The Nigerian film industry came alive on Saturday night as the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards took centre stage, bringing glamour, culture, and fierce competition to the spotlight.
Often described as the “African Oscars,” this year’s AMVCA arrived with fresh excitement, highlighted by a new hosting lineup and a strong list of nominees that has sparked conversations since nominations were announced in March.
The celebration began with a colourful Cultural Night themed “Honouring Craft, Celebrating Culture,” where stars including Omowunmi Dada, Uzor Arukwe, and Stan Nze impressed guests with stunning traditional outfits.
This year also marked a major change in the award show’s history as longtime host IK Osakioduwa stepped aside after more than a decade. Nigerian comedian Bovi Ugboma took over hosting duties alongside South African actress and humanitarian Nomzamo Mbatha, adding a fresh dynamic to the ceremony.
The awards jury, chaired by veteran actress Joke Silva, had the difficult task of selecting winners from a highly competitive field. Films Gingerrr and The Herd emerged as the top contenders, earning nine nominations each across the 32 award categories.
Best Digital Content Creator
Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh
The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom[WINNER]
The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)
August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman
Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)
Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina
Sayari – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi
Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw[WINNER]
My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile
Kimote – Hassan Mageye
Best Short Film
Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
Fleas – Jordy Sank
Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa[WINNER]
My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji[WINNER]
Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
Best Indigenous Language (North Africa)
The Omnipresent – Youssef Ben Khalifa
The Delivery – Abdalla Ezyan
The Hidden Voice – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed
This Is Portsaid – Abdalla Ezyan
Artal Alhanin – Our Memories – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma[WINNER]
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
“Tlhaho Ya Mosadi” – Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, Modipadi Mokgohioa (WINNER)
“Bet I Love You” – Joseph Duke, Keamogetse Modise
“Sebata (The Beast) – African Entertainers
“Ben Made It” – Thabang Mathuumetse, Thapelo Dikhutso
“Terra of Queens and Kuma 2” – Neo Leonardo Mokoena
Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa)
Mabanda – Kang Quintus[WINNER]
Safou: A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba
Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown
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
Best Short Film
“Hussainin” – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa (WINNER)
“Rise” – Jessie J. Rowlands
“Fleas” – Jordy Sank
“Telephone” – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
“My Body, God’s Temple” – Uzoamaka Power
Best Scripted M-Net Original
Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras
Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo[WINNER]
Bobo – Maurice Muendo
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 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
Kampala Creme (S2) – Joel Ndugwa
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
Mgbuka – Eze Izu
Best Supporting Actress
The Herd – Linda Ejiofor( WINNER)
Oversabi Aunty – Olamide Kidbaby
Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola
The Covenant Series – Sola Sobowale
Aljana – Nadia Dutch
The Herd – Amal Umar
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Juliebrenda Nyambura
Behind The Scene – Funke Akindele
Best Lead Actor
Oversabi Aunty – Mike Ezuruonye
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
To Kill A Monkey – William Benson
Grandpa Must Obey – Kanayo O. Kanayo
Bet I Love You – Khumbuza Meyiwa
Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe[WINNER]
3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
Red Circle – Femi Branch
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 Art Direction
The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladipupo
The Herd – Omolade Abisola
Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi [WINNER]
Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon O Stephen
Suky – Victor Akpan
Inimba – Thabiso Senne
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Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami[WINNER]
The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor
The People Shall – Mark Maina and Nick Wambugu
Not Addressing This Anymore – Huzzain Bello
BOU – Mwaka Gerald Remmy
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 Herman-Ackah[WINNER]
Best Writing TV Series
The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo [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 Costume Design
The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma
The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke [WINNER]
Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
To Kill A Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum and John Joseph Angel
Best Sound Design
My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke and 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 Series (Scripted)
To Kill A Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu[WINNER]
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Benson
Best Make-up
Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye [WINNER]
Gingerrr – Dablaq Artistry
Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo
Suky – Ruth Harcourt
Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Best Lead Actress
The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor[WINNER]
To Kill A Monkey – Bimbo Akintola
The Lost Days – Ifeoma Fafunwa
Something About The Briggs – Ariyike Owolagba
Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale
Behind The Scenes – Scarlet Gomez
The Herd – Genoveva Umeh
Mother Of The Brides – Gloria Anozie-Young
Best Supporting Actor
The Yard – Simileoluwa Hassan
Gingerrr – Lateef Adedimeji
Colours Of Fire – Gabriel Afolayan
To Kill A Monkey – Bucci Franklin[WINNER]
Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2 – Femi Adeboye
Red Circle – Lateef Adedimeji
Owanbe Thieves – Femi Branch
Behind The Scenes – Uzor Arukwe
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 Kalu Omokwe
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong
Gingerrr – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
Best Editing
Cordelia – Kazeem Agboola
My Father’s Shadow – Omar Guzman Castro
Landline – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere and Dele Doherty
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
Osamede – Winston Aig-Ohioma
To Kill A Monkey – Daniel Anyiam[WINNER]
Best Movie
Gingerrr – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola, Onyeka Nnama
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukoriem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn, Ladun Awobokun
My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel[WINNER]
3 Cold Dishes – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi and Ly Oumar
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Behind The Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy Uwadiae Imaseun
Best Series (Unscripted)
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3 – Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade
Nigerian Idol S10 –
Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford
Offair With Gbemi And Toolz – Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi and Toolz Oniru-Demuren
Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
