Biola Alabi, Managing Director, M-Net Africa said it has been a demanding 10 years for AfricaMagic team but proud of what they have achieved. “We have had challenges, have had successes and have learnt. We have grown every step of the way. We’ve grown in tenacity, in resilience, in vision and in courage. Encouraged by dozens of supporters, and our elders, we too have pushed forward to explore new spaces, new ways of doing things,”Alabi said.

She recalled that the very first production that M-Net ever created in Nigeria was a game show called ‘Gladiators’ which featured Nigerian men and women whose physical and mental strength was rigorously tested to see if they could rise up to the challenge and go the distance.

“At the end, as they looked back over the course they had navigated, they were reminded of the lessons they had learnt, the triumphs they had enjoyed and the highlights of their experience. In very many ways, I’m sure that’s how the AfricaMagic team, both past and present, feel tonight,” she added.

As the leading creator of African content on the continent, AfricaMagic have created content in multiple languages and genres covering reality TV, talkshows, sitcoms, documentaries, dramas, soaps and lifestyle programming.

“We spend more money than any other operator on the continent in acquiring local content, through licensing. We have the continent’s only live awards show honoring African film and TV talent.  We have eight different channels, each unique and distinct, in four different languages. We are screened in over 50 countries on the African continent, and at least one AfricaMagic channel can be found on every single DStv and GOtv bouquet. And we could not have achieved any of this, without you,” Alabi concluded.

The star-studded event from start to finish was also used to announce the nominees of the 2014 AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCAs, held on the same night that AfricaMagic celebrated its 10th birthday also drew a plethora of on screen talent.

The exciting announcement of the nominees for the second annual awards was made during a special 90 minute live broadcast of StarGist during the celebration. Also making an appearance on the show were Lwanda Jawar and Brenda Wairimu, the Kenyan stars of the emotional 250 episode telenovella Kona.

Created to recognize and honor Africa’s film and TV talent, the AMVCAs is quickly becoming established as a highlight on the continent’s entertainment calendar, with the nominee announcement paving the way toward the big night in March when winners will be named.

With over 1000 entries received for the 2014 AMVCAs, three times the amount submitted last year, the nominations were hugely diverse this season spanning productions from the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In total there are 137 nominations chosen from across 80 productions, up from 110 nominations chosen from 42 productions a year ago.

Leading the nominations is Ghanaian film Contract with nine nods, following by Nigeria’s Living Funeral with eight, Tanzania’s Siri Ya Mtungi with seven, Kenya’s Nairobi Half Life with seven and Obi Emenloye’s Last Flight to Abjua with six.

Alabi congratulated the nominees on their achievement and urged them to use their nominations as a source of future motivation. She also thanked leading pay-TV operator MultiChoice Africa and sponsor Amstel Malta for their support.

Providing superb music during the evening’s festivities were pop singers Kcee, Harrysong, Temi Dollface, Efya and R&B crooner, Praiz.  DJ Xclusive was behind the wheel of steel.