflected in the film include the rumours of foreign involvement in Murtala Muhammed’s coup and it also portrays inter-tribal marriages.
‘76’ features big Nollywood stars including; Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic, Daniel K. Daniel and Ibinabo Fiberesima. Others are Memry Savanhu as Eunice, Adonai Owiriwa as Captain V. M. Jaiye, Pat Nebo as Colonel Aliu, Nelly Ekwereogu as Ikenna, Shuaibu Adams as Lieutenant Jubril and Debo Oguns as Noel among others. About 200 cast and crew members were on set for the movie.
The film comes 40 years after the actual events and follows seven years of work. It was shot mainly at Mokola Army Barracks in Ibadan, Oyo State. The cast were all trained for 21 days with instructors from the Nigerian Defence Academy and with the crews that were on location for 91 days.
Adonaijah acknowledged that the film which took much material and human investment has done well in the market.
At the AMVCA award anchored by Ik Osadiokuwa and Minnie from South Africa saw ‘Johnsons’ TV programme winning the best comedy series while the nine year old ‘Tinsel’ programme won the best drama series.
Rita Dominic won the best actress in drama, Sambasa Nzeribe who was trained by Saint Mary’s Catholic Church women, Isolo in Lagos and who stars in ‘Slow country’ won the best actor in movie, while the best TV show award went to ‘Jenifas Diary’ anchored by Jennifa Akindele.
Best Hausa indigenous language TV series award was clinched by Yaki Da Zariga’, Igbo best indigenous TV programme award went to ‘Ama onye bu Onye’ while the Yoruba best indigenous language programme was won by ‘Somewhere in the Dark’.
Special trail blaizer award was given to Some Kele while Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya) of the famous Masquerade TV show was handed an SUV car as industry merit award winner. The award ceremony was spiced with entertainment from African musicians and comedians.
The award with 29 categories and 163 nominees which was basically a platform to recognise and reward the efforts of African movie stars and those behind the cameras with votes from viewers, was more of uniting the stars from different African countries and encouraging them than a competition among them.
After the ceremony, delighted Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director for M-Net (West), said the 2017 edition had more entries and this shows that the award is growing and becoming more interesting
By Daniel Obi
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