 The nominees were announced on March 3, 2009 during the 21st Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) by AMAA CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.Approximately 403 entries from 54 African countries participated in the bid for an award.With a total of twelve nominations, the Kenyan film "From a Whisper" led the nomination count, while Uganda's "Battle of the Souls" and South Africa's "Gugu and Andile" followed with ten nominations each.