The glittering skyline of Lagos provided the backdrop tonight as Africa’s most prestigious screen honors, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), returned for its 12th edition, and the continent answered the call in force.
The 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards are currently underway, celebrating the biggest achievements in African film, television, and digital storytelling. It is a night of glamour, competition, and recognition for Nollywood and the wider African screen industry.
The ceremony is hosted, as tradition demands, at the Exhibition Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites, the grand Lagos venue that has become synonymous with the prestige of African screen excellence.
For viewers watching at home, the ceremony is airing across all Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv and is also streaming via DStv Stream and GOtv Stream, with the red carpet having kicked off at 4:00 p.m. WAT before the main awards show began at 7:00 p.m. WAT.
The awards span 32 categories, 18 jury-decided, 11 audience-voted, and three special recognition awards, including the Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer honors.
In a move aimed at broadening continental representation, the AMVCA introduced two new categories this year: Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa), a landmark expansion that signals the awards body’s commitment to amplifying voices from corners of the continent that have long deserved a seat at the table.
Veteran actress Joke Silva serves as head judge for this year’s edition, succeeding filmmaker Femi Odugbemi, a passing of the torch that itself drew no small amount of conversation in industry circles in the lead-up to tonight.
As the night unfolds, the envelopes have begun to be opened, and the results are painting a vivid picture of where African storytelling stands today.
In the Best Digital Content Creator category, Live To Live claimed the prize, a win that underscores the growing legitimacy of digital platforms as a serious arena for African creative voices.
The newly minted Best Indigenous Language (North Africa) category saw “Our Memories” take the inaugural honor, a historic moment for North African representation at the AMVCAs.
In Best Indigenous Language (East Africa), it was “Addis Fikir,” directed by Leul Shoaferaw, that rose above a competitive field that included Inside Job, Sayari, My Son, and Kimote to claim the title, a triumph for Ethiopian storytelling on the continental stage.
The Best Indigenous Language (West Africa) category delivered perhaps the evening’s most anticipated moment in its region, with “Lisabi: A Legend Is Born,” led by the ever-compelling Lateef Adedimeji, emerging victorious over a strong slate that included Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi’s “The Serpent’s Gift” and Iyabo Ojo’s “Labake Olododo.” Adedimeji, who also landed in multiple categories across this year’s nominations, proved once again why he is considered one of Nollywood’s most bankable stars.
On the technical front, “To Kill A Monkey” claimed Best Editing, adding further sheen to a production that entered the night with eight nominations, making it one of the most nominated projects of this cycle.
Best Documentary went to “Beyond Olympic Glory,” a sports documentary that clearly resonated with jurors, edging out “The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat” and “The People Shall,” among others.
And in Best Short Film, it was Hussainin, produced by Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa, that stood tallest in a category brimming with fresh voices, from Jessie J. Rowlands’ Rise to South African filmmaker Jordy Sank’s Fleas.
One unmistakable pattern across this year’s AMVCA is that every nominated title in the Best Movie category had a cinema run, a notable shift, as international streaming platforms, which had strong representation in previous editions, are conspicuously absent from the top category. It reinforces ongoing conversations about the shifting dynamics between Nollywood and global streaming services.
Leading the overall nominations were “Gingerrr” and “The Herd,” both tied at nine nominations each, spanning acting, directing, and technical categories. Their performances across the remaining awards of the evening will be closely watched.
Tonight, as the champagne flows and the acceptance speeches ring out across the Eko Hotel, one thing is abundantly clear: African storytelling, from the sun-scorched landscapes of North Africa to the bustling megacity of Lagos, is not merely thriving. It is demanding and receiving the world’s full attention.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The 12th AMVCA, held in Lagos on May 9, 2026, celebrated African screen excellence across film, television, and digital storytelling. The night’s standout story was expansion.
With new Indigenous language categories for North and Central Africa, bringing fresh regional voices into the spotlight for the first time.
Key winners included Lisabi: A Legend Is Born (Best Indigenous Language, West Africa), Addis Fikir (East Africa), To Kill A Monkey (Best Editing), Beyond Olympic Glory (Best Documentary), and Hussainin (Best Short Film).
