By Ghazali Ibrahim
Africa’s biggest celebration of film and television, the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), delivered a night of glamour and recognition as stars from across the continent gathered on Saturday to honour excellence in storytelling and screen performance.
The ceremony, which featured Nollywood heavyweights and leading entertainment figures, celebrated outstanding achievements in film, television and digital content, with several productions and actors emerging as standout winners.
Uzor Arukwe clinched the Best Lead Actor award for his role in Colours of Fire, while Linda Ejiofor took home Best Lead Actress for her performance in The Serpent’s Gift. Ejiofor also won Best Supporting Actress for The Herd, making her one of the biggest winners of the night.
Bucci Franklin secured Best Supporting Actor for To Kill a Monkey, while Lateef Adedimeji’s Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) won Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa). Adedimeji dedicated the award to his wife, actress Mo Bimpe Adedimeji.
The biggest prize of the night, Best Movie, went to My Father’s Shadow, which also picked up several other awards, cementing its dominance at this year’s edition.
Below is the full list of winners:
Best Costume Design
Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke
Best Makeup
Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo
Best Art Direction
Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi
Best Sound / Sound Design
My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra
Best Editing
To Kill a Monkey – Daniel Anyiam
Best Writing (TV Series)
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya & others
Best Writing (Movie)
My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) – Lateef Adedimeji
Best Cinematography
To Kill A Monkey – Kabelo Thathe
Best Digital Content Creator
Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga & Sophia Chisom
Best Supporting Actress
Linda Ejiofor – The Herd
Best Supporting Actor
Bucci Franklin – To Kill a Monkey
Best Lead Actress
Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift
Best Lead Actor
Uzor Arukwe – Colours of Fire
Best Movie
My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo & Rachel Dargavel
Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
Best Short Film
Hussainin – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa
Best Score/Music
To Kill a Monkey – Oscar Heman-Ackah
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
Inimba
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol (S10)
Best Scripted M-Net Original
The Low Priest
Trailblazer Award
Uche Montana
Industry Merit Award
Sola Sobowale
Kanayo O. Kanayo
Best Director
Akinola Davies Jr – My Father’s Shadow
