Lights, camera, accolades! The lights dimmed, the stars shone, and the red carpet rolled out in all its glory for another spectacular edition of the AMVCA’s. With the dust settled, the confetti swept away, and the red carpet (and blue carpet) rolled back up, it’s time to reflect on the highs, the lows, and everything in between from this year’s Award show. Here are ten highlights from the AMVCA.

1. Give Veekee James Her Flowers—All Her Flowers!

Firstly, we have to talk about fashion finesse! When it comes to slaying the red carpet game, one designer reigned supreme at the AMVCA’s—Veekee James. Let me take your mind back to MET Gala 2023, A-list celebrities draped in Thom Browne’s masterpieces, each look a symphony of elegance and edge that left fashionistas everywhere weak at the knees. This can be likened to what Veekee James achieved at the AMVCA’s. She didn’t just make waves; she orchestrated a tsunami of style with her impeccable creations. Veekee James’ collection of eclectic yet sophisticated designs stole the spotlight and became the most talked-about look of the night. Celebrities like Toke Makinwa, Uche Montana, Tommie Adeoye, Funke Akindele, and Osas Ighodaro shone in her designs.

2. Don’t Really Know How To Say This… But This Year Felt More Like An “Award Show”

If you attended the live show, you definitely know what I’m talking about. For someone who has constantly attended the AMVCA’s since 2018, this year felt like I was coming home to a calmer, saner environment—with just the right amount of sparkle. The guest list seemed tighter as if the organisers handpicked the attendees for their love of the craft, their work in the creative/entertainment industry, and the number of their Instagram followers. And let me tell you, it was a breath of fresh air. Sure, the glitterati were there, and the buzz was still alive, but it felt… quieter, in a fantastic way.

3. Ten Years with IK Osakioduwa

For a whole decade now, IK has entertained and delighted viewers with his signature blend of wit, enthusiasm and charm. His ability to connect with the audience and bring out the best in the attending stars has made the AMVCA a highly anticipated annual event. Looking back, we’ve seen him handle everything from technical glitches to emotional acceptance to badly taken jokes that often lead to online prosecution to working and adapting with different co-hosts with consummate ease and professionalism. “As we raise a glass to a decade of the AMVCAs, we also celebrate IK Osakioduwa, whose hard work and brilliance as the host of the award ceremony have been instrumental in the event’s success for the past ten years,” plastered boldly on the Africa Magic Website.

4. The Award Recipient’s Felt More Deserving

Let’s get one thing straight: nobody deserves not to win. But there are those moments when you hear a name announced, and you’re left scratching your head, thinking, ‘How did that happen?’, ‘Did they really earn it?’ ‘Was it just politics at play?’. We have seen this play in previous editions. But this time, as the envelopes were torn open and the names were revealed, there was a collective nod of approval, a unanimous acknowledgement that these were the rightful recipients of recognition—Well, for the most part. Could this be attributed to the AMVCA shifting from a public voting system to a jury-based selection process for its most prestigious awards? Sure, there may have been a few raised eyebrows here and there, a couple of moments where we all paused to ponder the choices. But overall, there was a sense of contentment, a feeling that justice had been served and that each winner truly deserved their moment in the spotlight.

5. “Breath Of Life” !!!

Every year leading up to the AMVCA’s, there’s undeniably a crowd favourite to bag the awards. This year, that film was “Breath of Life.” This powerful film received an impressive 11 nominations across various categories, including Best Movie, Best Director, and Best Lead Actor. Ultimately, Breathe of Life walked away with six wins. Lead actor Wale Ojo finally got his recognition, nabbing the Best Actor award. Adedoyin surprised many with his win for Best Supporting Actor.

Breath of Life showcased the immense talent behind the scenes. BB Sasore was named Best Director, masterfully bringing this poignant story to the screen. The film also won Best Sound, affirming the skills of sound designer Grey Jones Ossai. Now to my favourite award recipients of the night: Chimezie Imo and Genoveva Umeh. As a lead actor in Breathe of Life—the biggest winner of the night—Chimezie Imo fully deserved to take home the Trailblazer award. This prestigious honour is given to an actor with exceptional talent and potential, affirming Imo as an up-and-coming force in Nollywood. He joins a long line of Trailblazer winners who have gone on to become major stars, and there is no doubt this is only the beginning of an illustrious career.