The 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) concluded with a historic and emotionally charged night at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, where My Father’s Shadow emerged as the biggest winner, taking home the coveted Best Movie award. The film, directed by Akinola Davies Jr., continued its global acclaim after previous wins at Cannes, BAFTA, and the Gotham Awards, solidifying its place as a landmark achievement in African cinema. The ceremony, hosted by Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha, marked a special moment as IK Osakioduwa handed over the hosting duties for the first time in over a decade.
Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman made history by winning both Best Lead Actress for The Serpent’s Gift and Best Supporting Actress for The Herd, becoming one of the few performers to achieve a double acting win in a single AMVCA edition. Her triumph was celebrated as a milestone in Nollywood’s evolving recognition of versatile talent. Uzor Arukwe claimed Best Lead Actor for Colours of Fire, while Bucci Franklin delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech after winning Best Supporting Actor for To Kill A Monkey, a performance that resonated deeply with the audience.
Lateef Adedimeji also made headlines, winning Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) for Lisabi: A Legend Is Born, a moment he dedicated to his wife, Mo Bimpe, just days after the couple announced the birth of their triplets. The emotional dedication added a personal touch to the night’s celebrations. Other notable wins included Kabelo Thathe for Best Cinematography in To Kill A Monkey, Daniel Anyiam for Best Editing in the same film, and Valerie Okeke for Best Costume Design in Colours of Fire.
My Father’s Shadow dominated the night with five awards in total, including Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr. and Best Writing (Movie) for Wale Davies. The film’s success underscores its impact beyond Nigeria, showcasing African storytelling on the world stage. In the M-Net Original categories, Inimba won Best Indigenous M-Net Original and Best Scripted Series, while Nigerian Idol (S10) took home Best Unscripted M-Net Original.
Special awards were presented to Uche Montana for the Trailblazer Award and to Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo for the Industry Merit Award, recognizing their enduring contributions to African entertainment. The event also celebrated digital content creators, with Leave To Live winning Best Digital Content Creator.
As the 12th AMVCA closes, the spotlight remains on the growing strength and global recognition of African cinema, with My Father’s Shadow and Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman’s double win serving as powerful symbols of excellence and innovation in the industry. The future of African storytelling looks brighter than ever.
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