Did King Of Boys Really Deserve To Win Nothing At the AMVCA After bagging 7 Nominations?
The 2020 Africa Magic Viewer Choice Awards was held on Saturday the 14th day of March 2020 and did not just come and go without giving us several talking points. From what our biggest celebrities wore to how they were able to afford it and the awarding of the best dressed on the night, to the musical performances and award recipient reactions, have kept discussions about the 7th edition of the awards show trending.
The Ramsey Nouah directed-film Living in Bondage was the biggest winner on the night as it won in seven out of the nine categories in which it was nominated, including for Best Director which went to Ramsey Nouah, TrailBlazer picked up by Swanky JKA and Best Overall Movie
In sharp contrast was the fate of Kemi Adetiba’s King Of Boys, which despite being one of the highest-grossing and highest rated films of the last decade, won in none of the seven categories in which it was nominated.
While winners selection were based on votes, one must question how a big fan favourite like King Of Boys couldn’t inspire fans to vote for it despite all the fantastic remarks it received while at the box office and with the hot anticipation for the sequel. Shola Shobowale’s acting for one did stand out and was itself a talking point after the film was released to cinemas and again after it was released to Netflix, but she lost out in the Best Actress in a drama (Movie/TV Series) category to Toyin Abraham for her role in Elevator Baby. Reminisce and Toni Tones were absolutely amazing in respective roles as Makanaki and a younger Eniola in King Of Boys but lost out in the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or TV series categories losing to Kenya’s Pascal Tokodi (Disconnect) and Ghanaian actress Gloria Sarfo (The Perfect Picture: Ten Years Later), respectively. Kemi Adetiba was nominated in the Best Director category, which was won by first time director Ramsey Nouah, his efforts behind the scenes of Living In Bondage being recognised.
There have been various reactions to King Of Boys losing out completely at the awards show
Almost impossible-to-please film critic Shola Thompson who is also a very popular radio and TV personality wrote on his Instagram
“I still stand by “Living In Bondage” as possibly the best movie of the last decade, but best actress, best supporting and best director should have gone to “King Of Boys”.
Veteran actor Richard Mofe Damijo seemed disappointed that Reminisce didn’t pick up the best supporting actor award, as he remarked on his Instagram
“If I was in an AMVCA jury for Best Supporting Actor, @iamreminisce in KING OF BOYS would have been my pick…. alas it’s not up to a jury! Welcome to Nollywood! Welcome to the AMVCAs!”
Twitter user Mr Sawyerr wrote
Reminisce’s acting in King of Boys is one of the most powerful performances I’ve seen in a Nollywood movie. I hope we don’t normalize voting as the major criteria for film awards.
Another twitter user, volqx, remarked
Now let’s talk about King Of Boys I barely see movies tbvh, worse with Nigerian movies, I saw King Of Boys twice and was willing to see it a third time. Sola Sobowale didn’t deserve this robbery by the organisers. King of boys had a strong message & brilliant rendering. #AMVCA7
Pamilerin’s opinion was also that KOB had been robbed, as he remarked
There is politics everywhere. King of Boys was robbed tonight and it’s obvious. #AMVCA7 we see you ooo
And Omojuwa wrote
Was there a ban on Kemi Adetiba’s King of Boys or what? It looks like they were blacked out at this ongoing award or na my timeline?
Movie lovers as it shows were clearly unhappy with KOB totally losing out, but like RMD rightly stated, winners are reportedly not up to a jury but votes from the same movie lovers who don’t seem to have done enough for the blockbuster this time around.
The big loss, however, doesn’t take anything away from how incredible the film is. Its awesomeness cannot be undermined by any one individual or awards show, and through the general direction of the reaction of movie lovers, it’s clear.
Kemi Adetiba’s reaction?
She congratulated the winners, and then also took to Twitter to applaud her in quote incredible fans after they had King Of Boys trending on twitter, writing
KOB has the most incredible fans… Thank you so much for the support so far. Almost 2 years after and y’all still make this “little” film trend at will. Y’all are INCREDIBLE!!! LET’S GIVE THEM AGAIN this year.…
Forward she moves.
