Film about xenophobia up for AMAAs

SOUTH African film ‘Man on Ground’, which was inspired by the horrific incident in which Mozambican Enersto Alfabeto Nhamuave was set alight and burnt to death, has been nominated for a number of African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

Nhamuave’s death at the Cyril Ramaphosa informal settlement on the East Rand happened in 2008 when the country experienced xenophobic violence.Director Akin Omotoso, who has also been nominated for Best Director, was thrilled when he spoke to the Sowetan recently. ‘This is great, real great. It’s not rocket science. Our stories are beginning to penetrate and this story is an African story about Africans killing other Africans. The nomination is just great,’ Omotoso said.The film has also been nominated for Best Film, Best Actor (Hakeem Kae-Kazeem), Best Supporting Actor (Fana Mokoena ), Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Sound.Other nominated films include ‘How to Steal 2 Million’, which has been nominated for 11 awards, ‘Otelo Burning’ which screens in Windhoek on March 31 as part of AfricAvenir’s monthly event, African Perspectives. ‘Dear Mandela’ and ‘State of Violence’ round off the nominations list.The awards ceremony will be held in the Gambian capital Banjul next month.- www.sowetanlive.co.za

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