Actor Lateef Adedimeji could not hold back his excitement on Thursday, May 12 as he announced that the film Ayinla which features him as the lead actor alongside comedian turned actor Mr Macaroni has won the award for Best African Narrative at the 2022 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA.
Lateef took to Instagram to share the good news, he also expressed gratitude to God for the win.
The actor noted that the award meant a lot to him and he was certain everyone who worked on the project felt the same way, adding that it is a big deal to be recognised internationally.
He wrote: “Ayinla won the big one at the Pan African Film Festival, I’m excited and also grateful to God… This means a lot to me and I’m sure everyone on the project feels the same way, it’s a big deal to be recognized outside your own shores…
“I’m raising a glass for what is to come, because we’re never done! Congratulations are in order. CongratulationsBabami @tkelani, congratulations @jadeosiberu congratulations to every cast and crew. AYINLA is coming soon on Netflix.”
Lateef’s wife actress Mo Bimpe congratulated her husband and the entire crew in the comment section of the post.
She wrote: “Congratulations Star boy and the rest of the team.”
Filmmaker and Ayinla director Tunde Kelani also expressed his excitement over his latest achievement.
He wrote: “ÀYÌǸLÁ wins Progranner’s Best African Narrative Award PAFF Los Angeles 2022. Congratulations to our talents crew, executive producers, producers, and our rep. team in Los Angeles and Pakistan.
“Thanks and God’s blessings. TK ÀYÌǸLÁ coming soon on NETFLIX.”
Filmmaker and actor Kunle Afolayan who played the role of Olabisi Ajala alias, ‘Ajala travel all over the world’ also joined his colleagues in announcing the good news on Instagram.
He also said that Ayinla will be coming on Netflix on May 20.
“Congratulations to Baba mi @tkelani and the entire cast and crew of Ayinla. Exclusive Ayinla will be on Netflix @naijaonnetflix from May 20th”
While explaining the plot of the movie in an Instagram post in December 2020, Kunle wrote: “Based on the life of the late Apala musician; Ayinla Waheed Yusuf, popularly known as Ayinla Omowura, the legendary filmmaker; Tunde Kelani weaves his latest film titled Àyìnlá around the iconic Yoruba artiste.”
The movie by Kelani came 40 years after Ayinla was fatally stabbed with a glass cup during a pub brawl on May 6, 1980, in Ago Ika, Abeokuta.
Kelani seeks to answer the questions “Who is Ayinla Omowura? Why is his music still relevant after his tragic death 40 years ago? And what is the root that nurtured his craft and music?”
