The 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 delivered a night of major victories for African filmmakers and actors, with My Father’s Shadow emerging as the biggest winner after clinching five awards at the prestigious ceremony.
The production secured Best Movie, Best Director, Best Writing in a Movie, Best Score/Music, and Best Sound/Sound Design, making it the standout project of the night.
Filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. won Best Director for My Father’s Shadow, while Wale Davies took home the award for Best Writing in a Movie.
To Kill a Monkey and Colours of Fire followed closely behind with three wins each.
To Kill a Monkey won Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor, with Bucci Franklin earning the acting prize for his role in the production.
Meanwhile, Colours of Fire triumphed in Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction, while Uzor Arukwe emerged as Best Lead Actor for his performance in the film.
Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) and Inimba also enjoyed successful outings, winning two awards each.
Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) claimed Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) and Best Makeup, while Inimba secured Best Indigenous M-Net Original and Best Scripted Series.
One of the night’s biggest individual winners was Linda Ejiofor, who won Best Supporting Actress for The Herd and Best Lead Actress for The Serpent’s Gift.
Veteran Nollywood stars Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo received the Industry Merit Award for their contributions to the African film industry, while Uche Montana was honoured with the Trailblazer Award.
Other notable winners included Nigerian Idol (S10) for Best Unscripted M-Net Original, The Low Priest for Best Scripted M-Net Original, and Beyond Olympic Glory for Best Documentary.
The ceremony celebrated excellence in African storytelling across film, television, indigenous productions and digital content, further highlighting Nollywood and the wider African entertainment industry’s growing global influence.
Best Costume Design
“Colours of Fire” – Valerie Okeke (WINNER)
“The Serpent’s gift” – Mary Chukuma
“The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Something About The Briggs” – Yolanda Okereke
“To Kill a Monkey” – Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel
Best Makeup
“Lisabi (A Legend Is Born)” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye(WINNER)
“Behind The Scenes” – Mojisola Imam
“Gingerr” – Diablaq Artistry
“Abanisete” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
“Warlord” – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect)
“Suky” – Ruth Harcourt
“Labake Olododo” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Best Art Direction
“Colours of Fire” – Ajamolaya Bunmi (WINNER)
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Zainab Oladupupo
“The Herd” – Omolade Abisola
“Aljana”- Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen
“Suky” – Victor Akpan
“Inimba” – Thabiso Senne
Best Sound/Sound Design
“My Father’s Shadow” – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra (WINNER)
“Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro
“Ben Made It” – Vaughan Phillips
“The Party” – Tolu Obanro
“Sebata (The Beast)” – Vaughan Phillips
“The Herd” – Fisayo Adefolaju
Best Cinematography
“To Kill A Monkey” – Kabelo Thathe (WINNER)
“My Father’s Shadow” – Jermaine Edwards
“The Herd” – Emmanuel Igbekele
“Finding Nina” – Daanong Gyang
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Emmanuel Igbekele
“Stitches” – KC Obiajulu
“Gingerr” – Emmanuel Igbekele
Best Writing TV Series
“MTV Shuga Masahariki” – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo (WINNER)
“The Wives” – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
“Our Husband” – Xavier Ighorodje
“Addis Fikir” – Besufekade Mulu
“Baba OH” – Temilola Balogun
“The Party” – Stephen Okonkwo
“Gizat” – Yednekachew Ayne
Best Writing in a Movie
“My Father’s Shadow” – Wale Davies (WINNER)
“The Herd” – Lani Aisida
“Blackout” – Ikenna Okpara
“Cards on the Table” – Shirleen Wangari
“Gingerrr” – Xavier Ighorodje
“Suky” – Isaac Ayodeji”
“3 Cold Dishes” – Tomi Adesina
Best Digital Content Creator
“Leave To Live” – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom (WINNER)
“Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion” – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh
“The Marriage List” – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
“The Rate Race” – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
“Luxury Koko” – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)
“August Meeting Election” – Steve Chuks
“Did I Just Hear Muah” – Akwaman
Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa)
“Mabanda” – Kang Quintus (WINNER)
“Safou (A Gift From Nature)” – Nyasha Makamba
“Golden Spoon” – Egbe Francis Ettabrown
Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa)
“Artal Alhanin: Our Memories” – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma (WINNER)
“The Omnipresent” – Youssef Ben Khalifa
“The Delivery” – Abdalla Ezyan
“The Hidden Voice” – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed
“This is Portsaid” – Abdalla Ezyan
Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa)
“Addis Fikir” – Leul Shoaferaw (WINNER)
