Attention has been turned on lead nominees and movies for the 12th edition of Africa Magic Movie Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs). The Nollywood films The Herd by Daniel Etim and Ginger directed by Yemi Morafa led with nine nominations each.

Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill A Monkey and Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow got seven nominations each. The Serpent’s Gift and 3 Cold Dishes raked six nomination.

The 12th AMVCA features 32 award categories, including 18 jury-voting categories, 11 public-voting categories, and 3 special recognition awards (Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer honours).

From its maiden edition, AMVCA has brought together Africa’s brightest talents, setting a strong standard for storytelling, culture and general entertainment.

Since its inception in 2013, the award ceremony has become a cornerstone of Africa’s creative economy, fostering job creation, revenue generation, and industry growth.

Over the past decade, the awards have invested significantly in events, training, and logistics, creating over 30,000 jobs across various sectors, benefiting professionals from production designers and screenwriters to sound engineers and artisans. Above all, it has remained a stage for stars and talent behind some of Africa’s most celebrated films and television shows to shine their brightest, ensuring their work is seen, honoured, and remembered.

In recent editions, the awards featured over 30 categories, split between jury-selected and audience-voted awards, reinforcing a balanced structure that reflects both critical excellence and audience input.

The 12th edition of the AMVCAs introduced key changes that deepen its pan-African reach and commitment to equitable representation. This year’s edition expands its Indigenous Language categories with the addition of Best Indigenous Language – North Africa and Best Indigenous Language – Central Africa, a landmark step in ensuring that Africa’s diverse languages, regions, and creative voices are more fully celebrated on a continental stage.

As African film and television continued to evolve, the AMVCA also expanded its scope to reflect the growing depth of storytelling across Africa.

Today, the AMVCA continue to reflect growth in Africa movie industry, one that has always celebrated the best of African creativity and continues to do so at an even greater scale.

As the awards build towards its star-studded ceremony on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, all eyes will not only be on fashion but the growth of the film Industry in Nigeria, and Africa in general. (The Guardian)