The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) came with big wins, emotional speeches, and major moments for African film and television stars. Held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on May 9, 2026, the event brought together actors, filmmakers, producers, and digital creators from across the continent for one of the biggest nights in African entertainment.

This year’s ceremony also marked a major change as comedian Bovi Ugboma and actress Nomzamo Mbatha hosted the awards, ending IK Osakioduwa’s long run as host.

One of the biggest winners of the night was the movie “My Father’s Shadow”, which picked up multiple awards including Best Movie. Colours of Fire also had a strong night with wins in acting and technical categories.

Here’s the full list of winners from the 2026 AMVCA 12:

Best Movie

“My Father’s Shadow” – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel (WINNER)

“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

“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 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 Writing Movie

“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

“The Herd” – Lani Aisida

 

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 Score Music

“My Father’s Shadow” – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra (WINNER)

“3 Cold Dishes” – Nissi Ogulu

“Osamede” – Chubb Okobah

“Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro

“The Party” – Tolu Obanro

MTV Shuga Mashariki – SoFresh

 

Best Cinematography

“To Kill A Monkey” – Kabelo Thathe (WINNER)

“My Father’s Shadow” – Jermaine Edwards

“The Herd” – Emmanuel Igbekele

“Finding Nina” – Daanong Gyang

“The Serpent’s Gift” – Emmanuel Igbekele

“Stitches” – KC Obiajulu

“Gingerrr” – Emmanuel Igbekele

 

Best Lead Actor

“Colours of Fire” – Uzor Arukwe (WINNER)

“Oversabi Aunty” – Mike Ezuruonye

‘Lisabi: A Legend Is Born” – Lateef Adedimeji

“To Kill A Monkey’ – William Benson

“Grandpa Must Obey” – Kanayo O. Kanayo

“3 Cold Dishes” – Wale Ojo

“Red Circle” – Femi Branch

“Bet I Love You” – Khumbuza Meyiwa

 

Best Supporting Actor

“To Kill A Monkey” – Bucci Franklin (WINNER)

“The Yard” – Simileoluwa Hassan

“Gingerrr” – Lateef Adedimeji

“Colours Of Fire” – Gabriel Afolayan

“Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2” – Femi Adeboye

“Red Circle” – Lateef Adedimeji

“Owanbe Thieves” – Femi Branch

“Behind The Scenes” – Uzor Arukwe

 

Best Editing

“To Kill a Monkey” – Daniel Anyiam (WINNER)

“Cordelia” – Kazeem Agboola

“Landline” – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere and Dele Doherty

“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi

“Osamede” – Winston Aig-Ohioma

“My Father’s Shadow” – Omar Guzman Castro

 

Best Supporting Actress

“The Herd” – Linda Ejiofor-Sulaiman (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 Digital Content Creator

“Leave To Live” – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom (WINNER)

“Dr Judgina” – Situationally Transmitted Delusion – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh

“The Marriage List” – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda

“The Rate Race” – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo

“Luxury Koko” – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)

“August Meeting Election” – Steve Chuks

“Did I Just Hear Muah” – Akwaman

 

Best Short Film

“Hussainin” – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa (WINNER)

“Rise” – Jessie J. Rowlands

“Fleas” – Jordy Sank

Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo

“My Body, God’s Temple” – Uzoamaka Power

 

Best Costume Design

“Colours of Fire” – Valerie Okeke (WINNER)

“The Serpent’s Gift” – Mary Chukuma

“The Real Housewives of Lagos S2” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade

“Something About The Briggs” – Yolanda Okereke

“To Kill A Monkey” – Ikechukwu Urum and John Joseph Angel

 

Best Art Direction

“Colours of Fire” – Ajamolaya Bunmi (WINNER)

“The Serpent’s Gif”t – Zainab Oladipupo

“The Herd” – Omolade Abisola

“Aljana” – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon O Stephen

“Suky” – Victor Akpan

“Inimba” – Thabiso Senne

 

Best Lead Actress

“The Serpent’s Gift” – Linda Ejiofor-Sulaiman (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 Scripted M-net Original Award

“The Low Priest” – Femi D. Ogunsanwo (WINNER)

“Adam To Eve” – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras

“Mother of the Brides” – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro

“The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe

“Bobo” – Maurice Muendo

 

Best Unscripted M-Net

“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 Language Film (West Africa)

“Lisabi: A Legend Is Born” – Lateef Adedimeji (WINNER)

“The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi

“Labake Olododo” – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba

Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun

Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina

“Aljana” – Grace Yachat Yakubu

 

Best Make-up

“Lisabi: A Legend Is Born” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye (WINNER)

“Behind The Scenes” – Mojisola Imam

“Gingerrr” – Dablaq Artistry

“Abanisete” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

“Warlord” – Hakeem Onilogbo

“Suky” – Ruth Harcourt

“Labake Olododo” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

 

Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)

Addis Fikir” – Leul Shoaferaw (WINNER)

“Inside Job’ – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina

“Sayari” – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi

“My Son” – Isarito Mwakalindile

“Kimote” – Hassan Mageye

 

Best Series (Scripted)

“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)

“To Kill A Monkey” – Kemi Adetiba

“The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe

“The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

“Kash Money” – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Benson

 

Best Documentary Award

“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

Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana

Industry Merit Awards: Kanayo O. Kanayo and Sola Sobowale

The night was filled with fashion, celebration, and recognition for the people pushing African storytelling forward. From emotional acceptance speeches to surprise wins, AMVCA 12 once again showed how much the African film industry continues to grow.