“Inside Job” – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, Barbara Njeri Maina
“Sayari” – Omar Hamza, June Wairegi
“My Son” – Isarito Mwakalindile
“Kimote” – Hassan Mageye
Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa)
“Tlhaho Ya Mosadi” – Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, Modipadi Mokgohioa (WINNER)
“Bet I Love You” – Joseph Duke, Keamogetse Modise
“Sebata (The Beast) – African Entertainers
“Ben Made It” – Thabang Mathuumetse, Thapelo Dikhutso
“Terra of Queens and Kuma 2” – Neo Leonardo Mokoena
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
“Lisabi (A Legend is Born)” – Lateef Adedimeji (WINNERS)
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
“Labake Olododo” – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Aalaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
“Aljana” – Grace Yachat Yakubu
“Olorisha” – Abiola Adeshina
Best Editing
“To Kill a Monkey” – Daniel Anyiam (WINNER)
“Cordelia” – Kazeem Agboola
“My Father’s Shadow” – Omar Guzman Castro
“Landline” – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty
“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi“Osamede” – Winston AIG-Ohioma
Best Documentary
“Beyond Olympic Glory” – Shedrack Salami (WINNER)
“The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat” – Louis Ejiofor
“The People Shall” – Mark Maina, Nick Wambugu
“Not Adressing This Anymore” – Huzzain Bello
“BOU” – Mwaka Gerald Remmy
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” – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra (WINNER)
“3 Cold Dishes” – Nissi Ogulu
“Osamede” – Chubb Okobah
“Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro
“The Party” – Tolu Obanro
“MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Sofresh
“To Kill a Monkey” – Oscar Heman-Ackah
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu , Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)
“Kukoyi” – David Akande
“Undugu” – Hatibu Madudu
“Out N’ About (Harar)” – Bruk Yibrah
“Kamapala Creme” – Joel Ndugwa
“The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
“Mgbuka” – Eze Izu
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
“Nigerian Idol (S10)” – Sulaiman Kassim, Anneke De Ridder (WINNER)
“The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
“Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa” – Graeme Swanepoel
“Off Air” – Gbemi and Toolz
“Out N’ About” – Bruk Yibrah
Best Scripted M-Net Original
“The Low Priest” – Femi D. Ogunsanwo (WINNER)
“Adam to Eve” – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras
“Mother of the Brides” – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
“The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe
“Bobo” – Maurice Muendo
Best Supporting Actress
“The Herd” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)
“Oversabi Aunty” – Olamide Kidbaby
“Gingerrr” – Bisola Aiyeola
“The Covenant Series” – Sola Sobowale
“Aljana” – Nadia Dutch
“The Herd” – Amal Umar
“MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Juliebrenda Nyambura
“Behind the Scenes” – Funke Ayotunde Akindele
Best Supporting Actor
“To Kill a Monkey” – Bucci Franklin (WINNER)
“The Yard” – Simileoluwa Hassan
“Gingerrr” – Lateef Adedemeji
“Colours of Fire” – Gabriel Afolayan
“Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2” – Femi Adebayo
“Red Circle” – Lateef Adedimeji
“Owabbe Thieves” – Femi Branch
“Behind the Scenes” – Uzor Arukwe
Best Lead Actress
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)
“To Kill a Monkey” – Bimbo Akintola
“The Lost Days” – Ifeoma Fafunwa
“Something About The Briggs” – Ariyike Owolagba
“Her Excellency” – Sola Sobowale
“Behind the Scenes” – Scarlet Gomez
“The Herd” – Genoveva Umeh
“Mother of the Brides” – Gloria Anozie-Young
Best Lead Actor
“Colours of Fire” – Uzor Arukwe (WINNER)
“Oversabi Aunty” – Mike Ezuruonye
“Lisabi (A Legend is Born)” – Lateef Adedimeji
“To Kill a Monkey” – William Benson
“Grandpa Must Obey” – Kanaya O. Kanayo
“Bet I Love You” – Khumbuza Meyiwa
“3 Cold Dishes” – Wale Ojo
“Red Circle” – Femi Branch
Trailblazer Award
Uche Montana (WINNER)
Industry Merit Award
Sola Sobowale (WINNER)
Kanayo O. Kanayo (WINNER)
Best Scripted Series
“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele, Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)
“To Kill a Monkey” – Kemi Adetiba
“The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe
“The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki, Philippe Bresson
“Kash Money” – Grace Khaki, Phillipe Benson
Best Director
“My Father’s Shadow” – Akinola Davies JR (WINNER)
“Cordelia” – Tunde Kelani
“Osamede” – James Kaluu Omokwe
“The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong
“Gingerrr” – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
“3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
Best Movie
“My Father’s Shadow” – Funmbi Ogunbanwo, Rachel Dargavel (WINNER)
“Gingerrr” – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola, Onyeka Nnama
“The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukoriem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn, Ladun Awobokun
“3 Cold Dishes” – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi, Ly Oumar
“The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
“Behind the Scenes” – Funke Ayotunde Akindele, Wendy Uwadie Imaseun
Erizia Rubyjeana
