The Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards are back and bigger than ever. The 12th edition of the award show, which will be held on May 9th has finally released its nominee list with acclaimed movies like Gingerrr and The Herd sweeping the nominations in multiple categories. This year the AMVCA’s are sponsored by Don Julio tequila and are dedicated to uplifting African creative voices more than ever before. The awards comprise of 32 categories with 18 jury-voted, 11 audience-voted and 3 special recognition awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award and Trailblazer Award. Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva was named as the Head Judge for this year’s awards, taking over from Femi Odugbemi.
The diversity of the nominees this year is a clear representation of how far African filmmaking and storytelling have come. The awards also expanded to include stories from North and Central Africa this year, signifying their goal of fostering solidarity among storytellers on the continent. Gingerrr and The Herd, which were both released in late 2025 to massive box office success, took the nominee lead with 9 nominations each, including in the best movie and best director categories. Following closely are To Kill a Monkey and My Father’s Shadow with 8 and 7 nominations, respectively.
There were also several notable individual nominations such as Emmanuel Igbeleke receiving three nominations in the Best Cinematography category and Tolu Obanro receiving nominations in both Best Design and Best Score. Actors like Linda Ejiofor, Uzor Arukwe, Femi Branch and Lateef Adedimeji secured nominations in both the Lead and Supporting Actor/Actress categories, with Adedimeji also receiving a nomination in Best Indigenous Language West Africa.
The awards could go any way, especially in the big categories such as Best Movie Best Leading Actor/Actress, etc. With the amount of nominations they have, there’s no question that either Gingerrr or The Herd might end the night with a sizable sweep with one of them hopefully taking the Best Movie award. Gingerrr is also our top pick for most of the categories it is nominated in, though other nominees may still pull through such as My Father’s Shadow in the Best Writing and Best Director categories. To Kill a Money is also our top contender for most of the scripted TV series categories while The Real Housewives of Lagos Season 3 definitely deserves a win for its explosive season.
At the end of the day, the final decision is in the hands of the viewers but, no matter who wins, it is bound to be an amazing night for all the nominees.
Below are all the announced nominees for this year’s awards, as well as instructions on how to vote for your favourite stories and creators.
Jury Voted Categories
Best Movie
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, And Ladun Awobokun
My Father's Shadow - Funmbi Ogunbanwo And Rachel Dargavel
3 Cold Dishes - Martial Dansou, Surf Amuwa Oluseyo And Ly Oumar
The Serpent's Gift - Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Behind The Scenes – Funke Ayotunde Akindele And Wendy Uwadiae Imaseun
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 Supporting Actor
The Yard - Simileoluwa Hassan
Gingerrr - Lateef Adedimeji
Colours Of Fire – Gabriel Afolayan
To Kill A Monkey – Bucci Franklin
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
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 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 Director
My Father's Shadow - Akinola Davies Jr
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
The Herd - Emmanuel Igbekele
Finding Nina - Daanong Gyang
The Serpent’s Gift - Emmanuel Igbekele
Stitches - KC Obiajulu
Gingerrr - Emmanuel Igbekele
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 Score Music
My Fathers Shadow - Duval Timothy, 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 Herman-Ackah
Best Costume Design
The Serpent's Gift - Mary Chukuma
The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 - Deola Art Alade, 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 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 Writing TV Series
The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
MTV Shuga Mashariki - Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo
Our Husband – Xavier Ighorodje
Addis Fikir - Besufekade Mulu
Baba Oh – Temilola Balogun
The Party - Stephen Okonkwo
Gizat - Yednekachew Ayne
Best Series (Scripted)
To Kill A Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
The Yard - James Kalu Omokwe
The Chocolate Empire - Grace Kahaki and Phillipe Bresson
Inimba - Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu
Kash Money - Grace Khaki and Phillipe Benson
Best Series (Unscripted)
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3 - Deola Art Alade And Darey Art Alade
Nigerian Idol S10 - Suleiman Kassim And Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa - Graeme Swanepoel And Jemma Ford
Offair With Gbemi And Toolz - Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi And Toolz Oniru-Demuren
Out N’ About (Harar) - Bruk Yibrah
Best Make-up
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 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
Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory - Sedrack Sahlami
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
Audience-voted categories
In order to vote in these categories, viewers had to register an account on the Africa Magic website or login if they already had an account. Voting is free, but each user was only allowed 100 votes per user. Voting closed on April 26th.
Best Scripted M-NET Original
Femi D. Ogunsanwo – The Low Priest
James Kalu Omokwe – The Yard
Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras – Adam To Eve
Maurice Muendo – Bobo
Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro – Mother of the Brides
Best Un-Scripted M-NET Original
Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder – Nigerian Idol (S10)
Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford – Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
Ercilla Justino, Jojo Almeida and Gabriela Ueno – Chapa Chapa My Love
Bruk Yibrah – Out N About (Harar)
Hatibu Madudu – Undugu
Best Indigenous M-NET Original
Bruk Yibrah – Out N’ About (Harar)
David Akande – Kukoyi
Eze Izu – Mgbuka
Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson – The Chocolate Empire
Hatibu Madudu – Undugu
Joel Ndugwa – Kampala Creme (S2)
Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu – Inimba
Best Short Film
Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
Fleas – Jordy Sank
Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa
My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power
Best Digital Content Creator
Akwaman – Did I Just Hear Muah
Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo – The Rat Race
Destiny Ogie Osarewinda – The Marriage List
Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom – Leave To Live
Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh – Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion
Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma) – Luxury Koko
Steve Chuks – August Meeting Election
Best Indigenous Language West Africa
Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Best Indigenous Language East Africa
Kimote – Hassan Mageye
My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile
Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina
Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw
Sayari – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi
Best Indigenous Language Southern Africa
Sebata: The Beast – African Entertainers
Bet I Love You – Joseph Duke and Keamogetse Modise
Tlhaho Ya Mosadi – Naledi Galane , Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, Modipadi Mokgohloa
Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2 – Neo Leonardo Mokoena
Ben Made It – Thabang Mathumetse and Thapelo Dikhutso
Best Indigenous Language North Africa
The Delivery – Abdalla Ezyan
This Is Portsaid – Abdalla Ezyan
The Hidden Voice – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed
Artal Alhanin – Our Memories – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma
The Omnipresent – Youssef Ben Khalifa
Best Indigenous Language Central Africa
Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown
Mabanda – Kang Quintus
Safou: A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba
