The 12th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards lit up the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on Saturday with a night of glamour, standout performances, and historic wins. My Father's Shadow emerged as the biggest winner, claiming top honours including Best Movie, Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr, Best Writing (Movie), and Best Score/Music for Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra. The film, produced by Akinola Davies Jr and Fumbi Ogunbanwo, has now earned acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, following its recent win at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman made history with a double win, taking home Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Herd and Best Lead Actress for her performance in The Serpent's Gift. She triumphed over a strong lineup that included Bimbo Akintola, Genoveva Umeh, Sola Sobowale, and Scarlet Gomez. Her achievement marked one of the most memorable individual performances of the night.
The ceremony also marked a major shift in hosting duties, ending over a decade of IK Osakioduwa at the helm. Comedian Bovi Ugboma and South African media personality Nomzamo Mbatha co-hosted for the first time, bringing a new energy to the stage. The event unfolded under the theme "Honouring Craft, Cele," with stars like Omowunmi Dada, Uzor Arukwe, Lateef Adedimeji, Osas Ighodaro, and Stan Nze turning heads in elaborate traditional and contemporary ensembles.
Akinola Davies Jr wins Best Director for My Father's Shadow, a film that also took Best Movie, Best Writing, and Best Score at the 12th AMVCA. The same film recently won at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards, proving African cinema can dominate global and continental stages simultaneously. Bovi and Nomzamo Mbatha host for the first time, closing an era defined by IK Osakioduwa's decade-long presence. A new chapter begins not just in hosting, but in the kind of storytelling now being celebrated.
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