Burkina Faso’s Katanga Leads 2025 AMAA Race, Nigeria’s Lisabi Among Top Contenders
Ikenna ChurchillOctober 13, 20251 Mins read347 
The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2025 have unveiled their nominations. Burkina Faso’s Katanga, leading the race with ten nods, followed closely by Nigeria’s historical epic Lisabi: The Uprising, which earned seven. The announcement, made on Sunday, October 12, highlights the growing strength of African cinema across regions, with West Africa again dominating the shortlist.
Directed by Boubacar Diallo, Katanga has emerged as the year’s most talked-about contender, earning nominations in major categories, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Set in the heart of Burkina Faso’s mining belt, the film explores the tensions between tradition, power, and survival in a landscape torn by greed and resistance.
Nigeria’s Lisabi, a sweeping period drama from the stable of Nemsia Films, tells the story of Egba warrior Lisabi, whose defiance against oppression sparked one of pre-colonial West Africa’s most significant revolts. The film received nominations for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role, and several technical awards, reaffirming Nigeria’s continued influence on the continental stage.
Beyond Lisabi, Nigerian cinema made an impressive showing across categories. 3 Cold Dishes, a tense socio-political thriller, earned multiple nominations, including Best Director and Best Film. Other strong contenders from Nigeria include Freedom Way, Recall, Red Circle, Amanayanbo, and The Masked King, all of which were shortlisted for Best Nigerian Film by the National Film and Video Censors Board.
Veteran actress Shaffy Bello received a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in The Masked King. At the same time, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman was recognised for her role in The Serpent Gift, a psychological drama exploring faith, love, and delusion.
This year’s nominations reflect the diversity and depth of African storytelling, from the Sahel to the Niger Delta, with productions addressing themes of resistance, identity, and resilience. The competition remains tight, as filmmakers from Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, and Egypt also made strong entries in the Best Film category.
The 2025 AMAAs are scheduled to be held later this year. They will bring together filmmakers, actors, and industry stakeholders from across the continent to celebrate African creativity and the enduring power of its stories on the global stage.
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Having not yet viewed “Lisabi,” I am unable to offer any commentary on the film. However, I did attend a screening of “KATANGA” at Carthon University in Minnesota and had the opportunity to interact with Director Boubacar. “KATANGA” stands out as one of the most compelling films I have encountered recently, particularly due to its exceptional cinematography, which vividly captures the African landscape. The decision to present the film in black and white reflects a deliberate and insightful artistic choice by the author.