The Story ⚡
Nigeria’s highest-grossing title, Battle on Buka Street by Funke Akindele, loses out at the just concluded AMVCA awards.
Tell Me More
On the 20th of May, 2023, the ninth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards was held in Glitz, Glam and Beauty as Africa’s brightest stars gather to commemorate the efforts of filmmakers across the African continent.
Before the event, the nomination list for the award was released in April. Battle on Buka Street got nominated in ten categories. Here are the ten categories it was nominated for.
Best Actor in a Comedy —Nkem Owoh
Best Actress in a Comedy — Funke Akindele
Best Actress in a Comedy — Mercy Johnson
Best Overall Movie — Funke Akindele
Best Art Director — Olatunji Afolayan
Best Picture Editor — Valentine Chukwuma
Best Sound Editor — Kolade Morakinyo and Pius Fatoke
Best Sound Track — Tolu Obanro and Adam Songbird
Best Makeup — Hakeem Effects Onilogbo and Jemila Sedik
Best Writer — Funke Akindele, Jack’enneth Opukeme, Stephen Oluboyo, and Jemine Edukugho
The title was released on the 16th of December, 2022. Following its debut, the title toppled Omo Ghetto: The Saga as the highest-grossing Nollywood title. With N668.42 million grossed, it dislodged Omo Ghetto: The Saga, which grossed N636.12 million. The title was also co-directed by Funke Akindele.
Battle on Buka Street is the story of a lifetime rivalry between two half-sisters who find themselves at loggerheads once again when they set up food businesses on the same street.
As the event turned out last night, Battle on Buka Street went home with none of the awards it was nominated for. This was a shock to many, as the possibility of that was not anticipated by anyone. Over the years, in the award ceremony’s history, Funke Akindele has been a regular recipient of the Best Actress in a Comedy category.
Last year, she won the award for the category with her Omo Ghetto: The Saga title. She also won the category in 2021 with Moms at War. This year, however, the story changed. Bimbo Ademoye won the category for her role in Selina.
Here are the winners for the other categories the title was nominated for.
Best Actor in a Comedy — Samuel Perry — Inside Life
Best Overall Movie — Kunle Afolayan — Anikulapo
Best Art Director — Wale Adeleke — King of Thieves
Best Picture Editor — Holmes Awa and Daniel Tom — Crime and Justice
Best Sound Editor — Anu Afolayan — Anikulapo
Best Sound Track — Kent Edunjobi — Anikulapo
Best Makeup — Maryam Ndukwe, Hakeem Effects Onilogbo — Anikulapo
Best Writer — Sola Dada — Anikulapo
In Summary
This story points out some questions… was the title not so good in the eyes of the jury, or was its category just very tough for the popcorn flick to stand out?
Also, have the AMVCA voters turned their back on Funke Akindele? Let’s find out next year.
