March 30, (THEWILL) — Organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards have unveiled nominees for the 12th edition ahead of the May 9 ceremony.
The nominees were announced live on Africa Magic channels, with AMVCA-winning actor Chimezie Imo as host.
Veteran actress Joke Silva will serve as Head Judge, succeeding Femi Odugbemi.
This year’s awards feature 32 categories, with 18 jury-voted awards, 11 audience-voted categories, and three special honours, including the Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer awards.
Two new categories were introduced, Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa), to strengthen African representation.
“The Herd”, directed by Daniel Etim Effiong, and “Gingerrr” lead this year’s nominees with nine nominations each.
“To Kill A Monkey” follows with eight nominations, while “My Father’s Shadow” has seven.
Public voting is open on the Africa Magic website and will close on April 26, 2026.
The awards, established by MultiChoice, remain one of Africa’s biggest platforms celebrating excellence in film and television across the continent.
Full list of nominees
Best Digital Content Creator
· Elozonam Ogbolu
· Genoveva Umeh
· Akwaman Destiny Ogie
· Osarewinda Emmanuel
· Kanaga
· Sophia Chisom
· Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
· Taaooma
· Steve Chuks
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
· The Serpent’s Gift
· Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
· Labake Olododo
· Olorisha
· Aljana
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
· Inside Job
· Sayari
· Addis Fikir
· My Son
· Kimote
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
· Bet I Love You
· Sebata: The Beast
· Ben Made It
· Terra Of Queens
· And Kuma 2
· Tlhaho Ya Mosadi
Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)
· The Omnipresent
· The Delivery
· The Hidden Voice
· This Is Portsaid
· Artal Alhanin: Our Memories
Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)
· Mabanda
· Safou: A Gift From Nature
· Golden Spoon
Best Scripted M-Net Original
· Adam to Eve
· Mother of the Bride
· The Yard
· The Low Priest
· Bobo
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
· Nigerian Idol S10
· Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
· Chapa Chapa
· My Love
· Out N About (Harar)
· Undugu
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
· Inimba
· Kukoyi
· Undugu
· Out N’ About (Harar)
· Kampala Creme
· The Chocolate Empire
· Mgbuka
Best Short Film
· Fleas
· Rise
· Telephone
· Hussaini
· My Body, God’s Temple
Best Supporting Actor
· Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard
· Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerrr
· Gabriel Afolayan – Colours Of Fire
· Bucci Franklin – To Kill A Monkey
· Femi Adebayo – King Of Thieves 2
· Lateef Adedimeji – Red Circle
· Femi Branch – Owambe Thieves
· Uzor Arukwe – Behind The Scenes
Best Supporting Actress
· Linda Ejiofor – The Herd
· Olamide Kidbaby – Oversabi Aunty
· Bisola Aiyeola – Gingerrr
· Sola Sobowale – The Covenant
· Nadia Dutch – Aljana
· Amal Umar – The Herd
· Juliebrenda Nyambura – MTV Shuga Mashariki
· Funke Akindele – Behind The Scenes
Best Lead Actor
· Mike Ezuruonye – Oversabi Aunty
· Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
· William Benson – To Kill A Monkey
· Kanayo O. Kanayo – Grandpa Must Obey
· Khumbuza Meyiwa – Bet I Love You
· Uzor Arukwe – Colours Of Fire
· Wale Ojo – 3 Cold Dishes
· Femi Branch – Red Circle
Best Lead Actress
· Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift
· Bimbo Akintola – To Kill A Monkey
· Ifeoma Fafunwa – The Lost Days
· Ariyike Owolagba – Something About The Briggs
· Sola Sobowale – Her Excellency
· Scarlet Gomez – Behind The Scenes
· Genoveva Umeh – The Herd
· Gloria Anozie-Young – Mother Of The Brides
Best Cinematography
· Jermaine Edwards – My Father’s Shadow
· Kabelo Thathe – To Kill A Monkey
· Emmanuel Igbekele – The Herd
· Daanong Gyang – Finding Nina
· Emmanuel Igbekele – The Serpent’s Gift
· KC Obiajulu – Stitches
· Emmanuel Igbekele – Gingerrr
Best Editing
· Kazeem Agboola – Cordelia
· Omar Guzman Castro – My Father’s Shadow
· Wanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty – Landline
· Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
· Winston Aig-Ohioma – Osamede
· Daniel Anyiam – To Kill A Monkey
Best Sound Design
· Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow
· Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
· Vaughan Phillips – Ben Made It
· Tolu Obanro – The Party
· Vaughan Phillips – Sebata: The Beast
· Fisayo Adefolaju – The Herd
Best Music Score
· Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow
· Nissi Ogulu – 3 Cold Dishes
· Chubb Okobah – Osamede
· Tolu Obanro – Gingerrr
· Tolu Obanro – The Party
· Sofresh – MTV Shuga Mashariki
· Oscar Heman-Ackah – To Kill A Monkey
Best Art Direction
· Zainab Oladipupo – The Serpent’s Gift
· Omolade Abisola – The Herd
· Ajamolaya Bunmi – Colours Of Fire
· Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen – Aljana
· Victor Akpan – Suky
· Thabiso Senne – Inimba
Best Costume Design
· Mary Chukwuma – The Serpent’s Gift
· Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade – The Real Housewives Of Lagos
· Valerie Okeke – Colours Of Fire
· Yolanda Okereke – Something About The Briggs
· Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel – To Kill A Monkey
Best Makeup
· Mojisola Imam – Behind The Scenes
· Adeola Bamgboye – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
· Dablaq Artistry – Gingerrr
· Adeola Bamgboye – Abanisete
· Hakeem Effect – Warlord
· Ruth Harcourt – Suky
· Adeola Bamgboye – Labake Olododo
Best Writing TV Series
· The Wives
· MTV Shuga Mashariki
· Our Husband
· Addis Fikir
· Baba Oh
· The Party
· Gizat
Best Writing in a Movie
· The Herd
· My Father’s Shadow
· Blackout
· Cards On The Table
· Gingerrr
· Suky
· 3 Cold Dishes
Best Documentary
· Beyond Olympic Glory
· The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
