Vanessa Obioha
The 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards came with heightened expectations. From a new host and head jury to the recent acquisition of MultiChoice by Canal+, there was curiosity about how the awards would evolve. Would Bovi Ugboma, the comedian, successfully step into the shoes of longtime host IK Osakioduwa? What influence would Canal+ bring to the awards? And how would veteran actress Joke Silva lead the jury in recognising the year’s most outstanding screen productions? These questions lingered as the ceremony approached.
To an extent, the AMVCA fared well. Bovi brought a more relaxed comedic style to the stage which, while different from IK’s polished charisma, still kept the audience engaged. His chemistry with co-host, South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha, also helped maintain the pace of the evening. If retained for future editions, he may yet grow more confidently into the role.
As expected, the AMVCA drew a mammoth crowd to Eko Hotel and Suites and retained the glamour it is known for, elevated further by striking fashion statements that once again dominated online conversations.
What was noticeably absent, however, was the theatrical opening performance that had become a hallmark of previous editions. Earlier ceremonies often began with elaborate cultural or dramatic performances that immediately set the tone for the night. This year, the show opened instead with a music performance by BNXN. Other performers during the evening included Tiwa Savage and Fave.
For this year’s nominees, attention centred on the major categories including Best Movie, Best Director and the acting categories. Although ‘Gingerr,’ the action comedy film directed by Yemi Morafa led nominations with nine nods including Best Overall Movie and Best Director, it was ‘My Father’s Shadow,’ a moving picture written and directed by brothers Wale and Akinola Davies Jr., about a family reunion during the infamous 1993 Nigerian election, that emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night, taking home awards for Best Overall Movie, Best Director and Best Writing.
The film had already built significant international momentum after premiering at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Nigerian film selected for the festival’s Official Selection. It later earned critical acclaim across multiple international platforms, including the BAFTAs and Gotham Awards, positioning it as one of the most celebrated Nigerian films of the past year.
In the acting categories, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman whose early performances in the Africa Magic series ‘Tinsel’ made her a household name, made history with wins in two separate categories. She won Best Lead Actress for her role in ‘The Serpent’s Gift’ and Best Supporting Actress for ‘The Herd.’ Uzor Arukwe took home the Best Lead Actor award for his role in ‘Colours of Fire’ while the beloved actor in ‘To Kill a Monkey,’ Bucci Franklin, took home the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Also making history at the AMVCAs is the newly introduced category for indigenous North and Central Africa titles. The debut winners include ‘Artal Alhanin: Our Memories’ (North Africa) and ‘Mabanda’ (Central Africa).
One of the more surprising wins of the night was ‘Nigerian Idol,’ which secured awards for Best Unscripted M-Net Original and Best Unscripted Series despite competing against fan favourites such as ‘Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa’ and ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos.’ The outcome sparked conversations about how audiences and juries assess unscripted programming and cultural impact.
Among the notable disappointments of the night was Burna Boy-produced film ‘3 Cold Dishes,’ which failed to convert any of its six nominations into wins.
Despite the changes and the wins that sparked debate, AMVCA 12 once again reinforced Nollywood’s growing confidence on both local and international stages. Expectations are already high for next year’s edition.
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