AMVCA 2026: Linda Ejiofor, Uzor Arukwe Win Top Acting Honors
The 2026 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) celebrated excellence in the film industry for the 2025 calendar year, with prominent actors and directors taking home major prizes.
Nollywood actress Linda Ejiofor emerged as the Best Lead Actress at the ceremony. Her competitors in the category included 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), and Gloria Anozie-Young (Mother of the Brides).
In a historic achievement, Ejiofor also won the Best Supporting Actress award, becoming the first actress to win both categories in the same night.
Uzor Arukwe secured the Best Male Lead Actor award for his role in the film 'Colours of Fire'. He beat contenders Mike Ezuruonye (Oversabi Aunty), Femi Branch (Red Circle), Wale Ojo (3Cold Dishes), Kanayo O Kanayo (Grandpa Must Obey), Khumbuza Meyiwa (Bet I Love You), William Benson (To Kill A Monkey), and Lateef Adedimeji (Lisabi: A Legend Is Born).
Other Highlights
The event also featured Industry Merit Awards honoring veterans such as Nkem Owoh, Sanni Mu'azu, and Richard Mofe Damijo. Films like Colours of Fire, My Father's Shadow, The Herd, Gingerrr, and To Kill a Monkey performed strongly across categories.
Full Winners List
Best Digital Content Creator: Leave to Live
Best Indigenous Language (North Africa): Our memories
Best Indigenous Language (East Africa): Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw (Winner); Inside Job – Kamau Wandug'u et al.; Sayari – Omar Hamza, June Wairegi; My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile; Kimote – Hassan Mageye
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa): Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji (Winner); The Serpent's Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi; Labake Olododo – Iyabo Ojo et al.; Aljana – Grace Yakubu; Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
Best Editing: To Kill A Monkey (Winner); Cordelia; My Father's Shadow; Landline; 3 Cold Dishes; Osamede
Best Documentary: Beyond Olympic Glory (Winner); The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat; The People Shall; Not Addressing This Anymore; BOU
Best Short Film: Hussainin – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa (Winner); Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands; Fleas – Jordy Sank; Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo; My Body, God's Temple – Uzoamaka Power
Best Score/Music: My Father's Shadow (Winner); 3 Cold Dishes; Osamede; Gingerrr; The Party; MTV Shuga Mashariki; To Kill A Monkey
Best Unscripted M-Net Original: Nigerian Idol (S10) – Sulaiman Kassim and Ameke (Winner); Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa; Chapa Chapa My Love; Out N About (Harar); Undugu
Best Scripted M-Net Original: The Low Priest – Femi Ogunsanwo (Winner); Adam To Eve; Mother of the Brides; The Yard; Bobo
Best Supporting Actress: Linda Ejiofor – The Herd (Winner); Olamide Kidbaby – Oversabi Aunty; Bisola Aiyeola – Gingerrr; Sola Sobowale – The Covenant Series; Nadia Dutch – Aljana; Amal Umar – The Herd; Juliebrenda Nyambura – MTV Shuga Mashariki; Funke Akindele – Behind The Scenes
Best Supporting Actor: Bucci Franklin – To Kill A Monkey (Winner); Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard; Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerrr; Gabriel Afolayan – Colours of Fire; Femi Adeboye – Agesinkole 2; Femi Branch – Red Circle; Uzor Arukwe – Behind The Scenes
Best Lead Actor: Uzor Arukwe – Colours of Fire (Winner); 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; Wale Ojo – 3 Cold Dishes; Femi Branch – Red Circle
Best Lead Actress: Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent's Gift (Winner); 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
Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana
Best Series (Unscripted): Out N' About (Harar) (Winner); The Real Housewives of Lagos S3; Nigerian Idol S10; Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa; Offair With Gbemi and Toolz
