Funke Akindele wins again!

Son of the doyen of Nigerian theatre, Hubert Ogunde, Bayo Ogunde last Sunday invoked the spirit of his late father when he mounted the stage to receive a posthumous award in his honour.
The event was the maiden edition of the Yoruba Movie Academy Awards(YMAA), which held at the new ultra-modern June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. It was attended by A-list actors from the Yoruba movie sector.
As soon as he mounted the stage, Bayo who happened to be the first son of the departed thespian recreated to the surprise of everyone the image of Ogunde by presenting a scintillating performance of one of his favourite songs.
Clad in white brocade, Bayo dramatically moved from one end of the expansive stage to the other, dancing and enchanting in a manner that invoked the spirit of his late father .
His performance, however, drew a thunderous ovation from the audience, including the wife of the state governor, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun who could not help but appreciated the immense contribution of Ogunde to the development of theatre tradition in Nigeria.
Ogunde was not the only thespian that was honoured at the event which was dedicated to celebrating Yoruba movie stars.
Other awardees include , Chief Lere Paimo, Tunde kelani, Moses Olaiya, Late Alade Aromire, actress Idowu Phillips(Mama rainbow), Abiodun Duro Ladipo (Moremi) and Adeyemi Afolayan(Ade Love).
The night’s big winners were newly wedded Funke Akindele who clinched the ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role Award’ and prolific actor cum producer, Odunlade Adekola who won the ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role Award.’Unfortunately, Funke was not in the country to receive the award.
Winners also emerged from other categories. Saheed Osupa bagged the Best Musician in a Leading Role Award while Gabriel Afolayan won ‘ The Most promising actor’as well as Abbey Lanre who went home with the Best Director award. Also, the Best Actress in a support role award was won by Peju Ogunmola, just as Adebayo Salami clinched the Best Actor in a supporting role. Afeez Oyetoro(Saka) bagged the Best Comedy actor award while the Best Cross over Actor was jointly won by Kelvin Ikeduba and Rykado Agbor amongst other awards.
The highpoint of the glamorous award night, which happened to be the first of its kind in the state was the “traditional red carpet” and the classy Hummer Limousine shuttle which conveyed the nominees from their respective hotels to the venue of the event. Indeed, it was a new beginning for the various stakeholders in the Yoruba movie industry
Culled: Vanguard