Kenya has once again asserted its creative dominance at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) receiving 12 nominations across films and TV categories.
Leading the charge are Insignia’s Grace Kahaki and Phillip Bresson, whose Showmax crime drama The Chocolate Empire received two nominations for Best Scripted Series and Best Indigenous M-Net Original. The duo also received a nomination in the Best Scripted Series category for their Netflix drama Kash Money, further cementing their reputation as standout storytellers across platforms.
Award-winning power couple Lizz Njagah and Alex Konstantaras have been nominated for their Showmax gender-flip dramedy Adam to Eve in the Best Scripted M-Net Original category. In the same category, MultiChoice Talent Factory alumnus Maurice Muendo is recognized for his directorial debut Bobo, which premiered at the 2025 Joburg Film Festival before streaming on Showmax.
Further strengthening Kenya’s presence, MTV Shuga Mashariki garnered three nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Julie Brenda Nyambura, as well as nods for Best Writing in a TV Series and Best Score.
Rounding out the Kenyan nominees are The People Shall for Best Documentary; Sayari and Inside Job in the Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa) category; and Cards on the Table for Best Writing in a Movie.
With a total of 32 categories — including 18 jury-decided, 11 audience-voted, and 3 special recognition awards — the 12th AMVCA is set to be a highly competitive celebration of African storytelling. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, with public voting now officially open here.
See the full list of nominees below:
Best Digital Content Creator
Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion – Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh
The Marriage List – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda
Leave To Live – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom
The Rate Race – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo
Luxury Koko – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma)
August Meeting Election – Steve Chuks
Did I Just Hear Muah – Akwaman
Best Indigenous Language (Southern Africa)
Bet I Love You – Joseph Duke and Keamogetse Modise
Sebata – The Beast
Ben Made It – Thabang Mathumetse and Thapelo Dikhutso
Terra Of Queens And Kuma 2 – Neo Leonardo Mokoena
Tlhaho Ya Mosadi – Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, Modipadi Mokgohioa
Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)
Inside Job – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda, and Barbara Njeri Maina
Sayari – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi
Addis Fikir – Leul Shoaferaw
My Son – Isarito Mwakalindile
Kimote – Hassan Mageye
Best Short Film
Rise – Jessie J. Rowlands
Fleas – Jordy Sank
Telephone – Fimisinuola Adejonwo
Hussainin – Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa
My Body, God’s Temple – Uzoamaka Power
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Lisabi – A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
Labake Olododo – Alice Iyabo Ojo, Olukanmi Abayomi, Alaba Onaolapo, Kene Okwuosa, Ladun Awobokun
Aljana – Grace Yachat Yakubu
Olorisha – Abiola Adeshina
Best Indigenous Language (North Africa)
The Omnipresent – Youssef Ben Khalifa
The Delivery – Abdalla Ezyan
The Hidden Voice – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed
This Is Portsaid – Abdalla Ezyan
Artal Alhanin – Our Memories – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma
Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa)
Mabanda – Kang Quintus
Safou – A Gift From Nature – Nyasha Makamba
Golden Spoon – Egbe Francis Ettabrown
Best Scripted M-Net Original
Adam To Eve – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras
Mother of the Brides – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Low Priest – Femi D. Ogunsanwo
Bobo – Maurice Muendo
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
Nigerian Idol (S10) – Suleiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel and Jemma Ford
Chapa Chapa My Love – Ercilla Justino, Jojo Almeida and Gabriela Ueno
Out N About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
Undugu – Hatibu Madudu
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu , Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu
Kukoyi – David Akande
Undugu – Hatibu Madudu
Out N’About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
Kampala Creme (S2) – Joel Ndugwa
Kenya Breweries Limited deepens sports investment at magical Kenya open
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson
