The
Organisers of the African Film Festival and Academy Awards (
ZAFAA ) have named the African film producer and Nollywood actress, Fatima Jabbe-Bio as the new host of the 2013 ZAFAA Global Award event taking place at Hilton Metropole Hotel, Edgaware Road, London on Saturday, 16th November 2013. This was revealed in a statement made available to the
NUJE News by the ZAFAA's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chinedu Onyekuru.
Ibu's producer, Collins Archie-Pearce, Desmond Finney are among other
notable African film celebrities who are presently in London for the
celebration of their achievements for the prestigious ZAFAA Awards nite.
ZAFAA Global Award is the biggest African entertainment event outside of Africa is being organised in honour of African filmmakers who have
contributed to the development and progress of the African film industry
over the years in diverse ways.
According to Mr Onyekuru ''The stage is fully set to welcome African film celebrities again in London as ZAFAA organisers in conjunction with Nigerian Television Authority, NTA and other co-partners have finally put finese touch to the prestigious award nite this weekend to reward those who have
been outstanding in their roles in films during the year 2012/2013,
either on the continent or in the Diaspora. The host for the ZAFAA GLOBAL AWARDS 2013 will be
Mrs Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio, an international Nollywood actress, script writer and
executive producer.''
The African Film Festival and Academy Awards (also known as ZAFAA) is a
highly regarded and anticipated film event within the African
communities and has already become a part of the UK’s annual cultural
calendar. Performers at the events are
Mary7even, Inkra Da Belle, Bol Rozzi, Blaco Blaze, Koko, Joy Ibisa, Joe Ocea
among others. Expected at the events cream of African film celebs
including Akin Arinze, Aki & Pawpaw, Yvonne Nelson, Bimbo Oshin,
Micheal Majid among other Nollywood artistes.
The choice of
Mrs Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio of this
year as the host is notably perhaps due to her enormous contributions she has made towards re-branding the
African movie industry and her efforts in serving as a role model to
many young talented actresses in the African movie industry. In fact, in the 2011 ZAFAA GLOBAL Awards, it
could be recalled that Mrs Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio won an award for “Best
Supporting Actress” for the movie “
Mirror Boy”.
This will be another major event since
Fatima Jabbe-Bio got married to the Sierra Leonean SLPP's 2012 presidential candidate, rtd. Brig.Julius Maada Bio and she will be playing host to a first time ever nominated popular Sierra Leonean actor, Desmond Finney whose top charted
Ibu in Sierra Leone film is currently dominating the season. This year ZAFAA Global Awards will be witnessing Desmond Finney who has been nominated for “best new comer” award for
the internationally acclaimed Sierra Leonean movie “
Ibu in Sierra
Leone”. Desmond
Finney is being nominated in this same category with other actors and
actresses like Itz Tiffany for the movie “
Married and Single” (Ghana);
Henry Ado Asieudo for the movie “
House of Gold” (Ghana); Mercy Chinwo
for the movie "
House of Gold” (Ghana); Kathrine Obiang for the movie
“
Journey to Self” (Nigeria); and Marie Gomez for the movie “
Shameful
Deceit”.
The ZAFAA Global Award 2013 is being organised in honour of
African filmmakers who have contributed to the development and progress
of the African film industry over the years in diverse ways, as well as
to reward those who have been outstanding in their roles in films during
the year 2012/2013, either on the continent or in the Diaspora.
Equally,
at this year’s ZAFAA Global Awards, the producer of the Sierra
Leonean movie “
Ibu in Sierra Leone”, Collins Archie-Pearce will be given
an award in recognition for his contributions to the African Film
Industry in London. This is a clear indication that a remarkable success has been recoreded this year
for the Sierra Leone film industry for such international
recognition.
Last week, in a separate engagement, Mrs
Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio was a guest speaker at a seminar event
organised by the
African Diasporas in the Film and Media Industry in
London. In her presentation Mrs Fatima Jabbe-Bio spoke extensiely about the
importance of the films she produces and acts as a way of raising
public awareness on issues such as Child Abuse, Drug Misuse, Domestic
Violence and Corruption in public offices. At the seminar, Mrs Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio advised
African film makers that they should use their
movies to rebrand Africa by promoting their culture and uniqueness.
Written by
Elizabeth Conteh, London
Edited by
Lashley Oladigbolu
