Showbiz
AMVCA 2026 Update: Host, Voting and What to Expect
As anticipation builds for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards(AMVCA), the conversation has officially shifted from speculation to action. With nominees unveiled and voting now open, this year’s awards are shaping up to be one of the most competitive and expansive yet, featuring a record number of films and talent from across the continent. From established stars to emerging voices in African cinema, the AMVCA continues to celebrate excellence in storytelling, technical craft, and cultural impact, reinforcing its position as one of the most influential platforms for African creativity.
Host & Jury:
While the official host for the main awards night is yet to be confirmed, the nominations announcement was led by Chimezie Imo, offering a first glimpse into the tone of this year’s event. On the adjudication side, veteran actress Joke Silva leads as Head of Jury. Her role underscores the awards’ continued emphasis on credibility, with a panel tasked with evaluating technical excellence, storytelling depth, and overall craft across non-voting categories.
Voting: How It Works
One of the defining features of the AMVCAs is its hybrid voting system, and 2026 is no exception. Out of the total 32 categories, 11 are open to public voting, giving audiences a direct role in deciding key outcomes, while 18 categories are determined by the jury alongside special recognition honours. Voting is conducted through the official Africa Magic platform, where registered users can select their preferred nominees and cast up to 100 votes per platform.
Voting for this year officially opened on March 29, 2026, giving audiences enough time to vote for their favourites. The window will close on April 26, 2026, after which attention shifts to the main awards night, scheduled for May 9, 2026.
Leading Names & Notable First‑Timers
This year’s nominations reveal clear frontrunners. Films like The Herd, Gingerrr, and My Father’s Shadow lead the nominations, highlighting a rising preference for ambitious, high-concept storytelling. Actor Lateef Adedimeji stands out with three nominations, making him the most nominated actor for the year, highlighting his range across both lead and supporting roles.
The 2026 list also includes notable first‑time nominees. Popular Content Creator and actress Kidaby earned her first nomination for her performance in Oversabi Aunty, and Ariyike Owolagba received her first nod for her role in Something About the Briggs, signalling the emergence of new talent within the industry.
In addition to competitive categories, the awards will present special recognition honours, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Trailblazer Award, acknowledging industry veterans and breakthrough achievements.
What Feels Different This Year
Beyond the usual red carpet glamour and viral moments, AMVCA 2026 reflects a broader shift in focus. There is more intentional representation across the continent, with categories such as Best Indigenous Language (North Africa and Central Africa) highlighting a wider African storytelling ecosystem, rather than the usual strongholds. This signals a deliberate push to capture the continent’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
This edition represents a significant milestone for the industry, with Diageo featuring brands like Guinness serving as the full portfolio sponsor, while premium tequila brand Don Julio headlines as the main sponsor. Their involvement highlights AMVCA’s expanding role as a premier celebration of African creativity.
AMVCA 2026 is more than just another awards season; it shows the current pulse of African cinema. From how voting is structured, to the jury making the calls, to the wide range of nominated films and emerging talent, it’s clear the industry is evolving: more inclusive, more participatory, and shaped as much by audiences as by creators.
With voting now open, the results won’t just reflect the opinions of industry experts; they will also carry the voice of viewers from across the continent, making this year’s awards truly a celebration of African storytelling.
Nigeria’s Bovi Ugboma and South Africa’s Nomzamo Mbatha have been officially unveiled as co-hosts for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award, set to take place on May 9, 2026, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. This announcement serves as a bold pairing, and it makes sense. Here’s why.
They Represent the Breadth of African Entertainment
The AMVCA has always positioned itself as a continental celebration, not just a Nigerian one. Putting a West African comedian and a South African actress on the same stage reinforces that. Bovi’s comedy is rooted in everyday African life, which has built him audiences well beyond borders. Nomzamo, on the other hand, rose to prominence through the South African drama Isibaya, crossed over to Hollywood with Coming 2 America, and currently stars as Queen Nandi in Shaka iLembe, where she also serves as executive producer. Between the two of them, they cover a lot of ground.
Bovi Knows How to Work a Room
Stand-up comedy is probably the best training ground for live hosting. You have to read the room, recover from dead moments, and keep energy up for hours. Bovi has been doing that at the highest level for years. He’s described the opportunity as significant, noting the platform’s influence across the continent, and says he intends to bring energy and laughs to the ceremony while celebrating African storytelling.
Nomzamo Brings Credibility Beyond Entertainment
Off-screen, Nomzamo is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, a climate advocate, and founder of the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation. That kind of profile adds weight to her presence on a stage that’s increasingly watched across the continent and beyond. She’s not just a famous face, she’s someone with a serious body of work and a reputation that extends outside of acting.
The Balance Between Them is Practical
Awards shows need two things from their hosts: someone to keep the energy light and moving, and someone who can anchor the more formal moments. Bovi brings sharp wit and comedic timing, while Nomzamo adds elegance and global star power.
It Fits Where African Entertainment Is Right Now
African storytelling is getting serious global attention, from streaming platforms to cinema screens, the continent’s creative industry is at a defining moment. Having two hosts who reflect different parts of that story is a reasonable way to reflect that reality on stage. The AMVCA, presented by MultiChoice, a subsidiary of Canal+, honours outstanding achievements in television, film, and digital storytelling across Nollywood and the wider African creative landscape and the hosting choice reflects exactly that ambition.
The 12th edition also introduces two new award categories: Best Indigenous Language (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa), signalling a broader pan-African direction for the awards. The hosting choice fits that direction.
Bovi keeps the energy moving, Nomzamo brings the presence and credibility. Together, they cover everything an awards show of this scale needs.
For over a decade, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards has stood as the continent’s biggest film and television awards platform. Now, it is expanding its scope in a way that brings even more of Africa into the spotlight.
