The iconic National Arts Theatre was ablaze with glamour and celebration this past Sunday as the 17th Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards honored the finest talents in the industry. The night belonged to the cinematic triumph “Farmers Bride,” which claimed the coveted Movie of the Year prize, with its director also named Best Director, signaling a powerful statement on the film’s artistic achievement.
While “Farmers Bride” reigned supreme, the evening highlighted the diverse and technical excellence surging through Nollywood. A major sweep came from Femi Adebayo’s “Seven Doors,” which dominated the technical categories, securing five awards: Best Production Design, Best Special Effects, Best Movie Series, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume.
Gideon Okeke emerged as Best Actor in a Leading Role (English) for his performance in “Black Out,” while Padita Agu took home Best Actress in a Leading Role (English). In the supporting categories, Mercy Aigbe shone as Best Supporting Actress (English) for “My Mother Is a Witch,” and Taye Ayimoro won Best Supporting Actor (Yoruba) for “SonU of the Soil.” Adding a dash of sizzle to the proceedings, Tobi Bakre and Folu Storms won the Best Kiss award for their chemistry in “Red Cycle.”
The Most Promising Actor award went to Razaq Adoti and Most Promising Actress to Una Idoko. The critically acclaimed “Son of the Soil” also celebrated a double victory, with Razaq Adoti winning Most Promising Actor and Ijelu Folajimi being named Best Child Actress. In the indigenous categories, “Abanisete” was crowned Best Indigenous Film (Yoruba), celebrating storytelling in local languages.
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Special Recognition Awards were presented to luminaries including veteran journalist Steve Ayorinde, superstar filmmaker Funke Akindele, and esteemed industry historian Dr. Shaibu Husseini, for their indelible contributions to fueling the industry’s fire.
The 17th BON Awards successfully captured a moment in Nollywood’s exciting trajectory—honoring timeless storytelling, technical innovation, powerhouse performances, and the vibrant community that makes it all possible.
