Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai, popularly known as Lilly Afe, has publicly expressed disappointment over her exclusion from the 2026 AMVCA nominations for her widely praised performance as Idia in Kemi Adetiba’s hit series To Kill A Monkey. In a strongly worded post on X, she made it clear she does not need an award for validation while firing a direct shot at the organisers.
Lilly Afe wrote:
“I always choose to believe everything happens for a reason. I don’t need a nomination for validation. The truth is clear nobody trended like IDIA from TKAM last year. Her acting was fire. You guys can eat your award.”
The actress played the fiery, no-nonsense wife of Oboz (portrayed by Bucci Franklin) in the Netflix series, which has been a major talking point since its release. Fans and critics alike hailed her portrayal of Idia for its authenticity, particularly her command of Bini pidgin and the character’s bold, unapologetic energy. Many described her performance as scene-stealing and one of the most memorable aspects of the show.
To Kill A Monkey received eight nominations at the 12th AMVCA, including recognition in major categories such as Best Scripted Series. However, Lilian Afegbai was notably absent from the Best Supporting Actress list, which featured names like Linda Ejiofor (The Herd), Bisola Aiyeola (Gingerrr), and Funke Akindele (Behind The Scenes). The snub has surprised many given the massive online buzz her character generated last year.
As an award-winning actress and producer, she has built a reputation for bold roles and has previously won an AMVCA for her production work. Her latest rant has sparked mixed reactions online, with some fans agreeing that her performance deserved nomination consideration while others advised her to focus on future opportunities.
Read AMVCA Unveils 2026 Nominees List
The 2026 AMVCA nominations, announced on March 29, saw Gingerrr and The Herd leading with nine nods each. The ceremony is set for May 9, with Joke Silva serving as Head Judge and new categories added to celebrate indigenous language films across Africa.