AMVCA 2018: A Kick Start before A Revving – Charles Novia Reviews Event

          

 Charles Novia has reviewed the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award, AMVCA  Continue to read below…
I really must confess something. I didn’t want to write a review this year on AMVCA. I have consistently written annual reviews on the awards for the past five years and somehow, my readers, fans, ‘foes’ and friends in the media have decided that no AMVCA would be complete without my review.

This year, I had told myself that I would just attend and enjoy myself as much as possible as a guest.

However, the number of calls, texts, messages and expression of angst over my decision not to review have shifted my position a bit. It’s best not to alienate my reading base. So, I’m writing just a short review of what my summarised thoughts are of the AMVCAs 2018. I had tried a short one minute video review to post on Instagram but it didn’t seem to work for me! I will use an analogy. I felt the whole awards event was a family sedan in which we all were the passengers and our trusted driver tried very hard to start the car but all we could get was the impact of a Kickstarter. I was still waiting for the revving and perhaps a shift to the gears from neutral, when the show ended.

There were times when I felt the intermittent ‘vroom’ though but as soon as that happened, a sputtering of the engine would occur and we would be back to the Kickstarter mode. The Vrooms? I loved the ‘Seki’ dance opening.
It was a befitting motif for an African themed award ceremony and the dance and ensemble gave the audience a picturesque performance, tinged with sonorous trado-tremolos and melodies.
The dance ended with a crescendo of clashing cutlasses by masqueraded meastroes. I particularly was blown away by the performance of Cobhams Asuquo who got a standing ovation from everyone in the hall for his neo-improvised rendition of his song, ‘One Hit’.

This special remix version, if I call it so, was brilliantly re-lyricised for the occasion, using the careers of totems in Nollywood as a tribute to what has been achieved and what the younglings on the periphery of the industry pray for; fame and success.
Please see previous Instagram page for part one The Splutter? I.K is a good host, no doubt. One of the best in the continent, I have always said. But that night, he went a bit overboard in my opinion.
The part where he sang for a married lady who was with her husband in the audience was tickling at first but it seemed like a joke taken too far when the good humoured grin of the husband turned to a hidden scowl as I.K persisted. I.K also got dancers across the country enraged when he called them ‘irresponsible dancers’ in one of his jokes.
One understands that some improvisations are allowed in live presentations but surely the hosts would have to be sensitive to feelings. I.K is a host and Presenter and not a stand up comedian with a latitude to lampoon. So much for the Splutters. Is the annual Trailblazer award Gender Specific?
It has been won since inception by women and while no one mostly would argue with if the recipients deserved the awards all these years, it must be said that there surely must be males in the industry who have blazed trails too!
It was a night of glam as usual, an unbeatable exposition of fashion and swag on the stage and the red carpet. I must admit that I am aware of the hard work and months of planning put into the awards annually. And for adding value to the film industries in Africa and Nollywood especially, I must commend Multichoice and Africa Magic.
However, with the shift in seasons from the usual first quarter of every year to the tip of the last quarter of this yea, it seems a lull in the event itself which many noticed had to do perhaps with the hiatus.
In any case, there is a revving now and cruising on the driveway of expectations is expected hereon.
Charles Novia is an award winning filmmaker, pop culture critic and media entrepreneur. GOSSIP ABOUT JAIYEORIE TO THE NEXT PERSON Tell A Friend about Jaiyeorie FOLLOW Instagram - Jaiyeorie Facebook - jaiyeorie Weddings - jaiyeorieweddings Advertise/ send gist to us - jaiyenews@gmail.com ... spill TEA Easy on Shade #jaiyeorie