AMVCA 2015? The whole truth and nothing but the truth? Who came in with who, who
wore what, who she is suspecting are dating, best dressed, worst dressed? Who made
the celebs clothes and the list goes on. Azuka Ogujiuba is back with another
one. And trust me guys you know her articles are always a blockbuster. ENJOY in capital letters.
being pregnant just because of your newly acquired careless ‘puff-puff’ weight,
you should discern that ‘water don pass garri’. My good friend, Gloria
Ojeikhoasaw me at the entrance of the Expo centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, VI,
Lagos, were I was waiting for her so we could walk in together to savour the
night. After we exchanged pleasantries because we had not seen each other in a
while, she said.
“Oh girl congrats, as
you don get belle o”, bewildered by the remark, I swiftly responded, “l am not
o”. But was I happy with that observation? No. Do I utterly blame my friend who
made a sincere comment? It just means l am still fat or maybe still adding,
again l started regretting how l abused food on my last summer trip to the
states. How l turned that Starbuck drink called ‘Frappuccino’ to my water. How
l would seat on the dining table and devour every food my lovely sister- in-law
cooked or brought home. I must confess l ate like a glutton, l ate so foolishly
and stupidly. I wanted to taste every new thing aunty Amina brought home. We
all know how it is when you are abroad especially in America; how everything
they sell to you is large, secretly l kept consoling myself that l will shed
weight once l am back home. Now it looks like all the food are still finding my
body so peaceful an abode to grow and multiply.
unapologetically a lover of the red carpets, that is where you see, access,
dissect and give a verdict to every beautiful and ugly outfit worn to the
occasion. And now it is African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awrads (AMVCA)2015. And
‘FAIRGROUND’ was there roving, blinking, sniffing, laughing, admiring and also
wondering if some of the guests actually left home without looking
fellowshiping with their mirrors. To this end, please let’s enjoy this ride.
held in association with MultiChoice Africa and Amstel Malta. The hosts were IK
Osakioduwa and Vimbai Mutinhiri, now these guys were fantastic that night,
there was never a dull moment with IK on stage and l fell in love with Vimbai
style of presentation, she is what l refer to as black, proud and beautiful.
These days when a lot of ladies want to bleach or tone their skin, l wonder how they manage with the
present heat. Anyway Vimbai did her job effortlessly well, the crowd obviously
loved and flowed with her, and all the outfits she wore sat so well on her
silhouette frame and l wished my big belle was as flat as hers.
statuettes in 30 categories, tabulated and verified by auditing firm
SizweNtsalubaGobodo and were telecast live to 50 African countries watching on
DStv and GOtv on all Africa Magic channels. The event saw outstanding
achievements in African film and TV recognised with awards also presented to CJ
Obasi as the TrailBlazer of the Year while the late renowned filmmaker, Amaka
Igwe was honoured with the Industry Merit award. The winner of the trailblazer
award walked away with a luxurious diamond studded watch, courtesy Chris
Aire. The coveted New Era award was
given to Ayo Makun for his exceptional talent.
jungle, Kunle Afolayan was the man of the night, he was the biggest winner,
undoubtedly the Nigerian psychological thriller, October 1 produced and
directed by him scooped nine awards, including Best Movie and Best Director and
Best Actress (Drama) award for Kehinde Bankole.
Kehinde’s hair and wedding outfit was not appealing to the eyes at all.
The coloured hair style and her badly
cut dress with a side bogus veil made her look like a white cock. Kehinde sack
your stylist, biko, except you styled yourself o. He would later invite me to his office for launch to
celebrate with our usual ogufe (goat meat), gbegiri and ewedu. Afolayan did
look like a winner that night, a proud African and down to earth guy.
legendry movie producer will be so proud wherever he is. His ‘goons’ like
Bisoye Fagade, Adekunle Ayeni, we call one Yinka Lagbaja, Kingsley James and
his new bride, Ayo Animashaun were in the building to support their own.
Meeting which nabbed five awards including Best Movie (Comedy) award for Rita
Dominic and Mildred Okwo, Best Actress (Comedy) and a Best Actor (Comedy) award
for Femi Jacobs. The choice of the night’s winners fell to respected judges
drawn from the African film and Television industry. The winners of the closely
contested categories included The Meeting for Best Movie (Comedy), A Place in
the Stars for Best Movie (Drama), Femi Jacobs for Best Actor in a Comedy
(Movie/TV Series), a Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series) award for OC Ukeje
in Confusion Na Wa while Rita Dominic walked away with the Best Actress in a
Comedy (Movie/TV Series). Kehinde Bankole scooped the Best Actress in a Drama
(Movie/TV Series) award while Blossom Chukwujekwu walked away with the Best
Supporting Actor (Movie/TV Series) and Linda Ejiofor won the Best Supporting
Actress (Movie/TV Series) award.
did not stop Mr. BOREDOM from taking a front row seat right inside the hall,
apart from all the razzmatazz which trails such event, it sometimes gets boring
maybe because it is a live event, even the Oscars does have that trail sometimes.
Maybe the guests were tired of the artistes who performed that night, the only
thing that felt refreshing on stage for me was Don Jazzy and the Marvin babies,
Dija, Korede Bello and Reekado Banks, l get bored so fast and can be impatient
l guess. Toward the end of the event when Don Jazzy came on stage and joined
P-Sqaure to deliver the song ‘COLLABO’ the atmosphere became alive and that was
when l realized people loved the song like me, l wriggled a bit and was scared
of falling because my shoes were a bit tight.
was just that l think an upcoming act could also have performed that night. I
have a feeling if Kiss Daniel had performed ‘WOJU’ that night, some magical
moments could have encapsulated the hall. You see why l keep harping on
patronising upcoming acts? They should be given such platforms to display their
talent and such exposures help their career to grow fast.
were wowed by performances by Osas Ighodaro, the Mavins Crew, Tuface Idibia and
Lola Rae, Diamond Platinumz, and P-Square who rounded off the event, it could
have been possible too that the performances that night- to many might be
unforgettable.
Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in September 2012, the first official
announcement was held at the Avenue Suits
and the eventually the maiden edition was in March 2013. I looked out
for Alabi just to see what she would be putting on to the awards this year. She
is quiet glamorous and sophisticated. I don’t know if there was any official
explanation on why she had to step down from her position suddenly. I still
don’t understand the kind of coup that took place before we could all say Jack
Robbison in the media Alabi was far gone and Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu took over, just
like Alabi who l know to be a workaholic and an aggressive woman, who knows her
onions when it comes to whatever she is involved in.
Mba-Uzoukwu, that evening she paid tribute to both the winners and the nominees
saying; “Each year we have hosted this event, it has become more evident that
Africa has truly carved its own mark and identity in the global film and TV
industry. Tonight’s event recognised all the talented individuals who continue
to grow this industry. We’re very honoured that we could reward them for their
exceptional work. A special thank you to
our partners MultiChoice Africa and Amstel for their continued support in
making sure that African talent is well and truly recognised in style.”
to the winners and nominees of the 2015 AMVCAs saying: “It’s been an honour for
us at MultiChoice Africa to be part of this event that celebrates the best in
African film and television. The amount of talent and exciting productions
we’ve witnessed tonight keeps inspiring and motivating us to continue to
deliver quality programming to our DStv and GOtv subscribers on the Africa
Magic channels.”
the award night, l kept wondering why they all stopped attending AMAA which is
being organised by a Nigerian, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. Why don’t they come out
like this, support and attend her event? Anyway, I’m just thinking aloud. OC
Ukeje gave kudos to Peace and happily announced to the hall how she sponsored
his first trip to the Berlin film festival. And Kunle Afolayan did same thing
when he came on stage to receive his awards, he showered encomium on Peace too
but l noticed the female actors hardly recognised her contributions to their
career or the industry, is there something that we don’t know or they just
can’t be bothered?