Mgbuka – Eze Izu
Best Supporting Actress
The Herd – Linda Ejiofor
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 Scene – Funke Ayotunde Akindele
Best Lead Actor
Oversabi Aunty – Mike Ezuruonye
Lisabi A Legend Is Born – Lateef Adedimeji
To Kill A Monkey – William Benson
Grandpa Must Obey – Kanayo o. Kanayo
Bet I Love You – Khumbuza Meyiwa
Colours of Fire – Uzor Arukwe
3 Cold Dishes – Wale Ojo
Red Circle – Femi Branch
Best Cinematography
My Father’s Shadow – Jermaine Edwards
To Kill A Monkey – Kabelo Thathe
The Herd – Emmanuel Igbekele
Finding Nina – Daanong Gyang
The Serpent’s Gift – Emmanuel Igbekele
Stitches – KC Obiajulu
Ginger – Emmanuel Igbekele
Best Art Direction
The Serpent’s Gift – Zainab Oladipupo
The Herd – Omolade Abisola
Colours of Fire – Ajamolaya Bunmi
Aljana – Olatunji Afolayan and Gideon O Stephen
Suky – Victor Akpan
Inimba – Thabiso Senne
Best Documentary
Beyond Olympic Glory – Shedrack Salami
The Good x The Bad of Afrobeat – Louis Ejiofor
The People Shall – Mark Maina and Nick Wambugu
Not Addressing This Anymore – Huzzain Bello
BOU – Mwaka Gerald Remmy
Best Score Music
My Fathers Shadow – Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra
3 Cold Dishes – Nissi Ogulu
Osamede – Chubb Okobah
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
The Party – Tolu Obanro
MTV Shuga Mashariki – SoFresh
To Kill A Monkey – Oscar Herman-Ackah
Best Writing TV Series
The Wives – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu
MTV Shuga Mashariki – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo
Our Husband – Xavier Ighorodje
Addis Fikir – Besufekade Mulu
Baba Oh – Temilola Balogun
The Party – Stephen Okonkwo
Gizat – Yednekachew Ayne
Best Writing Movie
The Herd – Lani Aisida
My Father’s Shadow – Wale Davies
Blackout – Ikenna Okpara
Cards On The Table – Shirleen Wangari
Gingerrr – Xavier Ighorodje
Suky – Isaac Ayodeji
3 Cold Dishes – Tomi Adesina
Best Costume Design
The Serpent’s Gift – Mary Chukuma
The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade
Colours of Fire – Valerie Okeke
Something About The Briggs – Yolanda Okereke
To Kill A Monkey – Ikechukwu Urum and John Joseph Angel
Best Sound Design
My Father’s Shadow – Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra
Gingerrr – Tolu Obanro
Ben Made It – Vaughan Phillips
The Party – Tolu Obanro
Sebata (The Beast) – Vaughan Phillips
The Herd – Fisayo Adefolaju
Best Series (Scripted)
To Kill A Monkey – Kemi Adetiba
The Yard – James Kalu Omokwe
The Chocolate Empire – Grace Kahaki and Phillipe Bresson
Inimba – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu
Kash Money – Grace Khaki and Phillipe Benson
Best Make-up
Behind The Scenes – Mojisola Imam
Lisabi: A Legend Is Born – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Gingerrr – Dablaq Artistry
Abanisete – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Warlord – Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect)
Suky – Ruth Harcourt
Labake Olododo – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye
Best Lead Actress
The Serpent’s Gift – Linda Ejiofor
To Kill A Monkey – Bimbo Akintola
The Lost Days – Ifeoma Fafunwa
Something About The Briggs – Ariyike Owolagba
Her Excellency – Sola Sobowale
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
Agesinkole (King Of Thieves) 2 – Femi Adeboye
Red Circle – Lateef Adedimeji
Owanbe Thieves – Femi Branch
Behind The Scenes – Uzor Arukwe
Best Director
My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr
Cordelia – Tunde Kelani
Osamede – James Kalu Omokwe
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong
Ginger – Yemi Filmboy Morafa
3 Cold Dishes – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi
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
Best Movie
Gingerrr – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola, Onyeka Nnama
The Herd – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukoriem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn, And Ladun Awobokun
My Father’s Shadow – Funmbi Ogunbanwo And Rachel Dargavel
3 Cold Dishes – Martial Dansou, Surf Amuwa Oluseyo And Ly Oumar
The Serpent’s Gift – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi
Behind The Scenes – Funke Ayotunde Akindele And Wendy Uwadiae Imaseun
Best Series (Unscripted)
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S3 – Deola Art Alade And Darey Art Alade
Nigerian Idol S10 – Suleiman Kassim And Anneke De Ridder
Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa – Graeme Swanepoel And Jemma Ford
Offair With Gbemi And Toolz – Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi And Toolz Oniru-Demuren
Out N’ About (Harar) – Bruk Yibrah
