Renowned Malawian filmmaker Shemu Joyah’s short film Strike a Blow and Die has been nominated for the prestigious Efere Ozako African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2024. The awards ceremony is set to take place on November 2, 2024, in Nigeria.

The African Movie Academy Awards announced this year’s nominations, including the categories, through their official Facebook page earlier today.

Strike a Blow and Die was initially shot as a promotional piece to raise funds for Joyah’s larger project, a film on the life of John Chilembwe, a significant historical figure in Malawi.

To help finance this project, Joyah has also launched the Copyright Fund of Malawi.

“We are greatly thankful to COSOMA for providing financial assistance, which enabled us to create this film,” Joyah stated.

The film is in competition with notable works including The Last Shoe Maker from Uganda, Seven from Mali, Dear Future Wife from South Africa, Isolated from Nigeria, Jolie from Angola, Don’t Call Me Beautiful from Ghana, and Sins of a Father, a joint production between Zimbabwe and the USA.

The AMAA seeks to honor and promote excellence within the African film industry while fostering unity across the continent through arts and culture. Often referred to as the “African Oscars,” the AMAA has earned its place as one of the most significant film events in Africa.

This nomination is not new for Shemu Joyah, who is a multi-award-winning filmmaker with several accolades to his name.

By Chikumbutso Gasper Willard