The Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards officially unveiled the nominees for its highly anticipated 12th edition on Sunday, setting the stage for one of the most exciting nights in African cinema.
Leading the charge this year are the critically acclaimed films “Gingerrr” and “The Herd”. Both movies dominated the major categories, securing an impressive nine nominations each.
“The nominees were announced live on Africa Magic channels in an event hosted by AMVCA-winning actor Chimezie Imo,” the official report stated.
“Gingerrr” and “The Herd” earned widespread recognition, picking up “nods across acting, directing, and technical craftsmanship.” They are closely followed by “To Kill A Monkey”, which secured eight nominations, and “My Father’s Shadow”, which bagged seven nods across various categories.
The prestigious award ceremony is slated to take place on May 9, 2026, in Lagos. This year’s edition features a total of 32 categories.
According to the organizers, these include “18 jury-decided awards, 11 audience-voted honours, and three special recognition prizes.”
Public voting officially opened on the evening of March 29, allowing fans across the continent to support their favorite stars and productions. It was also recently announced that veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva will serve as the head judge for the 2026 AMVCA.
The “Best Movie” category promises a fierce competition, featuring top contenders such as “Gingerrr”, “The Herd”, “My Father’s Shadow”, “3 Cold Dishes”, “The Serpent’s Gift”, and “Behind The Scenes”.
In the highly competitive “Best Lead Actor” category, top talents will battle for the coveted prize. The nominees include Mike Ezuruonye for “Oversabi Aunty”, Lateef Adedimeji for “Lisabi: A Legend Is Born”, William Benson for “To Kill A Monkey”, Kanayo O. Kanayo for “Grandpa Must Obey”, Khumbuza Meyiwa for “Bet I Love You”, Uzor Arukwe for “Colours of Fire”, Wale Ojo for “3 Cold Dishes”, and Femi Branch for “Red Circle”.
The “Best Lead Actress” category is equally stacked with remarkable performances. The nominees are Linda Ejiofor for “The Serpent’s Gift”, Bimbo Akintola for “To Kill A Monkey”, Ifeoma Fafunwa for “The Lost Days”, Ariyike Owolagba for “Something About The Briggs”, Sola Sobowale for “Her Excellency”, Scarlet Gomez for “Behind The Scenes”, Genoveva Umeh for “The Herd”, and Gloria Anozie-Young for “Mother Of The Brides”.
Meanwhile, the “Best Director” award will see Akinola Davies Jr, Tunde Kelani, James Kalu Omokwe, Daniel Etim Effiong, Yemi Filmboy Morafa, and Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi competing for top honors.
