AMVCA Unveils 2026 Nominees List

Temidayo

4 hours ago

The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has released the full list of nominees for its 12th edition, with the main ceremony scheduled for May 9, 2026. Veteran actress Joke Silva serves as Head Judge this year, succeeding Femi Odugbemi. The 2026 edition features 32 categories, including 18 jury-voted awards, 11 audience-voted categories, and three special recognition honours such as Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer awards.

Organisers have introduced two new categories — Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa) — to broaden representation across the continent. The nominees were announced live on Africa Magic channels on March 29, 2026, hosted by Chimezie Imo.

Gingerrr and The Herd dominate the nominations with nine each, followed closely by To Kill A Monkey with eight and My Father’s Shadow with seven. These titles stand out across major acting, directing, and technical categories, reflecting strong storytelling from Nigerian productions this year.

Key Highlights from the Nominee List

Best Overall Movie

– Gingerrr
– The Herd
– My Father’s Shadow
– 3 Cold Dishes
– The Serpent’s Gift
– Behind the Scenes

Best Director

– Akinola Davies Jr. — My Father’s Shadow
– Tunde Kelani — Cordelia
– James Omokwe — Osamede
– Daniel Etim Effiong — The Herd
– Yemi Filmboy Morafa — Gingerrr
-Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi — 3 Cold Dishes

Best Lead Actor

– Mike Ezuruonye — Oversabi Aunty
– Lateef Adedimeji — Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
– William Benson — To Kill A Monkey
– Kanayo O. Kanayo — Grandpa Must Obey
– Khumbuza Meyiwa — Bet I Love You
– Uzor Arukwe — Colours Of Fire
– Wale Ojo — 3 Cold Dishes
– Femi Branch — Red Circle

Best Lead Actress

– Linda Ejiofor — The Serpent’s Gift
– Bimbo Akintola — To Kill A Monkey
– Ifeoma Fafunwa — The Lost Days
– Ariyike Owolagba — Something About The Briggs
– Sola Sobowale — Her Excellency
– Scarlet Gomez — Behind The Scenes
– Genoveva Umeh — The Herd
– Gloria Anozie-Young — Mother Of The Brides

Best Supporting Actor

– Simileoluwa Hassan — The Yard
– Lateef Adedimeji — Gingerrr
– Gabriel Afolayan — Colours Of Fire
– Bucci Franklin — To Kill A Monkey
– Femi Adebayo — King Of Thieves 2
– Lateef Adedimeji — Red Circle
– Femi Branch — Owambe Thieves
– Uzor Arukwe — Behind The Scenes

Best Supporting Actress

– Linda Ejiofor — The Herd
– Olamide Kidbaby — Oversabi Aunty
– Bisola Aiyeola — Gingerrr
– Sola Sobowale — The Covenant
– Nadia Dutch — Aljana
– Amal Umar — The Herd
– Juliebrenda Nyambura — MTV Shuga Mashariki
– Funke Akindele — Behind The Scenes

Best Digital Content Creator:

– Elozonam Ogbolu, Genoveva Umeh
– Akwaman
– Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
– Emmanuel Kanaga, Sophia Chisom
– Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
– Taaooma
– Steve Chuks

Best Scripted Series

– To Kill A Monkey
– The Yard
– The Chocolate Empire
– Inimba
– Kash Money

Best Unscripted Series:

– The Real Housewives Of Lagos
– Nigerian Idol – Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
– Offair With Gbemi And Toolz
– Out N’ About (Harar)

Best Short Film

– Fleas
– Rise
– Telephone
– Hussaini
– My Body, God’s Temple

Additional categories honour excellence in Indigenous Language Films across West, East, South, North, and Central Africa, as well as technical categories including Cinematography, Editing, Sound Design, Music Score, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, and Writing for both series and movies.

Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)

-The Serpent’s Gift-Lisabi:A Legend Is Born
-Labake Olododo
-Olorisha
-Aljana

Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)

-Inside Job
-Sayari
-Addis Fikir
-My Son
-Kimote

Best Indigenous Language Film (Southern Africa)

-Bet I Love You
-Sebata: The Beast
-Ben Made It
-Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2
-Tlhaho Ya Mosadi

Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)

-The Omnipresent
-The Delivery
-The Hidden Voice
-This Is Portsaid
-Artal Alhanin: Our Memories

Best Scripted M-Net Original

– Adam to Eve
– Mother of the Bride
– The Yard
– The Low Priest
– Bobo

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

– Nigerian Idol S10
– Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
– Chapa Chapa My Love
– Out N About (Harar)
– Undugu

Best Indigenous M-Net Original

– Inimba
– Kukoyi
– Undugu
– Out N’ About (Harar)
– Kampala Creme
– The Chocolate Empire
– Mgbuka

Best Cinematography

– Jermaine Edwards – My Father’s Shadow
– Kabelo Thathe – To Kill A Monkey
– Emmanuel Igbekele – The Herd
– Daanong Gyang – Finding Nina
– Emmanuel Igbekele – The Serpent’s Gift
– KC Obiajulu – Stitches
– Emmanuel Igbekele – Gingerrr

Best Editing

– Kazeem Agboola – Cordelia
– Omar Guzman Castro – My Father’s Shadow
– Wanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty – Landline
– Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
– Winston Aig-Ohioma – Osamede
– Daniel Anyiam – To Kill A Monkey

Best Sound Design

– Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow
– Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
– Vaughan Phillips – Ben Made It
– Tolu Obanro – The Party
– Vaughan Phillips – Sebata: The Beast
– Fisayo Adefolaju – The Herd

Best Music Score

– Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow
– Nissi Ogulu – 3 Cold Dishes
– Chubb Okobah – Osamede
– Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
– Tolu Obanro – The Party
– Sofresh – MTV Shuga Mashariki
– Oscar Heman-Ackah – To Kill A Monkey

Best Art Direction

– Zainab Oladipupo – The Serpent’s Gift
– Omolade Abisola – The Herd
– Ajamolaya Bunmi – Colours Of Fire
– Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen – Aljana
– Victor Akpan – Suky
– Thabiso Senne – Inimba

Best Costume Design

– Mary Chukwuma – The Serpent’s Gift
– Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade – The Real Housewives Of Lagos
– Valerie Okeke – Colours Of Fire
– Yolanda Okereke – Something About The Briggs
– Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel – To Kill A Monkey

Best Makeup

– Mojisola Imam – Behind The Scenes
– Adeola Bamgboye – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
– Dablaq Artistry – Gingerrr
– Adeola Bamgboye – Abanisete
– Hakeem Effect – Warlord
– Ruth Harcourt – Suky
– Adeola Bamgboye – Labake Olododo

Best Writing TV Series

– Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu – The Wives
– Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo – MTV Shuga Mashariki
– Xavier Ighorodje – Our Husband
– Besufekade Mulu – Addis Fikir
– Temilola Balogun – Baba Oh
– Stephen Okonkwo – The Party
– Yednekachew Ayne – Gizat

Best Writing in a Movie

– Lani Aisida – The Herd
– Wale Davies – My Father’s Shadow
– Ikenna Okpara – Blackout
– Shirleen Wangari – Cards On The Table
– Xavier Ighorodje – Gingerrr
– Isaac Ayodeji – Suky
– Tomi Adesina – 3 Cold Dishes

Best Documentary

– Beyond Olympic Glory
– The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat
– The People Shall
– Not Addressing This Anymore
– BOU

With the ceremony just over a month away, anticipation is high as fans, industry insiders, and viewers prepare to vote in audience categories and watch the jury decisions unfold.