Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman won Best Lead Actress for her role in The Serpent’s Gift at the 2026 AMVCA. This victory was part of her historic double-win night, where she also secured the Best Supporting Actress trophy at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.
The 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards has wrapped up at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, and what a historic night it was for African cinema. Hosted by Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha — with IK Osakioduwa passing the baton for the first time in over a decade — the ceremony delivered history, emotion, and more than a few surprises across 32 categories.
The evening’s biggest winner was My Father’s Shadow, which took home the prestigious Best Movie award, continuing a remarkable global run following wins at Cannes, BAFTA, and the Gotham Awards.
The biggest story of the night was “My Father’s Shadow,” which took home the most prestigious prize of the evening — Best Movie — continuing a remarkable global run for the film that has already seen it win at Cannes, BAFTA, and the Gotham Awards. Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman made history by winning both Best Lead Actress for “The Serpent’s Gift” and Best Supporting Actress for “The Herd” in a single night, becoming one of the very few performers in the ceremony’s history to achieve a lead and supporting acting double in the same year. Uzor Arukwe claimed Best Lead Actor for “Colours of Fire,” while Bucci Franklin delivered one of the most emotional acceptance speeches of the night after winning Best Supporting Actor for “To Kill A Monkey.”
My Father’s Shadow was named Best Movie at the 2026 AMVCA in Lagos. The film dominated the 12th edition of the awards with 5 total wins, continuing its prestigious run after global recognition at Cannes and the BAFTAs.
In one of the most emotional moments of the night, Lateef Adedimeji dedicated his Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa) win for “Lisabi: A Legend Is Born“ to his wife, Mo Bimpe. The moment comes just days after the couple announced the arrival of their triplets.
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
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
