The filmmaking fraternity came together in what promises to be Uganda’s biggest night in film and Television – iKon Awards.
In its maiden edition, iKon Awards, an initiative of Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU) gave the wider entertainment industry a taste of what celebrating art should look like. Gathering the industry movers and shakers, pulling off a well-organized event, captivating aesthetics and most of all getting everyone’s endorsement.
Ugandan awards, at least those that followed the demise of Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards have struggled with a lack of credibility among the players – artists – they target. Awards became a commercial venture more than they were a platform to recognize extraordinary talent. What such a model does is, it limits how much one is willing to invest in the awards campaign, which subsequently deprives these awards of substance.
It appears Humphrey Nabimanya was wary of these loopholes when he conceived the idea of iKon Awards. Saturday night’s awards gala at Kampala Serena Hotel debunked the perception about awards.
To have different generations of filmmakers – from ‘Doctor Bbosa’ and ‘Nakawunde’, the small screen stars of the 90s, to Mariam Ndagire who was among the first Ugandan creators to have their works carried on continental platforms like DStv, to Loukman Ali who is pioneering a new way of telling Ugandan stories and breaking ground in new frontiers – all in the same room speaks volumes about industry endorsement.
John Winston Katende, a jack of many trades, who won this year’s iKon Lifetime Achievement Award, is not one that attends such events. But he was present and used the event to reveal his involvement in ‘The Ebonies’ as co-founder, writer and Producer.
“I’m here for something that has always been hidden. And that is film, drama and theatre. I started acting at the request of Michael Nsimbi who wanted to put on a show at the National Theatre in 1962. They wanted a young boy to act. His son who was one of my teachers picked me. I’m proud to know I was on stage and featured in Kabbo Ka Muwala, the first African drama at National Theater. That’s when I got interested in drama,” the playwright, artiste, director and producer said after receiving his accolade.
In 1977, together with Jimmy Katumba, Katende co-founded ‘Jimmy Katumba and the Ebonies’ but Katende then a lawyer deliberately chose to remain in the background and be identified as Sembajwe.
“Tonight is the first time people get to know I was involved with The Ebonies and to reveal who Sembajwe is. I’m shy. I’m so glad and so happy that I have been awarded this accolade. I thank all The Ebonies,” Katende added.
In the last four decades, Katende has overseen the creation of five TV shows (dramas) among them That’s Life Mwatu (with 768 episodes), Bibawo (661 episodes), Ekitoobero A La Carte (589 episodes), OMG (581 episodes), and the latest, Urban Life (57 episodes). During the same period, ‘The Ebonies’ have written over 200 songs, some written by Katende himself.
The Ebonies cast including Simon Base Kalema, Bbosa and Nakawunde joined Katende on stage to celebrate him.
But a lot has changed since The Ebonies had Ugandans glued on black and white television on UTV. Many of the filmmakers that graced the gala are faces that cut their teeth in the age of color television and Pay-TV. Actors like Eleanor Nabwiso, Housen Mushema, Nisha Kalema, Raymond Rushabiro, Cleopatra Koheirwe and Rehema Nanfuka.
In his monologue, while opening, Moses Kiboneka ‘Uncle Mo’ who hosted the gala alongside Anita Fabiola paid homage to icons like Abbey Mukibi, Mariam Ndagire and Doctor Bbosa for their pioneering role.
Kafa Coh, the 2022 film about the fight for justice in the face of power won Best Film. Gilbert Lukaria and Doreen Mirembe who directed the film also won Best Director while Rehema Nanfuka who plays Lisa Borera in the legal drama won Best Supporting Actress. Kafa Coh also features Kalu Ikeagwu (Nigerian actor), Doreen Mirembe, singer, producer and actor Mariam Ndagire, Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga and Micahel Wawuyo.
Director and Producer, Loukman Ali, was also among the night’s big winners having bagged three accolades – Best Short Film (Sixteen Rounds), Best Editor (The Girl in the Yellow Jumper) and Best Visual Effects (The Girl in the Yellow Jumper). The 2020 film, also Uganda’s first production to sit on Netflix, won more accolades; Best Sound (Quad-A Records), Best Cinematography and Best Actor in a Lead Role (Michael Wawuyo Jnr).
A successive win after the film, a story following a man who escapes a hostage situation and returns home with a story to tell, won 3 awards (Best Sound Design, Production Editing and Best Cinematography) at last year’s Uganda Film Festival. In the same year, the film won Uganda its first Africa Magic Viewers Choice award in 9 years.
Loukman’s latest project Katera of the Punishment Island which is part of 6 UNESCO-Netflix short films themed ‘African Folk Tales Reimagined’ will premiere on Netlfix on March 29.
The evening celebrated film as it did film. All the musical interludes between the different award presentations featured Ugandan songs. There were performances from Irene Ntale, Jose Sax and Benti Boys. Grammy-nominated singer, Eddy Kenzo was also in attendance and so was Cindy who heads the musicians’ body.
For an industry that is so nascent with barely any commercial benefits for those who choose to invest in it, the organizers bet all their chips on producing a high-class event.