This year, two new categories have been introduced: Best Indigenous Language (North Africa) and Best Indigenous Language (Central Africa). They now sit alongside existing categories for West, East and Southern Africa, creating a full five-region structure for the first time.
This change speaks to where the AMVCA is headed, not just as an entertainment event, but as a truly pan-African platform. The languages in these new categories, including Arabic dialects, Berber, Lingala and Sango, are widely spoken across their regions. They are the languages people use in their everyday lives to tell stories, express emotions and share culture. Giving them recognition on a stage like the AMVCA matters.
Across countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Chad, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Congo, the film and television industries have been growing steadily, even if they do not always get continental attention. For filmmakers in these regions, being included in the AMVCA is more than just a chance to win an award. It brings visibility, credibility and a sense that their work is being seen.
There is also a cultural angle to this move. Films made in indigenous languages help keep those languages alive. By recognising these works, the AMVCA is reinforcing the idea that telling authentic stories in native languages is important and valuable.
Beyond recognition, this expansion also creates room for connection. Filmmakers from North and Central Africa now have a stronger presence on the same platform as their peers from West, East, and Southern Africa. This opens the door for collaboration, shared ideas, and creative exchange across the continent.
African cinema has always been rich in diversity, but it has not always had a single platform bringing it all together. While these two new categories will not fix everything overnight, they are a meaningful step forward.
This development comes as the 12th edition shapes up to be highly competitive. There are 32 award categories in total, including 18 decided by judges and 11 open to audience votes. There will also be special recognition awards, including Lifetime Achievement and the Trailblazer Award.
Veteran actress Joke Silva will serve as Head Judge, taking over from Femi Odugbemi.
Nominees were announced on March 29, 2026, hosted by actor Chimezie Imo. As expected, Nigerian films dominate the list. Gingerrr and The Herd lead with nine nominations each, followed by To Kill A Monkey with eight and My Father’s Shadow with seven.
Actors like Sola Sobowale, Uzor Arukwe, and Lateef Adedimeji earned nominations in multiple categories, while Genoveva Umeh received her first Best Lead Actress nomination.
At first glance, adding two categories to a list of 32 may not seem like much. But in the bigger picture, it shows a shift. The AMVCA is slowly becoming what it has always set out to be a platform that reflects the full diversity of African storytelling.
The kitchen is set, the stakes are high, and the journey to culinary greatness is about to begin for the ten diverse home cooks competing for a staggering N73 million prize on MasterChef Nigeria.
Not only will this dynamic mix of contestants from across the country showcase their passion for food and exceptional talent on the life-changing cooking show, but they will also make television history as the first-ever group vying for the coveted MasterChef Nigeria title.
The much-anticipated inaugural season of MasterChef Nigeria, the local adaptation of the world’s most renowned television cooking competition format, will premiere exclusively on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family on Sunday, April 26, at 7 pm.
Although united by a shared ambition to shine on the country’s biggest new culinary stage, these ten home cooks bring a tapestry of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences to the kitchen – each shaped by personal journeys that influence how they cook, create, and connect through food, while also showcasing Nigeria’s richness and gastronomic heritage.
The MasterChef Nigeria contestants are:
- David Emmanuel (24, Magboro) – A content creator whose humility and determination are shaping an extraordinary culinary journey.
- Demi Akingbe (30, Ikoyi) – An entrepreneur and food content creator bringing an eclectic style, creative flair, and visually striking dishes.
- Derry Nnonyela (29, Ikeja) – A finance admin coordinator whose passion for food is rooted in heritage and fuelled by ambition.
- Fads Segun (29, Lagos) – A renewable energy expert whose cooking style is modern and health-conscious, combining fresh ingredients with purposeful intention.
- Favy Bessan (26, Shomolu) – A content strategist whose cuisine reflects her fearless, imaginative, and deeply driven character.
- Isabella Adediji (38, Ikeja) – A managing director and seasoned media personality, ready to tell Nigeria’s story through her cuisine.
- Loye Oyedotun (31, Abuja) – A corporate lawyer who cooks with confidence and heart—bold in his choices, driven to grow, and determined to make every dish count.
- Margaret Akpan (42, Lagos) – A domestic staff member grounded in tradition, driven by purpose, and inspired to uplift others through soulful food.
- Pearl Agbajem (30, Lekki) – A cloud kitchen manager cooking towards a brighter future with love and resilience.
- Preye Fadase (34, Lagos) – An entrepreneur and food vendor whose vision, discipline, and deep respect for tradition turn everyday food into memorable experiences.
As these home cooks step into the iconic MasterChef kitchen, they will face high-pressure tasks designed to test not only their cooking skills but also their resilience, innovation, and ability to rise above the heat. Their creations will be evaluated by esteemed judges Chef Eros and Chef Stone.
Viewers can expect intense challenges, unexpected twists, and dishes that push the boundaries of creativity while staying rooted in Nigerian flavours.
With its unique blend of compelling storytelling, passionate participants, and culinary excellence, MasterChef Nigeria is poised to redefine food-focused television entertainment in the country.
This world-class production from the Primedia Group is backed by prominent Nigerian brands, including headline sponsor Power Oil, alongside Indomie, Dano Milk, Malta Guinness, Sonia Tomato, Kiara Rice, Golden Penny Flour, Golden Penny Sugar, Golden Penny Garri, Golden Penny Semolina, Golden Penny Chocolate Spread, and Golden Penny Wheat.
The thirteen episodes of MasterChef Nigeria will premiere exclusively on Sundays at 7 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family (starting 26 April). Rebroadcasts will air on Wednesdays at 6 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Thursdays at 12 pm on Africa Magic Family.
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