AMAA 2021: Why Crescent Varsity is intellectual hub for Ayinla Omowura movie

By JAMIU FOLARIN

Ayinla movie has been nominated in four categories of the 2021 edition of the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

Ayinla is a film that tells the story of a Nigerian musician, Ayinla Omowura, who used Apala music to address issues of the contemporary society – commending and criticizing various governmental and individual acts (DP Cinema, 2021).

The AMAA is the biggest gathering of filmmakers and other creatives in Africa. Since 2005, AMAA has been celebrating excellence of Africa’s cinema.

We congratulate our Head of Department (HOD) of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Dr Kola Adesina and the world-renowned filmmaker, veteran and icon of cinematography in Nigeria, Mr Tunde Kelani (TK); as the organisers of the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) shortlisted Ayinla movie for the 17th edition of the award.

The AMAA 2021 nominations announcement was made at the Ebony Life Place, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday October, 26, 2021.

While announcing the nominees for the 26 categories, Head of Jury, Hon. Steve Ayorinde said movies submitted from different countries in Africa reflect the brilliance of filmmakers across the continent.

Ayinla movie received multiple nominations in four categories. These include: Awards for Best Film in an African Language, Achievement in Cinematography, Best Film, and nomination of Lateef Adedimeji as Best Actor in a Leading Role.

We are proud of the intellectual contributions of our HOD, Dr Adesina, to the making of the Ayinla Omowura movie and commend TK for choosing Mass Communication Department, Crescent University, as the intellectual hub of the movie that was the talk of town after its release early this year.

The AMAA 2021 Gala and award is scheduled to hold on November 28, 2021 at the Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, Nigeria and will be televised live in more than 40 countries across Africa and other countries worldwide.

We are excited about the nomination and attest to the quality and impact of the movie to the promotion of African culture and narratives. And we are also confident that the Ayinla movie will be duly recognized during the event.

Show, don’t tell

The principle on which Mass Communication Department, Crescent University stands is “Show, Don’t Tell”. That is why we serve as the platform for the handshake between the town and gown. With exceptional academic and non-academic staff in the area of research and field experiences, we instill the culture of theory and practice in our students in order to be relevant in the world of mass communication.

This is evidence in our engagements with the academic and professional communities in Nigeria and beyond.

To further establish the link between theory and practice as well as developing the entrepreneurial skills in our students, we are also proud to announce the publication of the “On Stage” magazine, highlighting our commitment to excellence in specialised publications. The cover story of the magazine with the headline: “Ayinla: An Icon Whose Music Refused to Die”, explores the making of the movie and issues around it.

With our track records in developing budding media practitioners, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, is a place to be for your BSc, MSc and PhD in Mass Communication.

*Folarin, a communication scholar and Fellow, Solutions Journalism Network, wrote from Crescent University, Abeokuta.