Last night was a night of statements as Ifan Ifeanyi Michael’s movie, ‘Lotonna’ was the biggest winner at the 2017 Golden Movie Awards Award, held in Accra. 

The Nigerian movie starring Ghana’s Ama K Abebrese and Chris Attoh won 5 awards out of its 13 nominations, including Best Art Director, Best Costumier, Best Cinematography,  Best Sound,  Best Director, and Best Film.

This upset many Ghanaian filmmakers and actors, as they felt too many of the awards were going to foreign movies instead of Ghanaian movies. There were many catcalls and whispering in the auditorium while the awards were ongoing.

They started screaming ‘Lotanna’ and laughing whenever the movie was called in the nomination reels. Some of the guests started calling the ceremony the Golden Nigerian Movie Awards.

A similar thing also happened in the TV categories ,when Cameroonian series, ‘Samba’ swept the TV categories.

Meanwhile, Chris Okagbue, the lead actor in Lotanna, had a subtle statement of his own to make. He posted photos of all the trophies ‘Lotanna’ won and suggested that it was surprising that the movie had received such recognition outside of Nigeria, than it did in Nigeria. He wrote:

“My people, see us see GOD oooo. How can one name “LOTANNA” shake up the entire film industry so much in another man’s country??? 😲😲😲
Clearing 6 out of 13 nominations and becoming the BIGGEST winner of the night at the Golden Movie Awards 2017.
• Best Art Director
• Best Costumier
• Best Cinematopgraphy
• Best Sound
• Best Director
• Best Film
And you think GOD is not a miracle worker?
We shot this movie TWICE!!! With sweat and tears and blood, we literally put everything into this film.
Massive congratulations to the entire team especially my producer @thinkifan, my co-star @ama_k_abebrese and my brother n director @tokamcbarorfilms.
I didn’t win my category. But really, who better to lose out to than my very own mentor any day anytime @octhegreatukeje? Years ago, i couldn’t even imagine standing side by side with OC. Today, i’m honored on a level words can’t explain to share a category with him. In short, it was a WIN WIN WIN night for me.
All i can say is THANK YOU JESUS!!! And thank you to @goldenmovieawards for a spectacular show. Like i always say, we haven’t even started. Hollywood, we are coming, and i aint even playing!!! 😉😁🙏
#actor #winner #awardwinner#lotannathemovie #teamchrisokagbue#goldenmovieawards”

Lotanna is a story about a young man, who discovers that he has to offset a huge debt owed by his father before his sudden death, to a fearful loan shark called Don Cleff. Aided by an unbreakable resolve to succeed, his friends and his musical talent, he must find a way to solve this unfairly inherited problem or die trying.