The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has unveiled its nominees for the 2026 edition, with Gingerrr and The Herd emerging as the most nominated films, earning nine nominations each across major and technical categories.

The nominations were announced on Sunday during a live broadcast on Africa Magic channels, hosted by AMVCA winning actor Chimezie Imo. The 12th edition of the awards is scheduled to take place on May 9, 2026, in Lagos, featuring 32 categories, including 18 jury decided awards, 11 audience voted honours, and three special recognition prizes.

Closely following the top contenders, To Kill A Monkey received eight nominations, while My Father’s Shadow secured seven nominations across multiple categories. The leading titles dominated key sections such as acting, directing, and technical fields, underscoring the competitiveness of this year’s awards.

Veteran actress Joke Silva has been appointed as head judge for the 2026 edition. Meanwhile, voting for audience categories opened at 8 pm on March 29.

In the performance categories, actors such as Lateef Adedimeji, Femi Branch, and Uzor Arukwe earned nominations for Best Lead Actor, while Bimbo Akintola, Sola Sobowale, and Genoveva Umeh feature among nominees for Best Lead Actress. The Best Supporting Actress category includes Linda Ejiofor, Bisola Aiyeola, and Funke Akindele, while Gabriel Afolayan is among those recognised in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Technical categories also highlight strong showings from Gingerrr, The Herd, and My Father’s Shadow, with multiple nominations in cinematography, sound design, editing, and score music.

For the top prize, Gingerrr, The Herd, My Father’s Shadow, 3 Cold Dishes, The Serpent’s Gift, and Behind The Scenes will compete in the Best Movie category. In television, To Kill A Monkey and The Yard are among contenders for Best Scripted Series, while The Real Housewives of Lagos and Nigerian Idol feature prominently in unscripted categories.

The AMVCA remains one of Africa’s most prestigious platforms for recognising excellence in film and television, celebrating both established industry figures and emerging talents across the continent.

Full list below:

Best Digital Content Creator

Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh

The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda

Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom

The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo

Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)

August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks

Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman

Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)

Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina

Sayari – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi

Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw

My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile

Kimote – Hassan Mageye

Best Short Film

Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands

Fleas – Jordy Sank

Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo

Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa

My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)

The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi

Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji

Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun

Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu

Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina

Best Indigenous Language (North Africa)

The Omnipresent – Youssef Ben Khalifa

The Delivery – Abdalla Ezyan

The Hidden Voice – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed

This Is Portsaid – Abdalla Ezyan

Artal Alhanin – Our Memories – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma

Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa)

Mabanda – Kang Quintus

Safou: A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba

Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown

Best Scripted M-Net Original

Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras

Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro

The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe

The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo

Bobo – Maurice Muendo

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

Nigerian Idol (S10) – Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder

Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford

Chapa Chapa My Love – Ercilla Justino, Jojo Almeida and Gabriela Ueno

Out N About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah

Undugu – Hatibu Madudu

Best Indigenous M-Net Original

Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu

Kukoyi – David Akande

Undugu – Hatibu Madudu

Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah

Kampala Creme (S2) – Joel Ndugwa

The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

Mgbuka – Eze Izu

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 Scene – Funke Akindele

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 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 Documentary

Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami

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

Best Score 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 Herman-Ackah

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 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 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 Series (Scripted)

To Kill A Monkey – Kemi Adetiba

The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe

The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson

Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu

Kash Money – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Benson

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

Suky – Ruth Harcourt

Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

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 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 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 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, Ladun Awobokun

My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel

3 Cold Dishes – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi and Ly Oumar

The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi

Behind The Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy Uwadiae Imaseun

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 (Arise News)

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