The biggest night in African cinema is underway. As winners are announced at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in Lagos, we’ll keep you posted with every big moment, standout acceptance, and celebration.
- +AMVCA 2026: 12th edition winners- Live updates
- +Best Costume Design: Valerie Okeke – Colours of Fire
- +Best Cinematography: Kabelo Thathe – To Kill A Monkey
- +Best Writing (Movie): Wale Davies & Akinola Davies – My Father’s Shadow
Valerie Okeke took home the first award of the evening for her bold, intentional, and unforgettable costume work in the Nollywood epic Colours of Fire (directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, starring Uzor Arukwe, Osas Ighodaro and others).
Best Costume Design: Valerie Okeke – Colours of Fire
Valerie Okeke took home the first award of the evening for her bold, intentional, and unforgettable costume work in the Nollywood epic Colours of Fire (directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, starring Uzor Arukwe, Osas Ighodaro and others). Her designs brought warrior culture, forbidden love, and betrayal to life through stunning visuals that enhanced the storytelling
Best Art Direction: Ajamolaya Bunmi & Yakub Oladejo – Colours of Fire Colours of Fire continues its strong run! The team delivered immersive, culturally rich worlds that perfectly captured the epic’s warrior culture and dramatic landscapes. Their visionary work elevated every frame of this Nollywood blockbuster.
Best Sound & Sound Design: Pius Fatoke & CJ Mirra – My Father’s Shadow A massive technical win for My Father’s Shadow! Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra mastered the audio landscape, bringing depth, emotion, and intensity to every scene through exceptional sound design.
Best Make-Up Winner: Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) for Lisabi – A Legend Is Born
Africa Magic TV highlighted his exceptional prosthetic and transformative work, noting the impressive brushstrokes and detailing that brought authentic characters to life on screen. Hakeem Effect, a veteran Nollywood SFX & prosthetic makeup artist with multiple AMVCA and AMAA wins under his belt, continues to raise the bar for practical effects in African cinema.
Best Cinematography: Kabelo Thathe – To Kill A Monkey
Kabelo Thathe clinched Best Cinematography for his masterful work on Kemi Adetiba’s ‘To Kill A Monkey’. His deliberate camera movements, raw textured shots, and emotionally charged visuals told the story beyond dialogue, pure cinematic excellence.
Best Writing (Movie): Wale Davies & Akinola Davies – My Father’s Shadow
Brothers Wale Davies and Akinola Davies took home Best Writing (Movie) for the screenplay of My Father’s Shadow. The film masterfully blends intimate family drama with the high-stakes political tension of Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election. Its narrative tension, emotional depth, and authentic portrayal of father-son bonds have been widely praised.
