AMVCA 2026: ‘Gingerrr,’ ‘The Herd’ Lead Nominations List

The organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) have officially pulled back the curtain on the nominees for its 12th edition, with ‘Gingerrr’ and ‘The Herd’ emerging as the frontrunners.

Announced on Sunday via a live broadcast hosted by award-winning actor Chimezie Imo, both films secured nine nominations each. The projects dominated key categories, earning recognition for acting, directing, and technical execution.

Close on their heels is ‘To Kill A Monkey’ with eight nods, while ‘My Father’s Shadow’ garnered seven nominations. This year’s edition features a total of 32 categories, divided into 18 jury-adjudicated awards, 11 audience-voted honours, and three special recognition prizes.

Veteran actress Joke Silva, who was recently appointed as the head judge for the 2026 awards, will oversee the final selection process.

Following the announcement, voting for the public categories opened at 8:00 p.m. on March 29.

The grand ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 9, 2026, in Lagos, celebrating the best of African film and television talent.

Major Category Nominees at a Glance:
Category Top Nominees

Best Lead Actor:
Lateef Adedimeji
Mike Ezuruonye
Kanayo O. Kanayo
Wale Ojo

Best Lead Actress:
Linda Ejiofor
Bimbo Akintola
Sola Sobowale
Genoveva Umeh

Best Director:
Tunde Kelani
Akinola Davies Jr
Yemi Morafa
Asurf Oluseyi

Best Movie:
Gingerrr
The Herd
My Father’s Shadow,
3 Cold Dishes