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AMVCA 2026 nominations are in — see the full list of nominees and films
The nominations for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) have been officially unveiled, setting the tone for this year’s ceremony scheduled for May 9.
One of the biggest shifts in AMVCA this year comes behind the scenes, with veteran actress Joke Silva stepping in as Head Judge, taking over from longtime juror Femi Odugbemi. The change signals a subtle but significant transition in how the awards may be shaped going forward.
This year’s AMVCA nominations reflect a broader continental spread, reinforcing the AMVCA’s push to function as a truly pan-African platform. That direction is further emphasised by the introduction of two new categories recognising films in North and Central African indigenous languages.
In total, the 2026 edition of the AMVCA features 32 categories, spanning jury-decided awards, audience-voted recognitions, and special honours such as Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer awards.
A handful of titles dominate the AMVCA nominations, with “Gingerrr” leading at nine, “The Herd” close behind with eight, and “The Serpent’s Gift” and “To Kill A Monkey” earn six each.
See the full list of nominees for the 2026 AMVCA
Best digital content creator
Elozonam Ogbolu, Genoveva Umeh
Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Emmanuel Kanaga, Sophia Chisom
Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
Taaooma
Steve Chuks
Akwaman
Best short film
“Fleas” – Jordy Sank
“Telephone” – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
“Hussaini” – Oreore Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa
“My Body, God’s Temple” – Uzoamaka Power
“Rise” – Praise Adejo
Movie poster for “My Body, My Temple” via Zikoko on X Best scripted M-Net original
“Adam to Eve”
“Mother of The Brides”
“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”
“Kampala Creme” S2
“The Chocolate Empire”
“Mgbuka”
Best indigenous language (West Africa)
“The Serpent’s Gift”
“Lisabi: A Legend Is Born”
“Labake Olododo”
“Olorisha”
“Aljana”
Best indigenous language (East Africa)
“Inside Job”
“Sayari”
“Addis Fikir”
“My Son”
“Kimote”
Best indigenous language (Southern Africa)
“Bet I Love You”
“Sebata: The Beast”
“Ben Made It”
“Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2”
“Tlhaho Ya Mosadi”
Read also: The 11th AMVCAs best dressed list: These 10 stars shone the brightest
Best indigenous language (North Africa)
“The Omnipresent”
“The Delivery”
“The Hidden Voice”
“This Is Portsaid”
“Artal Alhanin: Our Memories”
Best indigenous language (Central Africa)
“Mabanda
“Safou: A Gift From Nature”
“Golden Spoon”
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 lead actor
Mike Ezuruonye — “Oversabi Aunty”
Lateef Adedimeji — “Lisabi 2”
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 — “TKAM”
Ifeoma Fafunwa — “The Lost Days”
Ariyike Owolagba — “Something About The Briggs”
Sola Sobowale — “Her Excellency”
Scarlet Gomez — “BTS”
Genoveva Umeh — “The Herd”
Gloria Anozie-Young — “Mother Of The Brides”
Best art direction
Zainab Oladipupo — “The Serpent’s Gift”
Omolade Abisola — “The Herd”
Ajamolaya Bunmi — “Colours Of Fire”
Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon O. Stephen — “Aljana”
Victor Akpan — “Suky”
Thabiso Senne — “Inimba”
Movie poster for “The Herd” via @parallelfacts on X 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 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 sound/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 score/music
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 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”
Movie poster for “To Kill A Monkey” via @NgMovies_Reviews on X Best Writing (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 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 documentary
“Beyond Olympic Glory”
“The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat”
“The People Shall”
“Not Addressing This Anymore”
“BOU”
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 overall movie
“Gingerrr”
“The Herd”
“My Father’s Shadow”
“3 Cold Dishes”
“The Serpent’s Gift”
“Behind The Scenes”
Read More: All the 2025 AMVCA winners — here’s who took home the awards!
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