The 2026 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards lit up the entertainment industry on Saturday night as Africa’s biggest stars gathered for a glamorous celebration of excellence in film, television, and digital storytelling.
The highly anticipated awards ceremony, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in African entertainment, brought together top actors, filmmakers, producers, directors, and content creators from across the continent for a night filled with glamour, emotional speeches, and historic wins.
This year’s edition of the AMVCA celebrated outstanding performances and creative achievements across multiple categories, with several productions emerging as fan favourites and critical successes.
One of the biggest highlights of the night was the dominance of My Father’s Shadow, which emerged as the biggest winner of the evening after clinching the coveted Best Movie award alongside several other major categories.
The movie also won Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr., Best Sound Design, Best Writing (Movie), and earned recognition for its technical brilliance, solidifying its status as one of the standout productions of the year.
Meanwhile, popular Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe secured the Best Lead Actor award for his outstanding performance in Colours of Fire. His victory was one of the loudest-cheered moments of the night as colleagues and fans celebrated the actor’s impressive performance.
In the Best Lead Actress category, Linda Ejiofor emerged victorious for her role in The Serpent’s Gift, further cementing her reputation as one of Nollywood’s leading talents.
The Best Supporting Actor award went to Bucci Franklin for his role in To Kill a Monkey, while Linda Ejiofor also picked up the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in The Herd, making it a memorable night for the actress.
Another emotional moment of the ceremony came when actor and filmmaker Lateef Adedimeji won the Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) category for Lisabi (A Legend Is Born). During his acceptance speech, the actor dedicated the award to his wife, actress Mo Bimpe Adedimeji, drawing applause from guests at the venue.
The AMVCA also recognised excellence in digital content creation, documentaries, reality television, cinematography, editing, makeup, costume design, and screenplay writing.
Content creators Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom won the Best Digital Content Creator category for Leave To Live, beating several notable nominees including Taaoma.
Veteran Nollywood stars were also honoured during the event, with Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo receiving the prestigious Industry Merit Awards in recognition of their immense contributions to the African film industry.
Fast-rising actress Uche Montana was presented with the Trailblazer Award, a category dedicated to emerging talents making remarkable impact in the entertainment industry.
In the television and reality categories, Nigerian Idol won Best Unscripted M-Net Original, while The Low Priest clinched the Best Scripted M-Net Original award.
The 2026 AMVCA once again showcased the rapid growth of African storytelling and the increasing global recognition of Nollywood and other African film industries.
Major Winners At The 2026 AMVCA
Best Movie
- My Father’s Shadow — Winner
Best Lead Actor
- Uzor Arukwe — Colours of Fire (Winner)
Best Lead Actress
- Linda Ejiofor — The Serpent’s Gift (Winner)
Best Supporting Actor
- Bucci Franklin — To Kill a Monkey (Winner)
Best Supporting Actress
- Linda Ejiofor — The Herd (Winner)
Best Director
- Akinola Davies Jr. — My Father’s Shadow (Winner)
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
- Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) — Winner
Industry Merit Award
- Sola Sobowale
- Kanayo O. Kanayo
Trailblazer Award
- Uche Montana
Best Documentary
- Beyond Olympic Glory — Winner
Best Short Film
- Hussainin — Winner
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
- Nigerian Idol — Winner
Best Scripted M-Net Original
- The Low Priest — Winner