The widely acclaimed movie series, ‘Shanty Town’; and two other movies— ‘Herdsmen’ and ‘Underbelly’— featured prominently in the recently released nominees’ list of the Best of Nollywood Awards 2023.
‘Shanty Town’, a crime thriller created by Xavier Ighorodje, Chichi Nworah and produced by Chinenye Nworah, was nominated in 15 of the 29 categories of the awards.
The six-part series released on Netflix in January features Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, Ali Nuhu, and a host of other actors.
Some of the categories it was nominated in are Best Social Message, Special Effect, Sound, Best Use of Costume, Best Use of Make-Up, Movie of the Year, Director of the Year, Best Actor in an English Movie (Chidi Mokeme), and Best Actress in an English Movie (Ini Edo).
‘Herdsmen’ follows with 11 nominations. The movie, which was produced by Chloe Coko, and directed by Toka Mcbaror, was shot in Kaduna State. The combination of fiction and true life experience takes a look at the herdsmen and farmer crisis in Nigeria.
Some of the categories it was nominated in are Best Social Message, Special Effect, Production Design, and Movie of the Year.
Similarly, ‘Underbelly’ bagged 11 nominations. Produced by Tunde Aina, the movie explores the themes of love, betrayal, and survival in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
The categories it featured include Special Effect, Soundtrack, Best Use of Costume, Production Design, and Movie of the Year.
BON Awards, which was first held in December 2009, in Ikeja, Lagos State, will hold on December 22, 2023, though the host state has not been announced. Other than Lagos, it has been held in states, such as Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kano, Ekiti, Delta, Abia, and Imo.
Other categories in the respected Nollywood recognition platform include Best Child Actor (Female)— Princess Kosi (The Other One), Angel (Here Love Lies), Fisayomi Amodemaja (Keji), Darasimi Nadi (Obara’m); Best Short Film— ‘Za’, ‘Agogo’, ‘A Playboy’s Nightmare’, ‘She Was Not at War, I Was’, ‘Tales of the Browbeaten’; Special Effect— ‘Underbelly’, ‘Herdsmen’, ‘Shanty Town’, ‘Ite’, ‘Inadvertence’; Best Use of Costume— ‘Dice’, ‘Herdsmen’, ‘Underbelly’, ‘Ite’, ‘Shanty Town’; Use of Food— ‘Ifedichie’, ‘Time Travel’, ‘Inadvertence’, ‘Here Love Lies’, ‘50/50’; Best Kiss— Kiki Bakare/Mimisola Daniels (Egun), Efe Irele/Shawn Faqua (House of Secrets), Olu Adebamowo/Kiitan Bukola (Square One); Cinematography— ‘House of Secrets’, ‘Shanty Town’, ‘Ite’, ‘Herdsmen’, ‘Underbelly’; Most Promising Actor— Smart Conrad (Underbelly), Nura Mc Khan (Herdsmen), Olu Adebamowo (Square One), Olaiya Temitope (Inadvertence); Most Promising Actress—Tierny Olalere (Inadvertence), Chinelo Enemchukwu (Ifedichie), Funke Tanimola (50/50), Olusola Adeola (Time Travel); Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba)— Ibrahim Yekini (SOJ), Jide Awobona (Square One), Funsho Adeolu (Asa), Olaitan Jewola (Alebu Ara), Muyiwa Ademola (Time Travel); Best Actress in a Yoruba Movie—Mercy Aigbe (Romola Alakara), Damilola Oni (Ite), Anike Ami (Igboro), Mimisola Daniels (Egun), Debbie Sokoya (Keji); Best Actor in an English Movie—Chidi Mokeme (Shanty Town), Kelechi Udegbe (The Other One), Tim Shelburne (Here Love Lies), Shawn Faqua (House of Secrets), Smart Conrad (Underbelly); Director of the Year— Biodun Stephen (Sista), Dimeji Ajibola (Shanty Town), Tope Oshin (Here Love lies), Toka Mcbaror (Herdsmen), Kayode Kasum (Obara’m); and Movie of the Year—‘Shanty Town’, ‘Underbelly’, ‘Here Love Lies’, ‘Herdsmen’, and ‘Black Harvest’.