By Lawrence Agbo
Africa’s biggest celebration of film and television, the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), delivered another unforgettable night on Saturday as stars from across the continent gathered to honour excellence in storytelling and screen performance.
The glamorous ceremony, packed with Nollywood heavyweights and top entertainment personalities, recognised outstanding talent in film, television, and digital content, with several standout names dominating the night.
Actor Uzor Arukwe claimed the Best Lead Actor award for his role in Colours of Fire, while Linda Ejiofor was named Best Lead Actress for her impressive performance in The Serpent’s Gift.
Bucci Franklin added to the excitement by winning Best Supporting Actor for To Kill a Monkey, while Lateef Adedimeji’s acclaimed project Lisabi secured the Best Indigenous Movie (West Africa) category. During his acceptance speech, Adedimeji dedicated the award to his wife, actress Mo Bimpe Adedimeji.
The prestigious Best Movie award went to My Father’s Shadow, making it one of the biggest triumphs of the night and sealing its place as one of the most celebrated films of this year’s edition.
Here is the complete list of nominees and winners from the 2026 AMVCA.
Best Costume Design
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Mary Chukuma
“The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
“Colours of Fire” – Valerie Okeke (WINNER)
“Something About The Briggs” – Yolanda Okereke
“To Kill a Monkey” – Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel
Best Makeup
“Behind The Scenes” – Mojisola Imam
“Lisabi (A Legend Is Born)” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
“Gingerrr” – Diablaq Artistry
“Abanisete” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
“Warlord” – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) (WINNER)
“Suky” – Ruth Harcourt
“Labake Olododo” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Best Art Direction
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Zainab Oladupupo
“The Herd” – Omolade Abisola
“Colours of Fire” – Ajamolaya Bunmi (WINNER)
“Aljana” – Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen
“Suky” – Victor Akpan
“Inimba” – Thabiso Senne
Best Sound / Sound Design
“My Father’s Shadow” – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra (WINNER)
“Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro
“Ben Made It” – Vaughan Phillips
“The Party” – Tolu Obanro
“Sebata (The Beast)” – Vaughan Phillips
“The Herd” – Fisayo Adefolaju
Best Editing
“Cordelia” – Kazeem Agboola
“My Father’s Shadow” – Omar Guzman Castro
“Landline” – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty
“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
“Osamede” – Winston AIG-Ohioma
“To Kill a Monkey” – Daniel Anyiam (WINNER)
Best Writing (TV Series)
“The Wives” – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
“MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Annette Shadeya & others (WINNER)
“Our Husband” – Xavier Ighorodje
“Addis Fikir” – Besufekade Mulu
“Baba OH” – Temilola Balogun
“The Party” – Stephen Okonkwo
“Gizat” – Yednekachew Ayne
Best Writing (Movie)
“The Herd” – Lani Aisida
“My Father’s Shadow” – Wale Davies (WINNER)
“Blackout” – Ikenna Okpara
“Cards on the Table” – Shirleen Wangari
“Gingerrr” – Xavier Ighorodje
“Suky” – Isaac Ayodeji
“3 Cold Dishes” – Tomi Adesina
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
“Lisabi (A Legend is Born)” – Lateef Adedimeji (WINNER)
“Labake Olododo” – Iyabo Ojo & team
“Aljana” – Grace Yachat Yakubu
“Olorisha” – Abiola Adeshina
Best Cinematography
“My Father’s Shadow” – Jermaine Edwards
“To Kill A Monkey” – Kabelo Thathe (WINNER)
“The Herd” – Emmanuel Igbekele
“Finding Nina” – Daanong Gyang
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Emmanuel Igbekele
“Stitches” – KC Obiajulu
“Gingerrr” – Emmanuel Igbekele
Best Digital Content Creator
“Luxury Koko” – Taaoma (Maryam Apaokagi-Greene)
“The Marriage List” – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
“The Rate Race” – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
“August Meeting Election” – Steve Chuks
“Did I Just Hear Muah” – Akwaman
“Leave To Live” – Emmanuel Kanaga & Sophia Chisom (WINNER)
Best Supporting Actress
“The Herd” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)
“Gingerrr” – Bisola Aiyeola
“Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele
“The Covenant Series” – Sola Sobowale
“Aljana” – Nadia Dutch
Best Supporting Actor
“To Kill a Monkey” – Bucci Franklin (WINNER)
“Agesinkole 2” – Femi Adebayo
“Colours of Fire” – Gabriel Afolayan
“Behind the Scenes” – Uzor Arukwe
“Red Circle” – Lateef Adedimeji
Best Lead Actress
“Her Excellency” – Sola Sobowale
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)
“Behind the Scenes” – Scarlet Gomez
“The Herd” – Genoveva Umeh
“Mother of the Brides” – Gloria Anozie-Young
Best Lead Actor
“Lisabi” – Lateef Adedimeji
“To Kill a Monkey” – William Benson
“Colours of Fire” – Uzor Arukwe (WINNER)
“3 Cold Dishes” – Wale Ojo
“Red Circle” – Femi Branch
Best Movie
“Gingerrr” – Bisola Aiyeola & team
“The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong & team
“My Father’s Shadow” – Funmbi Ogunbanwo & Rachel Dargavel (WINNER)
“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Oluseyi & team
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
“Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele & Wendy Imaseun
Best Documentary
“Beyond Olympic Glory” – Shedrack Salami (WINNER)
“The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat” – Louis Ejiofor
“The People Shall” – Mark Maina, Nick Wambugu
“Not Adressing This Anymore” – Huzzain Bello
“BOU” – Mwaka Gerald Remmy
‘My Father’s Shadow’ wins Best Movie at AMVCA
Best Short Film
“Rise” – Jessie J. Rowlands
“Fleas” – Jordy Sank
“Telephone” – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
“Hussainin” – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa (WINNER)
“My Body, God’s Temple” – Uzoamaka Power
Best Score/Music
“My Father’s Shadow” – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra
“3 Cold Dishes” – Nissi Ogulu
“Osamede” – Chubb Okobah
“Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro
“The Party” – Tolu Obanro
“MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Sofresh
“To Kill a Monkey” – Oscar Heman-Ackah (WINNER)
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu , Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)
“Kukoyi” – David Akande
“Undugu” – Hatibu Madudu
“Out N’ About (Harar)” – Bruk Yibrah
“Kamapala Creme” – Joel Ndugwa
“The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
“Mgbuka” – Eze Izu
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
“Nigerian Idol (S10)” – Sulaiman Kassim, Anneke De Ridder (WINNER)
“The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
“Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa” – Graeme Swanepoel
“Off Air” – Gbemi and Toolz
“Out N’ About” – Bruk Yibrah
Best Scripted M-Net Original
“The Low Priest” – Femi D. Ogunsanwo (WINNER)
“Adam to Eve” – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras
“Mother of the Brides” – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
“The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe
“Bobo” – Maurice Muendo
Trailblazer Award
Uche Montana (WINNER)
Industry Merit Award
Sola Sobowale (WINNER)
Kanayo O. Kanayo (WINNER)
Best Director
“My Father’s Shadow” – Akinola Davies JR (WINNER)
“Cordelia” – Tunde Kelani
“Osamede” – James Kaluu Omokwe
“The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong
“Gingerrr” – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
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