Organizers of the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) have revealed the nominees for “Best Kiss” in a movie category and a host of exciting activities for this year’s event.
This year’s nominees for the “Best Kiss in a Movie” category highlight some of Nollywood’s most talented actors, including Omowunmi Dada, Tayo Faniran, Kelechi Udegbe, Kehinde Bankole, Halima Haliyi, David Akande, Jide Oyebile and Tomi Ojo .
Omowunmi Dada stands out with a double nomination for Best Actress at the BON Awards for her roles in Ada Omo Daddy and Unknown Soja.
The BON Awards are an annual celebration of excellence in the Nigerian film industry. It is known for its unique award categories such as “Best Use of Nigerian Food in a Film” and “Best Kiss in a Film”.
This year’s awards are scheduled for November 24 at the Sugar Factory in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Best Kiss in a Movie category has been a fan favorite at the BON Awards, with memorable winners over the past few years:
In 2023, Nollywood actors Kiki Bakare and Mimisola Daniels emerged winners of the Best Kiss category at the Bon Awards.
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Nollywood actors Laura Fidel and Kunle Remi emerged winners of the Best Kiss category at the 2020 BON Awards.
Ghanaian actor Mawuli Gavor and Nollywood actress Odera Olivia Orji won the Best Kiss category at the 2018 BON Awards.
In 2015, Seun Akindele and Roseanne Marcel won the “Best Kiss in a Movie” award, and to celebrate the win, the duo shared a kiss on stage at the awards ceremony.
Pre-award activities and book reading
As part of the lead-up to the main event, organizers also unveiled a range of pre-award activities, including a book reading session and the introduction of new award categories.
Highlights include a pre-awards welcome party scheduled for Nov. 23 and a Book of the Year reading scheduled for the morning of awards day.
This year's Book of the Year is “Do What You're Told, Bani” by acclaimed author Lola Shoneyin.
The reading will feature notable personalities including the First Lady of Kwara State and celebrated Nollywood stars Segun Arinze, Wole Ojo, Kemi Adekomi, Cynthia Clarke and Chioma Okafor.
According to the organisers, the book reading is aimed at inspiring and engaging the youth, precisely a select number of school children in Ilorin, Kwara State, offering them a unique opportunity to interact with industry leaders.
Gifted categories
The organizations have revealed that notable individuals and organizations have donated four of their top award categories to elevate the awards.
Gifted categories include:
Best Indigenous Film – Awarded by Oba Saheed Eleguishi, a distinguished traditional ruler and patron of the arts.
Best Use of Food – Funded by Abundish Limited, an agricultural product of the incumbent Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Moji Ojora, awards the category of Best Actress. The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Toke Benson, awards the film the Best Social Message.
Seun Oloketuyi, founder of the BON Awards, said: “These new donations promise to enhance the prestige of the awards by taking them to the next level and also provide greater recognition for excellence in these fields.”
Feranmi Olaoye, CEO, described this year's event as more than a ceremony.
He added: “This year is not just another gala night, but a weekend getaway for hard-working Nollywood practitioners and others within the Nollywood community.
See the full list of nominees below:
BEST ACTRESS
Uche Mac-Auley — MY NAME IS MISAN
Bukunmi Oluwashina — JAGUN JAGUN
Omowunmi Dada — ADA OMO DAD
Omowunmi Dada — UNKNOWN SOY
Kehinde Bankole -ADIRE
Uzoamaka Aniunoh -THE WEEKEND
Jessica Blessing Nze-MOMIWA
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
JAGUN JAGUN
SOMETHING LIKE GOLD
ADA OMO DAD
ADIRE
ORISA
THE WEEKEND
BEST ACTOR
Bimbo Manuel – MY NAME IS MISAN
Odunlade Adekola-ORISA
Femi Adebayo – JAGUN JAGUN
Jide Jblaze Oyegbile -DAMAGE DONE
Deyemi Okanlawon -UNKNOWN SOY
Debo Adedayo (Macaroni) -SMALL TALK
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Keppy Ekpenyong -THE WEEKEND
That Dam -DAMAGE DONE
Adedimeji Lateef -JAGUN JAGUN
Roxy Antak – UNKNOWN SOY
BEST SOCIAL MESSAGE
SINGLENESS IS HAPPINESS
ETIKETA
LIFE
CHAT
ADA OMO DAD
RELEASED
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mercy Aigbe Adeoti -ADA OMO DAD
Meg Otanwa – THE WEEKEND
Binta Ayo Mogaji – UNKNOWN SOY
Gloria Anozie – YOUNG – THE WEEKEND
Shaffy Bello-ORISA
BEST EDITION
AND US?
ADA OMO DAD
DAMAGE DONE
MOMIWA
ORISA
CHAT
BEST COSTUME
JAGUN JAGUN
ORISA
ADA OMO DAD
ADIRE
STEM
BETTER SOUND
STEM
ADA OMO DAD
JAGUN JAGUN
THE ACCOUNTS
BEST SOUNDTRACK
JAGUN JAGUN
ORISA
THE ACCOUNTS
ETIKETA
OF MANY
OLOKU ADA
BEST USE OF FOOD
SON OF IRON
ADA OMO DAD
ETIKETA
NWANYI ABACHA
ORISA
BEST INDIGENOUS
ETIKETA
AKUDAAYA (THE SPECTRUM)
ORISA
JAGUN JAGUN