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).

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.