BACKGROUND;HEADLINE ARTISTES

“Don’t Expect Me to Change Soon”- Ama K. Abebrese

By Verus Nartey (blackachieverz.com.)

When Ama K. Abebrese received a call ID[ed] +234 - one she had been expecting even in her dreams- at 12:35am; “I thought the content could only be good news”, she tells blackachieverz.com.

“You have won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role with your effort in Sinking Sands”, said Ama, quoting the lady who introduced herself as a members of the organizers.

“When you are nominated alongside Africa giant such as Genevieve Nnaji (Tango with Me), Omoni Oboli (Anchor Baby), Idiat Shobande (Aramotu), Congolese Manie Malone (Viva Riva) and South African Denise Newman (Shirley Adams), you can only hope (against hopes) for the best. But that’s not to say I didn’t believe I could win this one”, she said rebuffing suggestion that she did not attend the Bayelsa State- hosted AMAA for fear of losing to the seemingly bigger names.

“We were (and still) deep into the shoot of Ties That Bind, Leila Djansi’s newest production on location at the outskirt of Ho in the Volta region of Ghana and couldn’t have abandoned production considering we had to move to Accra, join a flight to Lagos, another to Port Harcourt then a car to Bayelsa State”, she justified why she wasn’t present in Nigeria over the weekend.

Apart from Ama K.’s award, ‘Sinking Sands’ won for Ghana, ‘AMAA Best Achievement In Makeup’ and ‘Best Screenplay’. “Two big wins for Ghana after just matching England in football. I’m very happy flying high the flag of Ghana.”, she says.

When this reporter introduced her as the New Queen of Africa Movie’, she giggles, then bursts out: “Of course every African woman is a queen. I’m very humbled by your recognizing that, though.” She said, now the burst-out turning into genuine laughter.

“To answer your question”, she said: “Winning the AMAA topmost in the ladies department is a pleasant surprise; simply my best in a year that is beginning to show positive signs in career terms”.

When asked to name one person (obviously apart from the Almighty God) that she would attribute her quick success (or dedicate this award) to, the extra fluent actress/TV Producer quipped: “Firstly, my mum; secondly, my family and thirdly, Leila Djansi who took the chance in an audition of so many talents by picking me”.

What would change about Ama K with this achievement? “Nothing serious I can think off; I am and still would be Ama. Perhaps the only changes you expect to see obviously would be my thirst to work with quality team so as to improve on the sudden success. That is not to say I’m going to be choosy with people I work with. I will be the same Ama. I won’t be abnormally expensive. [She jokes: “But you know I’ve always been expensive, don’t you?”].

She failed to mention how much she earned working on Sinking Sands, which is said to be the biggest budget Ghanaian movie in the last decade.

“So far, I don’t depend on the money from movies. Otherwise I would be doing [my] television instead of film. If I fall in love with a certain production, I make sure money doesn’t stand between us. And when I see your budget is $10,000, I charge differently from when I know you are doing a $100,000 budget flick”.

Now that she has won the Best Actress in Africa, expect the deals to pour in, especially from Africa’s biggest movie market, Nollywood. She said: “I wouldn’t be surprised either. And though I have had several offers from Nigeria since Sinking Sands landed last November, I have decided to take my time for the very right deals”.

Ama K. Abebrese started her training at 'Youth Culture Television' in London, an organisation started by Sabrina Guinness on the TV show Challenge Anneka. She was a presenter on BBC2's youth show Pass da Mic and the English File educational series. She was a regular TV presenter on OBE TV, hosting and producing on a number of shows including One Touch, and the entertainment chat show On The Sofa, where guests she has interviewed range from Akon to Ziggy Marley.

Her film credits include the International multi award winning film Sinking Sands, directed by 2011 "BAFTA LA" and "Pan African Film festival" prize winner Leila Djansi. The film received 12 nominations in the 2010 "Ghana Movie Awards", including "Best Actress" in a Leading Role, the film won 4 awards, including "Best Film". Others film credits are Revele film's "Elmina" and London Get Problem. She holds a BA in Media Arts and Drama obtained at 'St Mary's University College' in Surrey. She is the Head of Local productions at Viasat 1 television station in Ghana.

Ama K. Abebrese is currently on set shooting another Turning Point Pictures movie, written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Leila Djansi and featuring such heavy weights as John Dumelo, Kimberly Elise, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Nigeria), Fed Amugi, Grace Nortey.

The ‘I Sing of a Well’ director’s latest production tells a story of Adobea, Buki and Theresa – three women from different walks of life, yet bound together by their experience of the pain of losing a child. “As destiny unites [the three women] in a small village in Kroboland, the women journey together to redemption, love, life and forgiveness as they renovate a dilapidated clinic for the villagers.” blackachieverz.com will bring you update on Ties That Bind in the coming week.

BELOW IS THE FULL LIST OF THE AMAA 2011 WINNERS

Best Short Film: Dina – Mickey Fonseca (Mozambique)

Best Short Documentary: After The Mine – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (DRC)

Best Documentary: Kondi Et Le Jeudi Nationale – Ariana Astrid Atodji (Cameroun)

Best Diaspora Feature: Suicide Dolls – Keith Shaw (USA)

Best Diaspora Documentary: Stubborn As A Mule – Miller Bargeron Jr & Arcelous Deiels (USA)

Best Diaspora Short Film: Precipice – Julius Amedume (UK)

Best Film For African Abroad: In America: The Story Of The Soul Sisters- Rahman Oladigbolu (Nigeria/USA)

Best Achievement In Sound: Shirley Adams (South Africa)

Best Achievement In Editing: Soul Boy (Kenya)

Best Production Design: Viva Riva (Congo)

Best Achievement In Makeup: Sinking Sands (Ghana)

Best Costume Design: Aramotu (Nigeria)

Best Nigeria Film: Aramotu by Niji Akanni

Best Child Actor: Sobahle Mkhabase (Thembi), Tschepang Mohlomi (Chili-Bite) And Sibonelo Malinga (Khwezi) – Izulu Lami (South Africa)

Best Soundtrack: Inale (Nigeria)

Best Actor In Supporting Role: Hoji Fortuna from Viva Riva (Congo)

Best Actress In Supporting Role: Marlene Longage- Viva Riva (Congo)

Best Visual Effects: A Small Town Called Descent (South Africa)

Best Young Actor: Edward Kagutuzi – Mirror Boy (Nigeria)

Best Actress In Leading Role: Ama K. Abebrese In Sinking Sands (Ghana)

Best Actor In Leading Role: Themba Ndaba – Hopeville (South Africa)

Best Cinematography: Viva Riva (Congo)

Best Screenplay: Sinking Sands (Ghana)

Best Film In African Language: Izulu Lami – Madoda Ncayiyana (South Africa)

Jury Special Award: Shirley Adams (South Africa)

Best Director: Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo)

Best Film: Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo)

Fabolous Lands on Friday, Naija Stars in 24 Hours earlier…

As Sarkodie, others join the biggest concert this Easter

Reliable info available to blackachieverz.com says American hip hop star, John David Jackson, a.k.a Fabolous, who has been twittering all over the internet last weekend about how fired up he is to be in Ghana, has confirmed a Friday- midnight (April 22) Delta Airline flight to Accra. Also the Nigerian artistes led by Ice Prince and Wizkid will be in Accra by 10pm on Thursday courtesy Air Nigeria.

Fabolous Live in Ghana has already been tagged the biggest hip hop festival of the year, considering that the most sought-after local hip- hoppers have confirmed to join the 34-year-old 2010 Grammy Award Nominee on this concert.

Latest to be confirmed on the April 23^rd Concert at the 3,000-plus capacity Dome (Accra International Conference Centre), is the recent past Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the year, Sarkodie. Other hip hop acts- Jay Town, Scientific, Bra Kevin Beats (Skillionz Records) and Redcafe, a US artiste, have confirmed to be on the already star-studded bill, making it eleven the total number of artistes on the show. These local artistes mostly based in Tema in the Greater Accra region of Ghana are said to drink, eat and sleep hip hop. A heavy-weight bill was initially announced including current king of Ghana Music VIP, 4x4 and Ruff & Smooth for the concert dubbed, 233 Connect

Early on, the organizers were said to be concerned about an equally heavy bill- Famous Five- at the Accra International Conference Centre on April 22, 2011. Concerns arose due to the fact that a large number of fun lovers would be tripping Kwahu in the Eastern region of Ghana for the famous Easter Festival putting pressure on the organizers to sell advance tickets in droves.

However, info reaching blackachieverz.com says tickets which starts at Ghc50 ($35) are running encouragingly faster making one think these same people would like to see perhaps the biggest international concert this year before leaving for the Eastern region of Ghana this Easter.

At the time of going to press blackachieverz.com was hinted that the multi BET nominee, Fabolous and his team, the Naija Stars and the local big wigs will meet the media at the Accra Mall in the morning of Saturday.

On the show proper, expect Fabolous to perform such hit tunes as ‘Money Goes, Honey Stays’, Say Ah!, My Time, Can’t Let You Go, Breathe, Baby, Return of the Hustle, ‘Everything, Everyday, Everywhere’, plus snippets of tracks from his five albums namely: Ghetto Fabolous (2001), Street Dreams (2003), Real Talk (2004), Nothin’ to Somethin’ (2007) and Loso’s Way (2009).

And if you were disappointed at Ice Prince’s short stints at the Ghana Music Awards on April 9, save your breath because the Oleku man says he wasn’t actually billed to do a full length performance at the GMAs. “I just had to support a friend, D-Black, hence not the best way to judge me”, he told blackachieverz.com. So with combined tracks such as My Time, Baby, Oleku, I like you Girl, Away, Sex Machine, Guns and Roses and Three headed Beasts among others up their repertoire; Accra is in for a grand concert of a lifetime.

Blackachieverz.com hopes that, unlike last year’s Rick Ross Concert in Accra, Fabolous would respect local fans by appearing on stage at the right time (not before he is expected on stage, like Ross) and also performing heartedly like he would to his U.S. fans. Fabolous Live in Ghana is a 233 Connect event sponsored by Kick Energy Drink and VK Vodka with support from Joy FM, YFM, eTV and Hitz FM.