The 12th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) took place on Saturday at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, recognising excellence in African film and television. Organised by MultiChoice through its Africa Magic platform, the event celebrated creatives who made significant contributions to the industry over the past year. My Father's Shadow emerged as a major winner, claiming Best Movie, Best Director and Best Score/Music. Akinola Davies Jr. won Best Director for the film, defeating Tunde Kelani and Daniel Etim-Effiong.

Lisabi: A Legend Is Born won Best Indigenous Language (West Africa), with lead actor Lateef Adedimeji receiving the award. Uzor Arukwe was named Best Lead Actor for his performance in Colours of Fire, while Bucci Franklin took home Best Supporting Actor for To Kill A Monkey. Uche Montana received the Trailblazer Award for her growing influence in the entertainment sector.

Television and digital content were also recognised. Nigerian Idol Season 10 won Best Unscripted M-Net Original, and The Low Priest was named Best Scripted M-Net Original. Inimba won Best Scripted Series, while Out N' About (Harar) won Best Unscripted Series. The documentary Beyond Olympic Glory won Best Documentary, and Hussainin was named Best Short Film. To Kill A Monkey also won Best Editing.

Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo were presented with the Industry Merit Award for their longstanding contributions to Nollywood. The AMVCA continues to serve as a key platform for celebrating African storytelling and cinematic achievement.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

Akinola Davies Jr. wins Best Director for My Father's Shadow, a film that critiques inherited power, while Lateef Adedimeji wins for starring in Lisabi, a film that glorifies it. The same ceremony rewards both a story warning against dynastic authority and one celebrating it. Nigerian audiences are left to reconcile the contradiction. This duality reflects how Nollywood honours complex narratives even as real-life political legacies grow stronger.

Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →