The Color Purple musical, directed by Blitz Bazawule, swept the board at the 55th National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards on 16 March, picking up 11 accolades, AKADi Magazine writes.
Awards for the film were in categories including outstanding supporting actor, actress, motion picture, outstanding soundtrack/compilation album, make up.
Blitz picked up an award in the ‘Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)’ category.
Other Ghanaians who went home with awards included: India Amarteifo who was named ‘Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series’ for her role in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story also won in the ‘Outstanding Drama Series’.
And author Krystle Zara Appiah won in the ‘Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author’ category for her book Rootless.
Nominees
Adjoa Andoh, who was nominated for her role in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story in the ‘Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series’ category, missed out to Gail Bean of the Series Snowfall.
Idris Elba was nominated in the Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series category for his role in the Apple TV+ thriller series Hijack but lost out to Damson Idris of Snowfall.
Vic Mensa, who was nominated for his song Blue Eyes in the 'Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song' category missed out to Megan Thee Stallion.
And the makers of the film Rye Lane, which features actor Benjamin Sarpong-Broni who plays Eric, lost out to Brother which won in the 'Outstanding International Motion Picture' category.
Benjamin (pictured below, left) has previously played Ghanaian broadcaster Mike Eghan in the play 'Drum'. Listen to our interview with him, and other members of the production.
List of all 55th NAACP Image Award Winners
Entertainer of the Year - Usher
Outstanding Motion Picture - The Color Purple
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture - Colman Domingo – Rustin
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture - Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture - Colman Domingo – The Color Purple
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - Taraji P. Henson – The Color Purple
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture - Brother
Outstanding International Motion Picture - Brother
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture - Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – The Color Purple
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture - The Color Purple
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture - Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse
Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance (Motion Picture) - Issa Rae – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse
Outstanding Short–Form (Live Action) - The After
Outstanding Short–Form (Animated) - Lil' Ruby
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) - Blitz Bazawule – The Color Purple
Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture - Mila Davis–Kent – Creed III
Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film - Eric K. Yue – A Thousand and One
TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Comedy Series - Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series - Mike Epps – The Upshaws
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series - Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - William Stanford Davis – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Outstanding Drama Series - Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series - Damson Idris – Snowfall
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series - India Ria Amarteifio – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Adrian Holmes – Bel–Air
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Gail Bean – Snowfall
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special - Swarm
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special - Keith Powers – The Perfect Find
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special - Chlöe Bailey – Praise This
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special - Don Cheadle – Secret Invasion
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Phylicia Rashad – Heaven Down Here
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) - 20/20 – Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts
Outstanding Talk Series - The Jennifer Hudson Show
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series) - Wild 'N Out
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special) - A Black Lady Sketch Show
Outstanding Children’s Program -Gracie's Corner
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series) - Leah Sava Jeffries – Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble - Sherri Shepherd – Sherri
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble - DC Young Fly – Celebrity Squares
Outstanding Guest Performance - Michael B. Jordan – Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Animated Series - The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance (Television) - Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Outstanding Performance in a Short-Form Series - Leslie Jones – After the Cut–The Daily Show
Outstanding Short-Form Series – Comedy or Drama - Doggyland
Outstanding Short-Form Series – Reality/Nonfiction - I Was A Soul Train Dancer
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) - Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest
RECORDING CATEGORIES
Outstanding New Artist - Victoria Monét
Outstanding Male Artist - Usher
Outstanding Female Artist - H.E.R.
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album - Father's Day – Kirk Franklin
Outstanding International Song - "Me & U" – Tems
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album - "Sensational" – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay
Outstanding Album - Jaguar II – Victoria Monét
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album - The Color Purple–Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song - "All Yours" – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown
Outstanding Jazz Album - Brand New Life – Brandee Younger
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song - "ICU Remix" – Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song - "Cobra" – Megan Thee Stallion
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) - Ciara feat. Chris Brown – "How We Roll"
Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film - Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – Jongnic Bontemps
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Documentary (Film) - Invisible Beauty
Outstanding Documentary (Television) - High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
Outstanding Short-Form Documentary - Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games
WRITING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series - Norman Vance, Jr. – Saturdays
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - Carla Banks–Waddles – Bel–Air
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special - Dwayne Johnson–Cochran – Heist 88
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture - Cord Jefferson – American Fiction
DIRECTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series - Neema Barnette – Grand Crew
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series - Dawn Wilkinson – Power Book II: Ghost
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special - Chris Robinson – Shooting Stars
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture - Ava DuVernay – Origin
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture) - Allen Hughes – Dear Mama
LITERARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction - Family Lore – Elizabeth Acevedo
Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction - The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families – Karida L. Brown, Charly Palmer
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author - Rootless – Krystle Zara Appiah
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography - Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional - Historically Black Phrases: From "I Ain't One of Your Lil' Friends" to "Who All Gon" Be There?" – Jarett Hill, Tre'vell Anderson
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry - suddenly we – Evie Shockley
Outstanding Literary Work – Children - CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora – Kahran Bethencourt
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens - Everyone's Thinking It – Aleema Omotoni
Outstanding Graphic Novel - The Talk – Darrin Bell
PODCAST CATEGORIES
Outstanding News and Information Podcast - Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams
Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast - Black Money Tree
Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast - The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean
Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast -Here’s The Thing
Outstanding Scripted Series Podcast - Yes We Cannabis
Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short-Form - Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast
COSTUME DESIGN, MAKE–UP & HAIRSTYLING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film) - Francine Jamison–Tanchuck –The Color Purple
Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film) - Carol Rasheed, Saisha Beecham, Ngozi Olandu Young, Manny Davila, Milene Melendez –The Color Purple
Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film) - Lawrence Davis, Tym Wallace, Andrea Mona Bowen, Angela Renae Dyson, Jorge Benitez Villalobos – The Color Purple
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film) - Creed III
OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - Angel Laketa Moore
The NAACP is a civil rights organisation in the United States, formed in 1909 to advance justice for African Americans.
Its mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
The NAACP Image Awards bestows accolades on African Americans and Africans/ Black people for achievements across the arts.
This article is an original piece written by AKADi Magazine. The contents of this page cannot be reproduced without permission.