The Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards has released the full list of nominees for its 12th edition. The announcement came live on Sunday March 29 2026 at 7 PM WAT on Africa Magic channels. Nollywood actor Chimezie Imo hosted the show.
This year the awards cover 32 categories. Eighteen categories are decided by a jury of experts while eleven are open for public voting. There are also special honors including the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Trailblazer Award.
Organizers added two new categories to make the event more Pan African. They are Best Indigenous Language Film for North Africa and Best Indigenous Language Film for Central Africa. These join the existing ones for West East and Southern Africa.
Submissions for films and shows released in 2025 opened on January 11 2026 and closed on February 15 2026. The main ceremony will hold on Saturday May 9 2026 in Lagos. Veteran actress Joke Silva is the head judge for this edition.
Here is the full list of nominees. Note that some categories had minor gaps in the live report.
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 Brides
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
Telephone
Hussaini
My Body God’s Temple
One title was not fully listed during the announcement.
Best Supporting Actor
Simileoluwa Hassan for The Yard
Lateef Adedimeji for Gingerrr
Gabriel Afolayan for Colours Of Fire
Bucci Franklin for To Kill A Monkey
Femi Adebayo for King Of Thieves 2
Lateef Adedimeji for Red Circle
Femi Branch for Owambe Thieves
Uzor Arukwe for Behind The Scenes
Best Supporting Actress
Linda Ejiofor for The Herd
Olamide Kidbaby for Oversabi Aunty
Bisola Aiyeola for Gingerrr
Sola Sobowale for The Covenant
Nadia Dutch for Aljana
Amal Umar for The Herd
Juliebrenda Nyambura for MTV Shuga Mashariki
Funke Akindele for Behind The Scenes
Best Lead Actor
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
Femi Branch for Red Circle
Best Lead Actress
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
Gloria Anozie Young for Mother Of The Brides
Best Cinematography
Jermaine Edwards for My Father’s Shadow
Kabelo Thathe for To Kill A Monkey
Emmanuel Igbekele for The Herd
Daanong Gyang for Finding Nina
Emmanuel Igbekele for The Serpent’s Gift
KC Obiajulu for Stitches
Emmanuel Igbekele for Gingerrr
Best Editing
Kazeem Agboola for Cordelia
Omar Guzman Castro for My Father’s Shadow
Wanguma Peter Chidebere and Dele Doherty for Landline
Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi for 3 Cold Dishes
Winston Aig Ohioma for Osamede
Daniel Anyiam for To Kill A Monkey
Best Sound Design
Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra for My Father’s Shadow
Tolu Obanro for Gingerrr
Vaughan Phillips for Ben Made It
Tolu Obanro for The Party
Vaughan Phillips for Sebata The Beast
Fisayo Adefolaju for The Herd
Best Music Score
Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra for My Father’s Shadow
Nissi Ogulu for 3 Cold Dishes
Chubb Okobah for Osamede
Tolu Obanro for Gingerrr
Tolu Obanro for The Party
Sofresh for MTV Shuga Mashariki
Oscar Heman Ackah for To Kill A Monkey
Best Art Direction
Zainab Oladipupo for The Serpent’s Gift
Omolade Abisola for The Herd
Ajamolaya Bunmi for Colours Of Fire
Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon Stephen for Aljana
Victor Akpan for Suky
Thabiso Senne for Inimba
Best Costume Design
Mary Chukwuma for The Serpent’s Gift
Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade for The Real Housewives Of Lagos
Valerie Okeke for Colours Of Fire
Yolanda Okereke for Something About The Briggs
Ikechukwu Urum and John Joseph Angel for To Kill A Monkey
Best Makeup
Mojisola Imam for Behind The Scenes
Adeola Bamgboye for Lisabi A Legend Is Born
Dablaq Artistry for Gingerrr
Adeola Bamgboye for Abanisete
Hakeem Effect for Warlord
Ruth Harcourt for Suky
Adeola Bamgboye for Labake Olododo
Best Writing TV Series
Donald Tombia Timendu Aghahowa and Chiemeka Osuagwu for The Wives
Annette Shadeya Natasha Likimani Mkamzee Mwatela Arnold Mwanjila and Makgano Mamabolo for MTV Shuga Mashariki
Xavier Ighorodje for Our Husband
Besufekade Mulu for Addis Fikir
Temilola Balogun for Baba Oh
Stephen Okonkwo for The Party
Yednekachew Ayne for Gizat
