Linda Ejiofor, Uzor Arukwe Shine at AMVCA 2026 as ‘My Father’s Shadow’ Dominates Awards Night

Nollywood stars Linda Ejiofor and Uzor Arukwe emerged as two of the biggest winners at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), following a glamorous night celebrating excellence in African film and television in Lagos.

The 12th edition of the AMVCA, held at Eko Hotels and Suites on May 9, brought together leading actors, filmmakers, producers, and entertainment personalities from across Africa for one of the continent’s biggest film industry events. Hosted by comedians Bovi and South African media personality Nomzamo Mbatha, the ceremony recognised outstanding performances and productions released during the 2025 film season.

Linda Ejiofor made history after winning both Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first actress to claim both awards in the same night at the AMVCA. She won Best Lead Actress for her role in The Serpent’s Gift and secured Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Herd.

Ejiofor defeated a highly competitive field in the lead actress category, including veteran stars such as Bimbo Akintola, Sola Sobowale, Scarlet Gomez, and Gloria Anozie-Young. During her emotional acceptance speech, the actress thanked fans, directors, and production crews who supported her journey in Nollywood.

Uzor Arukwe also enjoyed a breakthrough moment after winning Best Lead Actor for his performance in Colours of Fire. He edged out fellow nominees including Mike Ezuruonye, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Lateef Adedimeji, Wale Ojo, and Femi Branch to secure the award.

One of the night’s biggest successes was My Father’s Shadow, which dominated several major categories, including Best Movie and Best Director for filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. The film emerged as one of the standout productions of the year, reinforcing its growing reputation within African cinema.

Other films that performed strongly at the awards included The Herd, Gingerrr, Colours of Fire, and To Kill A Monkey, all of which received multiple nominations and wins across acting and technical categories.

Here is the complete list of winners from AMVCA 12:

Best Lead Actor

• Lisabi – Lateef Adedimeji
• To Kill a Monkey – William Benson
• Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe – WINNER
• 3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
• Red Circle – Femi Branch

Best Lead Actress

• Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale
• The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman – WINNER
• Behind the Scenes – Scarlet Gomez
• The Herd – Genoveva Umeh
• Mother of the Brides – Gloria Anozie-Young

Best Supporting Actor

• The Yard – Simileoluwa Hassan
• Gingerrr – Lateef Adedimeji
• Colours Of Fire – Gabriel Afolayan
• To Kill a Monkey – Bucci Franklin – WINNER
• Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2 – Femi Adeboye
• Red Circle – Lateef Adedimeji
• Owanbe Thieves – Femi Branch
• Behind the Scenes – Uzor Arukwe

Best Supporting Actress

• The Herd – Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman – WINNER
• Oversabi Aunty – Olamide Kidbaby
• Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola
• The Covenant Series – Sola Sobowale
• Aljana – Nadia Dutch
• The Herd – Amal Umar
• MTV Shuga Mashariki – Juliebrenda Nyambura
• Behind the Scenes – Funke Ayotunde Akindele

Best Movie

• Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola & Team
• The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong & Team
• My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel – WINNER
• 3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Oluseyi and Team
• The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
• Behind the Scenes – Funke Akindele and Wendy Imaseun

Best Director

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

Best Cinematography

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

Best Costume Design

• The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma
• The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3) – Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade
• Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke – WINNER
• Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
• To Kill a Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum & John Joseph Angel

Best Editing

• Cordelia – Kazeem Agboola
• My Father’s Shadow – Omar Guzman Castro
• Landline – Nwanguma Peter Chidebere and Dele Doherty
• 3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
• Osamede – Winston AIG-Ohioma
• To Kill a Monkey – Daniel Anyiam – WINNER

Best Writing (Movie)

• The Herd – Lani Aisida
• My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies – WINNER
• Blackout – Ikenna Okpara
• Cards on the Table – Shirleen Wangari
• Gingerrr – Xavier Ighorodje
• Suky – Isaac Ayodeji
• 3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina

Best Art Direction

• The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladupupo
• The Herd – Omolade Abisola
• Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi – WINNER
• Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon Stephen
• Suky – Victor Akpan
• Inimba – Thabiso Senne

Special Awards

• Trailblazer Award: Uche Montana

• Industry Merit Award: Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo

Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)

• The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
• Labake Olododo – Iyabo Ojo & Team
• Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
• Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
• Lisabi: A Legend is Born – Lateef Adedimeji – WINNER

Best Digital Content Creator

• Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaooma)
• The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
• The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
• August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
• Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman
• Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom – WINNER

Best Scripted M-Net Original

• Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah & Alexandros Konstantaras
• Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
• The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
• Bobo – Maurice Muendo
• The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo – WINNER

Best Indigenous M-Net Original

• Kukoyi – David Akande
• Undugu – Hatibu Madudu
• Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
• Kampala Creme – Joel Ndugwa
• The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
• Mgbuka – Eze Izu
• Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu – WINNER

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

• The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3) – Deola Art Alade & Darey Art Alade
• Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel
• Off Air – Gbemi & Toolz
• Out N’ About – Bruk Yibrah
• Nigerian Idol (S10) – Sulaiman Kassim & Anneke De Ridder – WINNER

Best Scripted Series

• To Kill a Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
• The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
• The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson
• Kash Money – Grace Khaki & Phillipe Benson
• Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu – WINNER

Best Documentary

• Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
• The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor
• The People Shall – Mark Maina & Nick Wambugu
• Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami – WINNER

Best Short Film

• Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
• Fleas – Jordy Sank
• Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
• My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power
• Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa – WINNER

Best Makeup

• Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam
• Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
• Gingerrr – Diablaq Artistry
• Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
• Suky – Ruth Harcourt
• Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
• Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) – WINNER