Bukola Afeni
The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 came to a glamorous close in Lagos as filmmakers, actors and content creators across Africa were celebrated for excellence in film and television.
Held at Eko Hotel and Suites, the prestigious event attracted some of the biggest names in the African entertainment industry, with awards presented across categories including acting, directing, scriptwriting, cinematography, editing and digital content creation.
Veteran actress Sola Sobowale was honoured with the Industry Merit Award in recognition of her decades-long contribution to African cinema and her memorable performances in films such as The Wedding Party, King of Boys, Battle on Buka Street and Aníkúlápó.
Veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo also received the Industry Merit Award, earning loud applause from guests at the ceremony.
One of the biggest winners of the night was My Father’s Shadow, which clinched several major awards including Best Movie, Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr., Best Writing in a Movie and Best Score/Music.
To Kill a Monkey also had an impressive outing, winning awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor for Bucci Franklin.
In the acting categories, Linda Ejiofor emerged as Best Lead Actress for her role in The Serpent’s Gift, while Uzor Arukwe won Best Lead Actor for his performance in Colours of Fire.
The Trailblazer Award went to Uche Montana for her rising influence and achievements in the industry.
Other notable winners included Lisabi (A Legend Is Born) for Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), Nigerian Idol for Best Unscripted M-Net Original, and Inimba, which won both Best Indigenous M-Net Original and Best Scripted Series.
The ceremony once again highlighted the growth of African storytelling and the increasing global recognition of the continent’s creative industry.
