2026 AMVCA Nominations Are In, See the Complete List

The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards has released the nominees for its 12th edition, with notable entries across categories. The announcement was made live on Africa Magic channels on Sunday, March 29, 2026, hosted by AMVCA-winning actor Chimezie Imo.

Veteran actress Joke Silva was appointed Head Judge, taking over from Femi Odugbemi.

Organisers introduced two new categories, Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa).

Photo: Instagram

Gingerrr and The Herd are leading with 9 nominations each. To Kill A Monkey followed closely behind with 8 nominations, and My Father’s Shadow picked up 7. These four titles dominated across acting, directing, and technical categories.

Photo: Instagram

On the acting side, Sola Sobowale earned nominations in both lead and supporting categories. So did Uzor Arukwe and Lateef Adedimeji. Genoveva Umeh got her first Best Lead Actress nomination.

Photo: Instagram

This year has 32 categories in total, 18 of which were decided by a jury, 11 voted by the public, and 3 special recognition awards. The 12th AMVCA is sponsored by Don Julio.

Public voting is open now at www.africamagic.tv/amvca.

The ceremony holds on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Here is the full list of nominees below:

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
•  The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
•  Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaooma)
• August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
• Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman

Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)

• The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
• Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
•  Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
•  Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
•  Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina

Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)

•  Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda and Barbara Njeri Maina
• Sayari – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi
• Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw
• My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile
• Kimote – Hassan Mageye

Best Indigenous Language Film (South 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 – 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

Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)

• Mabanda – Kang Quintus
• Safou: A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba
•  Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown

Best Short Film

• Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
• Fleas – Jordy Sank
• Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
• Hussaini – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa
• 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
• Bobo – Maurice Muendo

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

•  Nigerian Idol S10 – Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder
•  Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford
•  Chapa Chapa My Love – Ercilla Justino, Jojo Almeida and Gabriela Ueno
• Out N About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
• Undugu – Hatibu Madudu

Best Indigenous M-Net Original

• Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu
• 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
• 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 Scenes – Funke Akindele

Best Supporting Actor

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

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
• 3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
• Red Circle – Femi Branch

Best Lead Actress

•  The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor
•  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 Cinematography

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

Best Editing

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

Best Sound Design

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

Best Music Score

•  My Father’s Shadow – Duval Timothy and 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

Best Art Direction

• The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladipupo
• The Herd – Omolade Abisola
•  Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi
• Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon O. Stephen
•  Suky – Victor Akpan
• Inimba – Thabiso Senne

Best Costume Design

•  The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukwuma
• The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 – Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade
• Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke
•  Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
• To Kill A Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum and John Joseph Angel

Best Makeup

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

Best Writing (TV Series)

• The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa and Chiemeka Osuagwu
•  MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila and Makgano Mamabolo
• 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
• Blackout – Ikenna Okpara
•  Cards On The Table – Shirleen Wangari
• Gingerrr – Xavier Ighorodje
• Suky – Isaac Ayodeji
•  3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina

Best Documentary

• Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
• 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 Scripted Series

•  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
• Kash Money – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

Best Unscripted Series

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

Best Director

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

Best Overall Movie

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