By: Mercy Musa
The four-day Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 has concluded its 12th edition, which took place on May 9th as the movie “My Father’s Shadow” emerged as the major winner.
This production not only won the Best Movie award but also secured victories in the Best Director, Best Writing (Movie), and Best Sound/Sound Design categories.
Filmmakers, actors, directors, producers, and digital creators from across the continent gathered at Eko Hotel and Suites to celebrate excellence in African film and television.
The ceremony, which began at 7 p.m., recognized outstanding achievements in filmmaking, television production, digital storytelling, costume design, directing, acting, and indigenous language productions.
Below are the winners and nominees from each category:
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Winner: Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke
Other nominees include:
The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma
The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)– Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
To Kill a Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel
BEST MAKEUP
Winner: Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo
Other nominees include:
Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam
Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Ginger – Diablaq Artistry
Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Suky – Ruth Harcourt
Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
BEST SOUND/SOUND DESIGN
Winner: My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra
Other nominees include:
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
Ben Made It – Vaughan Phillips
The Party – Tolu Obanro
Sebata (The Beast) – Vaughan Phillips
The Herd – Fisayo Adefolaju
BEST WRITING – TV SERIES**
Winner: MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo
Other nominees include:
The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
Our Husband– Xavier Ighorodje
Addis Fikir – Besufekade Mulu
Baba OH – Temilola Balogun
The Party – Stephen Okonkwo
Gizat – Yednekachew Ayne
BEST ART DIRECTION
Winner: Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi
Other nominees include:
The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladupupo
The Herd– Omolade Abisola
Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen
Suky– Victor Akpan
Inimba – Thabiso Senne
BEST WRITING – MOVIE
Winner: My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies
Other nominees include:
The Herd – Lani Aisida
Blackout – Ikenna Okpara
Cards on the Table – Shirleen Wangari
Gingerrr– Xavier Ighorodje
Suky – Isaac Ayodeji
3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner: To Kill A Monkey – Kabelo Thathe
Other nominees include:
My Father’s Shadow – Jermaine Edwards
The Herd – Emmanuel Igbekele
Finding Nina – Daanong Gyang
The Serpent’s Gift – Emmanuel Igbekele
Stitches – KC Obiajulu
Gingerrr – Emmanuel Igbekele
BEST DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR
Winner: Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom
Other nominees include:
Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)
The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
The Rate Race– Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (WEST AFRICA)
Winner: Lisabi (A Legend is Born)* – Lateef Adedimeji
Other nominees include:
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Labake Olododo – Iyabo Ojo and team
Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
BEST INDIGENOUS M-NET ORIGINAL
Winner: Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele, and Yolanda Ndhlovu
Other nominees include:
Kukoyi – David Akande
Undugu – Hatibu Madudu
Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
Kamapala Creme – Joel Ndugwa
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
Mgbuka – Eze Izu
BEST UNSCRIPTED SERIES
Winner: Nigerian Idol (S10) – Sulaiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder
Other nominees include:
The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)– Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel
Off Air – Gbemi and Toolz
Out N’ About– Bruk Yibrah
BEST SCRIPTED M-NET ORIGINAL
Winner: The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo
Other nominees include:
Adam to Eve – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras
Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
Bobo – Maurice Muendo
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Linda Ejiofor – The Herd
Other nominees include:
Oversabi Aunty – Olamide Kidbaby
Gingerrr – Bisola Aiyeola
The Covenant Series – Sola Sobowale
Aljana– Nadia Dutch
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Juliebrenda Nyambura
Behind The Scenes – Funke Akindele
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Bucci Franklin – To Kill a Monkey
Other nominees include:
Simileoluwa Hassan – The Yard
Lateef Adedimeji – Gingerrr
Gabriel Afolayan – Colours of Fire
Femi Adebayo – King of Thieves 2
Femi Branch – Owambe Thieves
Uzor Arukwe – Behind the Scenes
BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Winner: Linda Ejiofor – The Serpent’s Gift
Other nominees include:
Bimbo Akintola – To Kill A Monkey
Ifeoma Fafunwa – The Lost Days
Ariyike Owolagba – So
(Ebunoluwa Dosumu via IG @ebbiekikz and Uzor Arukwe via IG @uzor.arukwe)
