Events

Wole Ojo, Sharon Ooja, others nominated for TINFF 2024 Awards

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Wole Ojo, Sharon Ooja, others nominated for TINFF 2024 Awards

Pete Edochie, Sharon Ooja, and Wole Ojo are among the actors nominated for the 2024 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) Awards.

In a recent blog post, the award organisers announced the nominees for the eighth edition.

The TINFF is a multicultural music and film festival. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, the festival aims to recognise and empower filmmakers who champion equality, social justice, and understanding.

It features competitive categories, live screenings, and an annual awards gala in Toronto, typically held between August and October.

Edochie, Ojo, Uzor Arukwe, Jimmy Odukoya, Bimbo Manuel, Eso Dike, and Ayo Makun are the Nigerians nominated in the ‘Best Actor: African Film’ category.

The ‘Best Actress: African Film’ award will be keenly contested by Ooja, Osas Ighodaro, Ireti Doyle, and Bukunmi Oluwashina.

This year’s award ceremony will be held in Toronto between September 8 and 15.

Below are categories that feature nominations for African actors and films:

Best Actor – African Film

Emmanuel Ilondior – Foreign Path 2 – Canada

Emmanuel Kabongo – Sway – Canada

Pete Edochie – Nnewi The Land Of Gold – Nigeria

Ayo Makun – Merry Men 3 (Nemesis) – Nigeria

Wole Ojo – Ego Nworji – Tender Hedges – Nigeria

Jimmy Odukoya – I Am Nazzy – Nigeria

Bimbo Manuel – My Name Is Misan – Nigeria

Eso Dike – Why We Never Were – Nigeria

Uzor Arukwe – The Subterguge – Nigeria – UK

Floyd Igbo – Shaping Us – Nigeria – UK

Mamadou Moustapha – Des Le Debut – Canada

Emmanuel Sabinus Chukwemeka – Dead Serious – Nigeria

James Gardner – Devil Is A Liar

Isaac Odeniran – Angry People Of God – UK – Nigeria

Best Actress – Nollywood Films

Tope Olowoniyan – Depth Of Us – Nigeria

Bukunmi Oluwasina – White and Black – Nigeria, Uk

Ireti Doyle – Merry Men 3 (Nemesis) – Nigeria

Nadia Buari – Merry Men 3 (Nemesis) – Ghana, Nigeria

Tana Egbo-Adelana – Ego Nworji – Tender Hedges – Nigeria

Omowunmi Dada – L.I.F.E. – Nigeria

Chinonso Arubayi – I Am Nazzy – Nigeria

Blessing Jessica Obasi – The Subterfuge – Nigeria, UK

Kambilia Ofili – Shaping Us – Nigeria

Osas Ighodaro – Love, Lust & Other Things – Nigeria

Sharon Ooja – Dead Serious – Nigeria

Nancy Isime – Move Like A Boss – Nigeria

Yvonne Jegede – Sunset In The North – Nigeria

Best Film – Nollywood

Daddy

Mirrors

Dangerous Mission

Rebellion

Survivors

The Subterfuge

Life

Broke and Proud

Tarella” Princess Of The Nile

Jagun Jagun (The Warrior)

Shapin Us

Afamefuna

Off The Edge

Tienes 24 Horas (24 Hours Left) – Spain

07.03 (7th of the 3rd)

Wole Soyinka

Love, Lust & Other Things

Best African Female Filmmaker

Cordelia Emeh and Biodun Stephen – The Subterfuge – Nigeria/United Kingdom

Claret Onukogu – Dangerous Mission – Nigeria

Doyinsola Ajayi and Linda Marrick – Maki – Nigeria

Chinonso Ngozi Arubayi – I Am Nazzy – Nigeria

Tana Egbo-Adelana – Ego Nworj – Tender Hedges – Nigeria

Lolo Eremie – Tarella: Princess Of The Nile – Nigeria

Chika Sally McKay – Patted Lie – Nigeria

Chinwe Eboh – Nnewi The Land Of Gold – Nigeria

Roberta Orioma 0 Why We Never Were – Nigeria

Pamela Tendayi Nyeke 0 Burns and Song – Zimbabwe

Best Music Video

Illusion of Ego – China

Italia – Italy

Shania Twain – Giddy Up – USA

25 Ifedola Street – Nigeria

Mother’s Love – AAMA KO Mamata – Nepal

Hair – Canada

New Me – USA

Heading For The Light – United Kingdom

Ahora (It Is Now) – Spain

Coyote – Pocho featuring MC Magic – USA

Mama Said – Germany

Me. You. The Sea – Austria

Dobriy Zloy – Sirotkin – Uzbekistan

Raindrops – USA

Gethsemane – Canada

Best Experimental Film – Short

Chekhov – Syria

Wrong Direction – Germany

Blue – China

There Is Fire – France

Barbie, My Angel! – Vietnam

Release Nuclear Contaminated Water – Hong Kong

Olga’s Eyes – Belgium

Tear Of Ixora – Nigeria

Blessed By Sunlight – Kenya & Poland

Repercussions – Netherlands

Elegy – Belgium

Rever – Germany

Paired – Canada

Serial Hunters – Angola

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Culture

Crowds Gather for Rare Sunrise at Egypt’s Abu Simbel Temple

Published

2 weeks ago

October 23, 2026

David Ogunjobi

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple to witness the twice-yearly sunrise ceremony illuminating Pharaoh Ramses II’s statue

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple on Thursday to witness a spectacular sunrise phenomenon in which sunlight illuminated the face of the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II, an event that occurs only twice a year.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The ancient astronomical ceremony drew visitors from different parts of the world to the archaeological site in southern Egypt on October 22, one of two dates associated with the phenomenon.

The second occurrence takes place on February 22, when the rising sun illuminates the temple’s interior.

Egyptian tour guide Yasser Fouad described the occasion as extraordinary, saying some visitors had stayed overnight to secure the opportunity to witness the event.

“Today is an extraordinary day, everyone is keen, there are people who stayed over the night, foreigners who actually spent the night in Abu Simbel to see this phenomenon,” Fouad said.

The Great Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel dates back to the 13th century BC and is among Egypt’s most prominent archaeological attractions.

Built during the reign of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, the temple is renowned for its monumental statues and sophisticated architectural design.

The twice-yearly sunrise phenomenon is a major attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness the interaction between sunlight and the temple’s ancient structure.

The dates have traditionally been associated with significant moments in Ramses II’s life.

October 22 is commonly linked to his birthday, while February 22 is associated with his accession to the throne.

However, the precise historical reasons behind the dates remain debated.

Some archaeologists have proposed alternative explanations, including that they may have marked the pharaoh’s coronation and birthday.

Abu Simbel underwent a major international rescue operation in the 1960s, when archaeologists and engineers relocated the temples to protect them from flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

The monumental structures were cut into large blocks and reassembled at a higher location, preserving the site for future generations.

The relocation was one of the most significant archaeological preservation projects of the 20th century.

Despite the move, the temple continues to attract visitors for its ancient Egyptian art, monumental architecture and remarkable alignment with the rising sun.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The annual gatherings highlight the enduring appeal of Egypt’s archaeological heritage and the continuing fascination with the astronomical knowledge and engineering achievements of its ancient civilisation.