The 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) held on Saturday, 9th, 2026 at the glittering Eko Hotel and Suites was a historical night for Nollywood and African cinema at large, as the 12th edition blended emotions, surprises, and groundbreaking feats.

The prestigious award film ceremony hosted by Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha (after a decade hosted by IK Osakioduwa) announced its winners across 32 categories, where actress Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman and actor Uzor Arukwe were the talk of the night.

Taking home one of the biggest awards of the night, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman won Best Lead Actress for her role in The Serpent’s Gift. This impressive victory was part of her historic double-win night, where she also secured the Best Supporting Actress in the Netflix hit The Herd. With two major acting wins in one night, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman became the first woman to achieve this historic feat since AMVCA’s inception.

In the male category, Uzor Arukwe made an epic win as he secured the Best Lead Actor award for his performance in the Niyi Akinmolayan-directed Colours of Fire. Bucci Franklin gave a heartfelt speech as he clinched the award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill A Monkey.

Yet, the biggest winner of the night was My Father’s Shadow, which took home the most awards in the major and technical categories. The Akinola Davies-directed film made a clean sweep at the AMVCA, taking 5 of its 7 nominations, continuing a remarkable global run following wins at Cannes, BAFTA, and the Gotham Awards.

Securing awards including Best Score, Best Sound Design, Best Writing, Best Directing, and the prestigious Best Movie award, My Father’s Shadow and its filmmakers became the most awarded recipients of the 2026 AMVCA.

Other memorable moments include actress Uche Montana’s win for the Trailblazer award, and actor Lateef Adedimeji’s emotional speech where he dedicated his win for the Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) win for Lisabi: A Legend Is Born to his wife. In the non-voting category, veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo and actress Sola Sobowale were graciously awarded the Lifetime Ach Award at this year’s AMVCA ceremony.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 2026 AMVCA:

Best Lead Actor

Lisabi – Lateef Adedimeji

To Kill a Monkey – William Benson

Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe – WINNER

3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo

Red Circle – Femi Branch

Best Lead Actress

Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale

The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman – WINNER

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

Best Supporting Actress

The Herd – Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman – 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 Scenes – Funke Ayotunde Akindele

Best Movie

Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola & Team

The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong & Team

My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel – WINNER

3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Oluseyi and Team

The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi

Behind the Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy 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 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 Costume Design

The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma

The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3) – Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade

Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke – WINNER

Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke

To Kill a Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum & John Joseph Angel

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 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 Art Direction

The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladupupo

The Herd – Omolade Abisola

Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi – WINNER

Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon Stephen

Suky – Victor Akpan

Inimba – Thabiso Senne

Special Awards

Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana

Industry Merit Award: Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo

Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)

The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi

Labake Olododo – Iyabo Ojo & Team

Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu

Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina

Lisabi: A Legend is Born – Lateef Adedimeji – WINNER

Best Digital Content Creator

Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaooma)

The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda

The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo

August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks

Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman

Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom – WINNER

Best Scripted M-Net Original

Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah & Alexandros Konstantaras

Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro

The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe

Bobo – Maurice Muendo

The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo – WINNER

Best Indigenous M-Net Original

Kukoyi – David Akande

Undugu – Hatibu Madudu

Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah

Kampala Creme – Joel Ndugwa

The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

Mgbuka – Eze Izu

Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu – WINNER

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3) – Deola Art Alade & Darey Art Alade

Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel

Off Air – Gbemi & Toolz

Out N’ About – Bruk Yibrah

Nigerian Idol (S10) – Sulaiman Kassim & Anneke De Ridder – WINNER

Best Scripted Series

To Kill a Monkey – Kemi Adetiba

The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe

The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson

Kash Money – Grace Khaki & Phillipe Benson

Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu – WINNER

Best Documentary

Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami

The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor

The People Shall – Mark Maina & Nick Wambugu

Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami – WINNER

Best Short Film

Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands

Fleas – Jordy Sank

Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo

My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power

Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa – WINNER

Best Makeup

Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam

Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

Gingerrr – Diablaq Artistry

Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

Suky – Ruth Harcourt

Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) – WINNER