TIPTOPSTARS

“It was simply a resounding success.” This is how an attendee of the third edition of the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards, NAFCA described Saturday’s African Oscars that attracted scores of entertainment lovers to the legendary Warner Theatre in Washington DC. A week to the event, Dr Victor Olatoye, CEO/President had told this writer on African Cocktail (a show on Afrikka Radio) that his team was ready for NAFCA 2013 and were envisaging great success. True to his words, this year’s edition of the recognition ceremony was a come-and-see.

According to reports from DC, the evening was a beautifully packaged organizers of NAFCA presented to guests. If the Warner Theatre befitted NAFCA, the gold-plated statuettes only made it more prestigious. Perhaps, the people who answered present at the event kept to the tradition of being just who they ought to be. The celebs - call them stars – gorgeous in outfit and constantly posing for snapshots. Then the names – Nollywood’s Vitalis Ndubuisy (laureate), clad in a dark jacket with white stripes and a butterfly tie – Ghollywood’s John Dumelo - Miss Ethopia, in red smiling all through the evening – Haiti’s Sarodj Bertin (actress, model) in red displaying her trophy – actress Cece Maintain with stylish hair-do – Majid Michel (laureate) in blue shirt and jean – Merlissa Determined, Carribean-born Nollywood/USA actress and the list is endless.

But one thing stood out clear at NAFCA III – the Cameroonian delegation was extraordinarily big. The enthusiasm displayed by this group is definitely what NAFCA’s organizing team needs to made a comment on. “This was far beyond the fact that a Cameroonian movie had secured eleven nominations, we simply love the initiative and think it is worth being part of it,” a Cameroonian movie star attending NAFCA III told this writer on the line to in the course of the evening. Conspicuously present therefore were ace producer Agbor Gilbert Ebot,producer/director cum Cameroon Film Induistry (CFI) diaspora representative Akim Macauley, gospel singer Maybelle Boma (now making debuting strides in movie acting), producer/actor Kenneth Ngamne, producer/actor Kang Quintus, actresss Elian Mambo, producer Sahndra Fondufe, entertainment promoter Anne Ngono. These celebrities were backed by Cameroon’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E Foe Atangana.

Perhaps the Cameroonian of the evening was Victor Viyuoh, producer/director of the award-winning Ninah’s Dowry who lifted the movies’ first ever NAFCA award to made his country proud. As modest as ever, Victor could be spotted in his dark bold tie celebrating his umpteen victories just with a smile. NAFCA honoured the Cameroonian Minister of Culture Ama Tutu Muna whose trophy was received by the Executive Producer of the Cameroon Entertainment Awards, CEA Maybelle Boma, handed over to her country’s Ambassador to the US for onward transmission to Yaounde.

Meanwhile, NAFCA’s CEO, Victor Olatoye will be speaking to African Cocktail this Wednesday, September 18 at 10:30 am EST (4;30pm Lagos time) as one of the show’s guests-at-large. On his part, the producer of Ninah’s Dowry will be main guest. Tune in by clicking on www.afrikkaradio.com or dial 832-280-0016.