both of them, they were spotted holding
hands at the AMVCA 2015 red carpets and chatted like people who just found love
encrusted with diamonds in the deep ocean. They arrived together the venue and
both looked happy hand in hand and super fashionable. Could this be a blossoming relationship? Well, your guess is
as good as mine. The ‘Ari Belema’ Singer, Tonye, looked glamorous and made us
green with envy in this flowing Tafetta Empire cut fish-tail dress by Nigerian
designer, Elvira Jude. She styles her Emerald green dress up with a pair of
heels, minimal jewellery consisting only of dropping earrings and goes for her
signature stylish pixie cut carefully put together for the evening by celebrity
hair stylist, Wondrous. Her look is completed by glam smokey eye make up done
by top artist, Lola Maja. ‘Rich and
Famous’ singer, Praiz equally impressed and complemented Tonye’s look in a
floral monochrome blazer paired with a white shirt, and black tailored
trousers. He finished up his look with a red pocket square, a black hat and
matching shoes. I like and think they look great together.
segment, you tend to chat with friends on your black berry phone, that was my
situation when l heard a whisper ‘ How can he come dressed like that’ l looked
up quickly, l realized it was Omoni Oboli’s hubby Nnamdi that was the topic.
But really why would he attend such an event dressed like her driver or let me
say it mildly her PA? Omoni was decked in her yellow and black evening gown,
walking in front of her husband majestically while he walked behind carrying
her goody bage given by Amstel Malter. If he was properly dressed for the event
they would have looked like another power couple. He wore a black shirt over a
black pant, his humble demeanor and amicable attitude cannot be ignored, he is
obviously a complete gentle, a loving and a supportive husband who loves to be
casual all the time beside his pretty glamorous wife but biko, he should also
learn to respect dress codes of events. I didn’t say he should wear a Gucci or
a Billionaire jack, we have great designers like MAI ATAFO, Okunoren Twins,
Jasonporshe bespoke, McMeka, Clothes Sense and many others, they could knock
together a nice tuxedo or a bespoke suit for him. My darling sister try look
into oga’s wardrobe when he is attending such glamorous events with you. After
the event when he gets home he can throw the suit in a trash bin, or he can
dump it in an obscure corner of his wardrobe.
just because l love romance. I like Ik and his Columbian pregnant girlfriend,
their baby will be so pretty when he or she arrives, l call such babies
‘Vanilla Ice cream baby’ they both looked cute so of course their baby will
definitely be cute. They came out ready for the night especially with their
outfits. I loved Ik’s Jasonporshe jacket and pretty Sonia’s baby bump rumbled
out from her dress. I wish them all the best.
clad in stylish gowns and suits to rival any fashion ramp. Some of the Africa’s
film and television stars who took to the red carpet amidst the flashlights and
interview ready camera crews included Genevieve Nnaji, Uti Nwachukwu, Linda Ejiofor amongst others. I
love the carpet o, maybe part of my vain nature plays another role there.
which is like our consolation after the Oscars, everybody is getting ready with
their outfits, makeup, stylists are running helter skelter, the artistes are
apprehensive maybe even tensed about what to wear.
outfits for me to wear for free, maybe because l have published their look
books on my fashion file column which is published every Saturday in THISDAY
newspapers.
changed my mind, when l strolled into Yaba market like l do sometimes to buy my
thick pomo and crabs which l use for my okra soup, I noticed a fabric that
looked so similar to a skirt l have at home.
My friend, Rita Latinwo gave me as a gift when l visited her in London
last year. The next day l was back in Yaba market, l took my skirt there to be
sure the fabrics were not the same. Immediately, l bought two yards and off to
my tailors, one of the designers called me to find out when l will come for the
fitting. I told her l have changed my mind that l have a fabric l was taking to
my tailors now, she insisted l bring to her, but l thought about the distance
and still was not ready to go. l told her that there would be another time.
appeared on the red carp, l felt so happy and in love with me. Why l am saying
all these is because it is high time our stars really started patronising
African designers. Be original with your creativity, be yourself and stop
trying to look or be like someone else or an American star who does not know you
exist.
