Full List: ‘The Herd’, ‘Gingerrr’ dominate AMVCA nominations with nine apiece

By Enitan Abdultawab

The organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) have released the nominations for the 12th edition, with The Herd and Gingerrr emerging as the most nominated productions, earning nine nods each.

The announcement was made during a live broadcast across Africa Magic channels, hosted by Chimezie Imo. Closely following the top contenders is To Kill A Monkey with eight nominations, while My Father’s Shadow secured seven, reflecting what organisers describe as a competitive year marked by strong storytelling and technical quality.

Several actors also stood out across categories. Sola Sobowale earned recognition in both lead and supporting roles, while Uzor Arukwe and Lateef Adedimeji picked up multiple nominations. Genoveva Umeh also received her first nomination for Best Lead Actress, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Voting for audience categories opened on March 29 via the official AMVCA platform. This year’s awards will feature 32 categories, including jury-decided honours, public voting segments, and special recognition awards.

The ceremony is scheduled for May 9, 2026, and is expected to celebrate excellence across Africa’s film and television industry.

Full list includes:

Best Digital Content Creator
Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh
The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom
The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene
August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman

Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)
Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, Barbara Njeri Maina
Sayari – Omar Hamza, June Wairegi
Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw
My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile
Kimote – Hassan Mageye

Best Short Film
Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
Fleas – Jordy Sank
Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
Hussainin – Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa
My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power

Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
Labake Olododo – Iyabo Ojo and others
Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina

Best Indigenous Language (North Africa)
The Omnipresent – Youssef Ben Khalifa
The Delivery – Abdalla Ezyan
The Hidden Voice – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed
This Is Portsaid – Abdalla Ezyan
Artal Alhanin – Mohamed Awad, Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma

Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa)
Mabanda – Kang Quintus
Safou: A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba
Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown

Best Scripted M-Net Original
Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah, Alexandros Konstantaras
Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro, Bio Arimoro
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo
Bobo – Maurice Muendo

Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol (S10) – Suleiman Kassim, Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel, Jemma Ford
Chapa Chapa My Love – Ercilla Justino, Jojo Almeida, Gabriela Ueno
Out N About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
Undugu – Hatibu Madudu

Best Indigenous M-Net Original
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele, Yolanda Ndhlovu
Kukoyi – David Akande
Undugu – Hatibu Madudu
Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
Kampala Creme (S2) – Joel Ndugwa
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki, Phillippe Bresson
Mgbuka – Eze Izu

Best Supporting Actress
The Herd – Linda Ejiofor
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 Scene – Funke Akindele

Best Lead Actor
Oversabi Aunty – Mike Ezuruonye
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
To Kill A Monkey – William Benson
Grandpa Must Obey – Kanayo O. Kanayo
Bet I Love You – Khumbuza Meyiwa
Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe
3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
Red Circle – Femi Branch

Best Cinematography
My Father’s Shadow – Jermaine Edwards
To Kill A Monkey – Kabelo Thathe
The Herd – Emmanuel Igbekele
Finding Nina – Daanong Gyang
The Serpent’s Gift – Emmanuel Igbekele
Stitches – KC Obiajulu
Gingerrr – Emmanuel Igbekele

Best Art Direction
The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladipupo
The Herd – Omolade Abisola
Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi
Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon O Stephen
Suky – Victor Akpan
Inimba – Thabiso Senne

Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor
The People Shall – Mark Maina, Nick Wambugu
Not Addressing This Anymore – Huzzain Bello
BOU – Mwaka Gerald Remmy

Best Score Music
My Father’s Shadow – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra
3 Cold Dishes – Nissi Ogulu
Osamede – Chubb Okobah
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
The Party – Tolu Obanro
MTV Shuga Mashariki – SoFresh
To Kill A Monkey – Oscar Herman-Ackah

Best Writing TV Series
The Wives – Donald Tombia and others
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya and others
Our Husband – Xavier Ighorodje
Addis Fikir – Besufekade Mulu
Baba Oh – Temilola Balogun
The Party – Stephen Okonkwo
Gizat – Yednekachew Ayne

Best Writing Movie
The Herd – Lani Aisida
My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies
Blackout – Ikenna Okpara
Cards On The Table – Shirleen Wangari
Gingerrr – Xavier Ighorodje
Suky – Isaac Ayodeji
3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina

Best Costume Design
The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma
The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke
Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
To Kill A Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel

Best Sound Design
My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
Ben Made It – Vaughan Phillips
The Party – Tolu Obanro
Sebata (The Beast) – Vaughan Phillips
The Herd – Fisayo Adefolaju

Best Series (Scripted)
To Kill A Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki, Phillippe Benson
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu and others
Kash Money – Grace Kahaki, Phillippe Benson

Best Make-up
Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Gingerrr – Dablaq Artistry
Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo
Suky – Ruth Harcourt
Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

Best Lead Actress
The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor
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 Supporting Actor
The Yard – Simileoluwa Hassan
Gingerrr – Lateef Adedimeji
Colours Of Fire – Gabriel Afolayan
To Kill A Monkey – Bucci Franklin
Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2 – Femi Adeboye
Red Circle – Lateef Adedimeji
Owanbe Thieves – Femi Branch
Behind The Scenes – Uzor Arukwe

Best Director
My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr
Cordelia – Tunde Kelani
Osamede – James Kalu Omokwe
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong
Gingerrr – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi

Best Editing
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
To Kill A Monkey – Daniel Anyiam

Best Movie
Gingerrr – Ope Ajayi and others
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong and others
My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo, Rachel Dargavel
3 Cold Dishes – Martial Dansou and others
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Behind The Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy Uwadiae Imaseun

Best Series (Unscripted)
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3 – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Nigerian Idol S10 – Suleiman Kassim, Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel, Jemma Ford
Offair With Gbemi And Toolz – Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Toolz Oniru-Demuren
Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah

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