The transcendent stage, characterized by a replica of the iKon accolade (an inclined basket with a spherical figure inside it) as a centerpiece, pulled you in the moment you set foot inside the Victoria Ballroom. On one edge of the stage was a curved LED display (perhaps symbolic of the technological evolution of the small screen) and on the other, a gigantic film reel that really hammered the message home.
ATS which produced the show used the event to further affirm their place in events management, two months after the outstanding work they did with Spice Diana’s concert that left the industry talking. Yet again, ATS on Saturday scored highly on production – the creative elements, graphics, lighting and sound. The show flow was in sync. A couple of moments made you appreciate that the producers were not boxed creatively. This coupled with Uncle Mo’s originality lent the show witty and unusual progression.
He and Fabiola made a good attempt at keeping the room in titters. Like when the comedian jested about Kizito Samuel Saviour’s numerous foreign awards saying “He has won more foreign awards than local ones, they are so many, at a certain point I felt he was making them up”. Forbidden, a 2018 film directed by Kizito became the most nominated and awarded Ugandan film in the history of Ugandan Cinema.
Acing the assignment, Uncle Mo opted to give the audience a taste of his acting ingenuity – through a dramatic skit in which his famous character (an overall-wearing mechanic) hurriedly transformed into a tuxedo after receiving a phone call from Fabiola reminding him about a gig he is late for. It was the perfect cue for the pair to take to the stage.
Such galas strive to have guests show up at their best. The Oscars, the Emmys and similar awards events have over the years set the standard of what a red-carpet experience should feel like. Saturday’s red-carpet did not only buzz with conversations and catchup, it also had guests turn up in sheer elegance. Many took the night’s dress code – black tie – seriously.
Nigerian film star, Ramsey Nouah who attended and was among the presenters wore a kanzu complete with a navy-blue blazer and golden hat. He had Abryanz (who was present) to thank for the outfit.
Ramsey thanked Ugandans for supporting Nigeria’s filmmaking adding he didn’t quite believe he was so popular in Uganda. He said he is looking forward collaborating with the local industry. Earlier, Doctor Bbosa had confessed meeting Ramsey was the best birthday gift he could have asked for this year.
On his Ugandan trip, Ramsey was accompanied by Chris Odeh, a Nigerian film and TV producer together with whom he delivered a masterclass to Ugandan actors. For an initiative that set out to facilitate connection among industry players, you could say the maiden Edition of iKon Awards yielded fruits.
The other thing that stood out was that the nominees and winners were recognized by their peers. As opposed to cases where presenting slots have been handed to brand managers and sponsors to cater for commercial interests, this time it was the filmmakers doing the honors.
The list of presenters had Cleopatra Koheirwe, Natasha Sinayobye, Sarah Kisawuzi, Doctor Bbosa, Harriet Nalubwama ‘Nakawunde’, Allan Manzi, Aisha Kyomuhangi, Raymond Rushabiro, Matt Bish, Yasin Lubowa, Fauzia Nakiboneka and Faridah Ndausi among others.
Beyond the accolades, the iKon initiative is looking to empower the next generation of remarkable storytellers through its iKon Fellowship Program. Doreen Mirembe (Mama Wange) who won iKon Fellow of the Year was awarded $20,000 (Ushs 74m) to support her create a feature film.
“I’m sorry. This is too much,” Mirembe said in her speech as she struggled to gather her speech. Adding; “I am so happy. I did not expect this. I want to thank Mr. Mathew Nabwiso because he opened my eyes. I dedicate this award to my mother and all single mothers in the world. Please don’t give up.”
The Winners
Best Film – Kafa Coh
Best Director – Gilbert Lukaria & Doreen Mirembe (Kafa Coh)
Best TV series – Prestige (Nathan Magoola)
Best Actress in a Lead Role – Nisha Kalema (Bedroom Chains)
Best Actor in a Lead Role – Michael Wawuyo Jr. (The Girl in the Yellow Jumper)
Best Screenplay – My Husband’s Wife (Mariam Ndagire)
Best Supporting Actor – Cosmos Sserubogo (Tembele)
Best Supporting Actress – Rehema Nanfuka (Kafa Coh)
Best Actor in a TV series – Allan Kutos Katongole (Sanyu)
Best Actress in a TV series – Sally Elizabeth Bwamimpeke (Prestige)
Best Editor – Loukman Ali (The Girl in the Yellow Jumper)
Best Director of Photography Naizi Nasser (The Girl in the Yellow Jumper)
Best Visual Effects – (The Girl in the Yellow Jumper)
Best Makeup and Special Effects – Kafa Coh (Shakirah Kibirige)
Best Costume Designer – Irene Seremba (Bedroom Chains)
Best Production Design – Kafa Coh (Rhonnie Nkalubo and Robina Nansubuga)
Lifetime Achievement Award – John Winston Katende
Rising Star Award – Tuyi Mariserena
Best Short Film – Sixteen Rounds (Loukman Ali)
Best Sound – The Girl in the Yellow Jumper (Quad-A)
Best Documentary – Pius (Brian Mukisa)
Best Animation Film – No Way Out (Mulima Ashraf)
Best Student Film – Pius (Pius Mukisa)
iKon Fellow of the Year – Doreen Mirembe (Mama Wange)