Lauren dress Lupita Nyong’o wore to the Golden Globes in 2014, but not exactly
the copy. If you are so in love with the dress, you are such a super rich star-
wear the real thing. You could have changed the color from red to green or
yellow, or alternate the style like Rita Dominic did when she also copied
Gweyneth Paltrow long cape dress to the Oscars in 2012. Stephanie Coker in 2013 at the Headies Awards
copied exactly the red dress by Azzedine Alaia that Rihanna wore to the Grammy
Awards in 2013. On the red carpet she claimed that the outfit was designed by
Mai Atafo but l heard from a reliable source that Mai did not design the dress
for her, so who did?
mirror? Did Ini Edo style herself or someone did and who could that be? What on
earth made her feel you could wear a loop earring on a subtle exotic glamorous
evening dress? Or is Lupita her role model or muse, even at that, she has to
explain the shift in cape on her own Nigerian made Ralph Lauren dress, biko.
And her two-tone colored hair did so much damage to the outfit , l will just
drink my Orijin and pretend l didn’t notice that hairstyle which brings to mind
Iyanya’s song, ‘Ekate wants to dance’ and yes Ekate has finally come to Lagos.
cocktail awards party was created out of Solange Knowles wedding dress, but
this time around there is a great difference.
a change? I know you all aspire to be actors in Hollywood or be another Julian
Rancic on the red carpet, but originality is the best land for discovery.
Patronise your Nigerian designers who are even ready to give free clothes or
even the upcoming designers biko, maybe next time, Ini Edo should seek advice
from Genevive Nnaji and Kate Henshaw about the Nigerian designers who made the
dresses they wore to the awards, their make-up artistes and hair stylists were
awesome.
this event, it will be mean not to discuss her outfit, did she truly leave her
home that way? I can imagine what everybody around her thought that night as
she made her grand entry at the Expo centre, was she trying so hard to make a
style statement? I guess she wanted to stand and be the cynosure of all eyes at
the event, yes she succeeded but ended up turning herself to the circus clown
of the event.
in the outfit especially with heat in the hall, l wore a halter neck that was
airy but l still felt hot let alone Peters who buried herself in a massive
white tiered cape, her hair was packed in a form of a pony tail in a rubber
looking tiara, now l’m not sure her earrings had like a bling-bling chain
accessory. I heard Peters and Aduni Ade were styled by Toyin Lawani and did you
guys see what Toyin wore to the awards, how elegant she looked and her clients
a big mess?(SMH) and gulping my Orijin because my favorite drink Bailey’s was
not available.
Big Bird in Sesame street series. She
kept parading in the hall and l saw people giggle, whisper or look so shocked
at her strange outfit. Susan Peters felt so cool in that outfit that maybe her
look sometimes like a hen that is about to lay eggs especially when she seats
down.
and dramatic outfits to big events are tired of being suffocated by their
dramatic costumes in the name of showbiz, Lady Gaga wears normal dresses these
days, and Miley Cyrus is tired of clothes and goes around practically naked, with
what Aduni Ade and Kendra Etunfuru wore, maybe next year some guests might
attend the award practically naked after all Rihanna and Amber Rose had done
so, why can’t they?
coat of many colors still makes you want to scream, l just can’t place it yet
despite the fact that it sat so well on him.
billionaire jacket that night, l guess the most expensive jacket in the hall
that evening. l wanted to be sure it was the real thing, l got closer to him, l
asked him if it was the authentic one or a copy? He was courteous enough to
show me the label, ‘me sef gan, l taya for myself, hehehehehe this my gbeborun sha, God will deliver me o’.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates


