The Herd, Gingerrr bag most nominations at AMVCA 2026 – Full list

The Nollywood films Gingerrr and The Herd led with 9 nominations each, the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) nominations announced this past Sunday, with the main ceremony scheduled for May 9th.

Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill A Monkey and Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow got 7 nominations each. The Serpent’s Gift and 3 Cold Dishes raked 6 each, and Behind The Scenes had 5 nominations.

A major highlight this year is the appointment of veteran actress Joke Silva as Head Judge, taking over from Femi Odugbemi. The AMVCA continues its push to represent the entire continent, introducing two new categories: Best Indigenous Language – North Africa and Best Indigenous Language – Central Africa.

The 12th AMVCA features 32 award categories, including 18 jury-voting categories, 11 public-voting categories, and 3 special recognition awards (Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer honours).

Full List of Nominations:

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, Rise, Telephone, Hussaini, My Body, God’s Temple

Best Supporting Actor
Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard
Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerrr
Gabriel Afolayan – Colours Of Fire
Bucci Franklin – To Kill A Monkey
Femi Adebayo – King Of Thieves 2
Lateef Adedimeji – Red Circle
Femi Branch – Owambe Thieves
Uzor Arukwe – Behind The Scenes

Best Supporting Actress
Linda Ejiofor – The Herd
Olamide Kidbaby – Oversabi Aunty
Bisola Aiyeola – Gingerrr
Sola Sobowale – The Covenant
Nadia Dutch – Aljana
Amal Umar – The Herd
Juliebrenda Nyambura – MTV Shuga Mashariki
Funke Akindele – Behind The Scenes

Best Lead Actor
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
Uzor Arukwe – Colours Of Fire
Wale Ojo – 3 Cold Dishes
Femi Branch – Red Circle

Best Lead Actress
Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift
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

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

Best Editing
Kazeem Agboola – Cordelia
Omar Guzman Castro – My Father’s Shadow
Wanguma Peter Chidebere, Dele Doherty – Landline
Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi – 3 Cold Dishes
Winston Aig-Ohioma – Osamede
Daniel Anyiam – To Kill A Monkey

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

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

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

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

Best Makeup
Mojisola Imam – Behind The Scenes
Adeola Bamgboye – Lisabi: A Legend Is Born
Dablaq Artistry – Gingerrr
Adeola Bamgboye – Abanisete
Hakeem Effect – Warlord
Ruth Harcourt – Suky
Adeola Bamgboye – Labake Olododo

Best Writing TV Series
Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu – The Wives
Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo – MTV Shuga Mashariki
Xavier Ighorodje – Our Husband
Besufekade Mulu – Addis Fikir
Temilola Balogun – Baba Oh
Stephen Okonkwo – The Party
Yednekachew Ayne – Gizat

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

Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory, The Good, The Bad of Afrobeat, The People Shall, Not Addressing This Anymore, BOU

Best Scripted Series
To Kill A Monkey, The Yard, The Chocolate Empire, Inimba, Kash Money

Best Unscripted Series
The Real Housewives Of Lagos, Nigerian Idol, Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa, Offair With Gbemi And Toolz, Out N’ About (Harar)

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

Best Overall Movie
Gingerrr, The Herd, My Father’s Shadow, 3 Cold Dishes, The Serpent’s Gift, Behind The Scenes

Public voting is now open for select categories. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on May 9th.