AMVCA 2026: My Father’s Shadow, Lisabi shine while Uzor Arukwe and Uche Montana win big *Full list

The 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026, held at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday, celebrated outstanding achievements in African cinema and television, with My Father’s Shadow emerging as one of the biggest winners of the evening.

The film won numerous awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Soundtrack/Music.

Director Akinola Davies Jr. won the Best Director category for the production, beating out other notable nominees.

Historical epic film Lisabi: A Legend Is Born also recorded a major win after Lateef Adedimeji took home the award for Best Indigenous Language (West Africa).

In the acting categories, Uzor Arukwe won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Colors of Fire, while Bucci Franklin won Best Supporting Actor for To Kill A Monkey.

Actress Uche Montana received the Trailblazer Award in recognition of her growing influence and impact in the entertainment industry.
Other notable winners include Nigerian Idol Season 10, which won Best M-Net Original Unscripted, and The Low Priest, which emerged Best M-Net Original Scripted.

In the documentary category, Beyond Olympic Glory secured first prize, while Hussainin won the best short film award.

Veteran actors Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo were honored with the Industry Merit Award for their contributions to the growth of the African entertainment industry.

The annual awards ceremony, organized by MultiChoice through its Africa Magic platform, remains one of Africa’s largest celebrations of film, television and fiction.

Full list of 2026 AMVCA nominees and winners:

Best costumes
“The Gift of the Serpent” – Mary Chukuma
“The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
“The Colors of Fire” – Valerie Okeke (WINNER)
“Something About the Briggs” – Yolanda Okereke
“Killing a Monkey” – Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel

Best makeup
“Behind the scenes” – Mojisola Imam
“Lisabi (A Legend is Born)” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
“Gingerrr” – Art by Diablaq
“Abanisete” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
“Warlord” – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) (WINNER)
“Suky” – Ruth Harcourt
“Labake Olododo” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

Best Art Direction
“The Gift of the Serpent” – Zainab Oladupupo
“The Herd” – Omolade Abisola
“The colors of fire” – Ajamolaya Bunmi (WINNER)
“Aljana” – Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen
“Suky” – Victor Akpan
“Inimba” – Thabiso Senne

Best sound/sound design
“My Father’s Shadow” – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra (WINNER)
“Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro
“Ben did it” – Vaughan Phillips
“The Party” – Tolu Obanro
“Sebata (The Beast)” – Vaughan Phillips
“The Herd” – Fisayo Adefolaju

Best editing
“Cordelia” – Kazeem Agboola
“My Father’s Shadow” – Omar Guzman Castro
“Fixed Line” – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty
“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
“Osamede” – Winston AIG-Ohioma
“Killing a Monkey” – Daniel Anyiam (WINNER)

Best Screenplay (TV Series)
“The Wives” – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
“MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Annette Shadeya and others (WINNER)
“Our husband” – Xavier Ighorodje
“Addis Fikir” – Besufekade Mulu
“Baba OH” – Temilola Balogun
“The Party” – Stephen Okonkwo
“Gizat” – Yednekachew Ayne

Best Screenplay (Film)
“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 Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
“The Gift of the Serpent” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
“Lisabi (A Legend is Born)” – Lateef Adedimeji (WINNER)
“Labake Olododo” – Iyabo Ojo and team
“Aljana” – Grace Yachat Yakubu
“Olorisha” – Abiola Adeshina

Best photography
“My Father’s Shadow” – Jermaine Edwards
“To Kill A Monkey” – Kabelo Thathe (WINNER)
“The Herd” – Emmanuel Igbekele
“Finding Nina” – Daanong Gyang
“The Gift of the Serpent” – Emmanuel Igbekele
“Points” – KC Obiajulu
“Gingerrr” – Emmanuel Igbekele

Best digital content creator
“Luxury Koko” – Taaoma (Maryam Apaokagi-Greene)
“The Wedding List” – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
“The badger race” – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
“August Meeting Elections” – Steve Chuks
“I just heard Muah” – Akwaman
“Leave To Live” – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom (WINNER)

Best Supporting Actress
“The Herd” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)
“Gingerrr” – Bisola Aiyeola
“Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele
“The Alliance Series” – Sola Sobowale
“Aljana” – Dutch Nadia

Best Supporting Actor
“Killing a Monkey” – Bucci Franklin (WINNER)
“Agesinkole 2” – Femi Adebayo
“The Colors of Fire” – Gabriel Afolayan
“Behind the Scenes” – Uzor Arukwe
“Red Circle” – Lateef Adedimeji

Best leading actress
“His Excellency” – Sola Sobowale
“The Gift of the Serpent” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)
“Behind the Scenes” – Scarlet Gomez
“The herd” – Genoveva Umeh
“The Mother of Brides” – Gloria Anozie-Young

Best leading actor
“Lisabi” – Lateef Adedimeji
“To Kill a Monkey” – William Benson
“The Colors of Fire” – Uzor Arukwe (WINNER)
“3 cold dishes” – Wale Ojo
“Red Circle” – Femi Branch

Best film
“Gingerrr” – Bisola Aiyeola and team
“The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong and team
“My Father’s Shadow” – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel (WINNER)
“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Oluseyi and team
“The Gift of the Serpent” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
“Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele and Wendy Imaseun

Best Documentary
“Beyond Olympic Glory” – Salame Shedrack (WINNER)

“The good x the bad of Afrobeat” – Louis Ejiofor

“The people must” – Mark Maina, Nick Wambugu

“I don’t face this problem anymore” – Huzzain Bello

“BOU” – Mwaka Gerald Remmy

“The Shadow of My Father” wins Best Film at the AMVCA

Best short film
“Arise” – Jessie J. Rowlands

“The Fleas” – Jordy Sank

“Telephone” – Fimisinuola Adejonwo

“Hussainin” – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa (WINNER)

“My body, the temple of God” – Uzoamaka Power

Best Soundtrack/Music
“My Father’s 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 Heman-Ackah (WINNER)

M-Net’s Best Indigenous Original

“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)

“Kukoyi” – David Akande

“Undugu” – Hatibu Madudu

“Around (Harar)” – Bruk Yibrah

“Kamapala Cream” – Joel Ndugwa

“The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

“Mgbuka” – Eze Izu

Best M-Net Original Unscripted
“Nigerian Idol (S10)” – Sulaiman Kassim, Anneke De Ridder (WINNER)

“The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade

“Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa” – Graeme Swanepoel

“Off Air” – Gbemi and Toolz

“Around” – Bruk Yibrah

Best Scripted M-Net Original
“The Low Priest” – Femi D. Ogunsanwo (WINNER)

“Adam to Eve” – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras

“Mother of Brides” – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro

“The Backyard” – James Kalu Omokwe

“Bobo” – Maurice Muendo

Pioneer Award
Uche Montana (WINNER)

Industry Merit Award
Sola Sobowale (WINNER)

Kanayo O. Kanayo (WINNER)

Best director
“My Father’s Shadow” – Akinola Davies JR (WINNER)

“Cordelia” – Tunde Kelani

“Osamede” – James Kaluu Omokwe

“The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong

“Gingerrr” – Yemi Filmboy Morafa

“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi