Celebrating Nollywood’s AMAA Winners and Their Impact on Cinema

The Africa Movie Academy Academy Awards (AMAA) stand as a prestigious benchmark for celebrating the continent’s finest cinematic talents. Each year, actors and actresses are honored for roles that captivate audiences, highlight complex characters, and bring African stories to the world stage.

While winning an AMAA can be a career-defining milestone, it’s what these stars do after their wins that truly shape their legacy. In this piece, we explore the journeys of top-performing male and female AMAA-winning acts, charting their impact and influence on Nollywood since their awards.

Richard Mofe-Damijo

Nineteen years after winning his first AMMA award for Best Actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo (known to many by his initials “RMD”) remains a force to be reckoned with in the Nollywood battleground. A two-time AMMA Best Actor in a Leading Role winner and four-time nominee, he boasts the most nominations in the history of the category and was the inaugural winner of this newly introduced category in 2005 for his performance in “The Mayors.” His latest accolade came at the 14th AMAA in 2018 for his role in “Crossroads,” following a loss to Jahwar Soudani the year prior.

Since then—and even before—Mofe-Damijo has established himself as one of the most bankable Nollywood stars, with blockbusters such as “Far From Home,” “4-4-44”, “The Black Book,” “King of Boys,” and “Shanty Town” under his belt. Whether portraying a malevolent villain, a doting sugar daddy, or a vengeful father, RMD proves his versatility time and again. And you’d be right to assume his performance to be among the highest-rated anytime he graces the cameras.

As recently as 2023, he was nominated yet again in the Best Actor category for his performance in “4-4-44,” although that night saw another Nigerian star, Tobi Bakare, clinch Africa’s greatest prize. His influence in the industry has been recognized, as he was invited to join the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 2023.

Mofe-Damijo has famously stated that he has declined “twenty times” more roles than he has accepted, which is hardly surprising for a man known as the “Prince of the Silver Screen” and a “box office magnet.” With an ever-growing list of roles offered to him, there’s nothing stopping the 63-year-old from showing up on the red carpet of the AMMA once more–not even the growing competition from emerging talents.

Genevieve Nnaji

Genevieve Nnaji is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actresses with a career that spans over two decades. Known for her versatility, she has portrayed a wide range of characters, from romantic leads to strong independent women.

Nnaji began her career as a child actor in the popular soap opera “Ripples.” By the time she was a young adult, she was already a household name in the African film industry, securing role after role that led her to the 2005 action-drama “Darkest Night.” She won the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the AMAAs, making history as the first actress to win in the category.

At the peak of her career, she was one of Nollywood’s highest-paid actresses and became the Queen of Nigerian cinema. For her roles in “30 Days/ Keep My Will” and “Tango With Me,” she earned further nominations in the Best Actress category.

In 2018, Nnaji pivoted from actress to filmmaker with her directorial debut, “Lionheart,” Nigeria’s first Netflix original film. It received international acclaim for its indigenous storytelling and was submitted as Nigeria’s first entry in the Best International Feature Film category at the 92nd Academy Awards. Despite the controversy surrounding the submission, Nnaji’s work broke boundaries in the film industry and encouraged future filmmakers to dare to dream.

Nnaji has slowed down in the acting department in recent years, choosing to focus on herself and her family. Still, there’s no doubt that if she does make a comeback, she can go toe-to-toe with the new generation of African actresses. She might even give them a run for their money because of her wealth of experience and acting dexterity.

Gabriel Afolayan

Though Gabriel Afolayan has yet to secure a coveted award for a leading role—having only won one for a Supporting Role—he undeniably ranks among the most talented and often underappreciated actors of his generation. When one considers that he is a product of the renowned Afolayan entertainment family, which includes legendary director Kunle Afolayan, it becomes apparent where he gets his artistic flair from.

Afolayan’s portrayal of Travier Jabari, a determined aspiring musician in the 2013 musical thriller “Hoodrush,” earned him the AMAA Best Actor in a Supporting Role award. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he showed up at the AMMAs again, this time as a nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role for two consecutive editions (in 2019 for “Gold Statue” and 2020 for “Coming from Insanity”) though he fell short to Marc Zinger and Jimmy Jean-Lewis.

Having been on our screen as recently as “Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre,” “House of Ga’a” and “Lisabi: The Uprising,” expect to see more Gabriel Afolayan —and hopefully, that elusive Best Actor win.

Joke Silva

Joke Silva is a celebrated icon in African cinema with a career spanning over four decades. She has played a significant role in shaping Nollywood, captivating audiences with her portrayal of complex and resilient women across film, television, and theater.

Silva has starred in numerous productions, including “Violated,” “The Royal Hibiscus Hotel,” “Chief Daddy,” and its sequel “Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke.” Her exceptional talent has been recognized with multiple awards, including numerous wins at the AMAA. She won Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2006 for her performance in “Women’s Cot.” Her character Ada, a powerful and influential woman deeply involved in the political and social dynamics of her community, is still revered as one of the greatest female performances in Nigeria’s cinematic history.

Her further wins in the Best Supporting Actress category in 2008 for the action thriller “30 Days” and the slice-of-life film “White Waters” as well as 2018’s “Potato Potahto,” make her a force to be reckoned with in the African film industry.

Silva’s strength comes from portraying strong, intelligent women who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo and break barriers. It’s no surprise that this path has led her to receive further accolades, including a national award—the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)—for her contributions to the Nigerian arts.

She may be 63 years old, but there’s no stopping this Nollywood veteran from reaching new career heights. She recently starred in the 2024 award-winning biopic “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” and Tolu Ajayi’s “Over the Bridge.” Her iconic status speaks for itself, and who knows, maybe she might win “Best Actress” again in the future and turn her three awards into four.

Kelechi Udegbe

Kelechi Udegbe last made his mark at the AMAAs in 2021 where he bagged the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award for his outstanding performance in the action-drama “Collision Course.” Three years down the line, Kelechi hasn’t rested on his laurels and undoubtedly eyes Africa’s ultimate prize—Best Actor in a Lead Role.

He has shown this through his performance (his “The Performer” nickname isn’t for show) as Jabi in the award-winning 2023 black-and-white fantasy film, “Mami Wata”—which was Nigeria’s entry for the International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards—and more in “The Black Book” (2023) as a cold, menacing character. 2024’s “Offshoot” saw him team up with Kehinde Bankole and is one of the few actors to outshine the brilliant actress in her own movie.

Udegbe also excelled in his role as a stunt performer in Stanlee Ohikhuare’s 2014 action-drama “Kpians: The Feast of Souls”, but it’s his measured and deliberate approach to his craft that positions him as a strong candidate for future Best Actor nominations.

Rita Dominic

Rita Dominic has had an impressive career, marked by a variety of critically acclaimed roles that have showcased her range as an actress. Since debuting in Nollywood in the late 1990s, Dominic quickly gained popularity for her charm and stirring performances.

In 2012, she won the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her brilliant performance as a high-power executive deeply scarred by trauma in the Kenyan production “Shattered.” Her portrayal gained international recognition, securing another Best Actress award at the Kalasha Film and Television Awards in Kenya. Her win was monumental at the time because she beat her peers like Yvonne Okoro, Nse Ikpe-Etim, and Uche Jumbo for the coveted award.

She continued solidifying her star power with another powerful performance in the romantic comedy “The Meeting.” She secured another AMAA Best Actress nomination for the role in 2013 but lost to South Africa’s Florence Masebe.

In 2016, she starred in the historical drama “’76.” Set against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War, the film allowed her to dive into an emotive narrative, exploring themes of love, loyalty, and resilience. The film earned her a third Best Actress nomination the following year.

Two years later, she earned another nomination in the same category for “Light in the Dark.” Her most recent Best Actress nomination is for the 2021 romantic film “La Femme Anjola.”

It’s safe to conclude that Rita Dominic is an AMAA darling. Four nominations for Best Actress with one win is no joke, as she is one of the few actresses with the most nominations in that category. She may not be actively involved in the film industry due to newlywed bliss, but her contributions to the growth of Nollywood have not gone unnoticed.

If she does grace the big screen again, she might get another Best Actress nomination and win, making history as the only actress to win in that category twice.

Daniel K. Daniel

Compared to others on this list, Daniel K. Daniel has enjoyed a relatively low profile in the media since his win for Best Actor, not only at the AMAA but at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCAs), for his portrayal of Bossman in 2016’s “A Soldier’s Story.” He made history as the first Nigerian actor to achieve such an incredible feat.

The Atlanta resident reprised his role in “A Soldier’s Story 2: Return from the Dead” which was as critically and commercially successful as its predecessor. He has seen success in the Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFA) held in 2018 and Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards in 2020 winning the Best Supporting Actor Award and Best Actor in a Lead Role respectively.

Despite being overshadowed by newer talents in the “new Nollywood” wave, Daniel’s exceptional skills remain evident in his performances in the TV series “Diiche,” where he starred alongside Uzoamaka Onuoha, and in “Akpe: Return of the Beast.” His qualifications were enough to earn him a membership seat in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars) in 2022—one of only three Nigerians selected.

The 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) will be held on Nov. 2 at the Balmoral Center, Ikeja. View the nominations here.