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.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Social media giant, Facebook, is celebrating the 2026 Africa Day on May 25 in a bid way through the launch of the sixth edition of its pan-African campaign, ‘Made by Africa, loved by the world: Where stories spark community.’
This year’s focus is on African cinema, and it features five talents from the sector, who are Kehinde Bankole (Nigeria), Linda Mtoba (South Africa), Nomzamo Mbatha (South Africa), Osas Ighodaro (Nigeria), and Tobi Bakre (Nigeria).
The campaign features a five-part vodcast series profiling these five internationally acclaimed actors and filmmakers, hosted by leading African podcasters, I Said What I Said (Nigeria), and Because We Said So (South Africa).
Each episode explores the talent’s creative journey, global impact, and how they use Facebook to build communities and connect with fans worldwide.
Vodcast snippets will be available on the Meta Africa Facebook page, with full episodes on the I Said What I Said and Because We Said So podcasts and talent profiles.
Speaking about the campaign, Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director, Africa, Middle East & Turkey at Meta, said: “For six years, Made by Africa has spotlighted talent from across the continent making a mark globally. This year, film takes centre stage. From Nollywood to South African cinema, African stories are reaching audiences worldwide, and Facebook is at the heart of how people come together around cultural moments like these. This campaign backs the filmmakers driving that momentum.”
Also, the hosts of I Said What I Said, FK Abudu & Jola Ayeye, said, “We’re excited about this partnership and the chance to collaborate with Facebook in celebrating Africa Day with other brilliant African creatives. Being able to spotlight creators with global impact feels incredibly special to us, and we look forward to more partnerships and opportunities to champion African creativity.”
Also, the anchors of Because We Said So, Zama Marubelela & Landzy Gama, said, “As young African content creators, we’re passionate about celebrating African excellence, identity, and culture through honest and relatable conversations. Having Nomzamo Mbatha and Linda Mtoba on Because We Said So made this collaboration with Meta even more special, as they both continue to represent Africa on a global stage while sharing authentic African stories with the world. We’re excited to amplify these voices and be part of a campaign that celebrates African talent, creativity, and storytelling on a global scale.”
The MasterChef Nigeria kitchen is no stranger to unexpected twists — and this week delivered one of its biggest surprises yet.
In a dramatic turn of events, previously eliminated home cooks Fads, Pearl and Margaret were given an extraordinary second chance: a shot at redemption and an opportunity to fight their way back into the competition.
With a place back in the MasterChef kitchen — and a chance to compete for the life-changing ₦73 million prize — on the line, the trio faced a high-pressure Redemption Challenge centred around one deceptively simple ingredient: eggs.
Tasked with mastering three culinary fundamentals in just 10 minutes, the contestants had to deliver the perfect poached egg, boiled egg and omelette — a challenge designed to test precision, timing and technical skill under immense pressure.
In a dramatic cook-off, it was Fads who rose to the occasion, impressing the judges with her execution and earning her place back in the MasterChef kitchen. For Pearl and Margaret, however, the challenge marked the end of their MasterChef journey, as they bid farewell to the competition for good.
True to the spirit of MasterChef Nigeria, the competition was far from over. The Top 8 immediately faced another challenge — a celebration of the Staples of Success — where culinary skill met high stakes. With an impressive ₦2 million up for grabs, the home cooks had yet another opportunity to prove themselves in the MasterChef kitchen.
The arrival of the white apron cook was met with excitement in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen, as the home cooks embraced the moment with enthusiasm and ambition.
However, while some rose to the occasion, others struggled to meet the judges’ exacting standards.
Derry’s dish was dealt a major setback when her chicken was found to be undercooked. David’s red chilli starter and roasted chicken main failed to deliver the impact the judges had hoped for and overwhelmed by emotion, Favy faced a challenge of her own when her panna cotta refused to set, forcing her to rethink her dish under pressure.
Demilade impressed the judges with a standout combination of Potato Crisps and a creative Plantain Split, showcasing both confidence and flair in the kitchen. Fads, meanwhile, delivered a remarkable comeback with her comforting yet elevated take on Yam Chips and Potato Soup — a dish that earned high praise from the judges. Clearly impressed, Chef Eros described Fads’ creation as “restaurant ready.”
Demilade and Fads rose above the competition to secure coveted spots in the Top 2, earning themselves a shot at the ₦2 million prize.
In the end, it was Fads who claimed Dish of the Day, completing an impressive comeback story as she walked away with ₦2 million and renewed confidence in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen.
Next week, tensions rise as the Top 8 take on a high-pressure Fashion Challenge, with the MasterChef kitchen also welcoming special guest judge Ezinne Chinkata.
Produced by Primedia Group, MasterChef Nigeria is supported by a strong coalition of leading 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 show airs weekly on Sundays at 7 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family, with rebroadcasts on Wednesdays at 6 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Thursdays at 12 pm on Africa Magic Family.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Data from Netflix reveals that more than $325 billion was contributed to the global economy over the past decade, creating more than 425,000 jobs in over 50 countries, including Nigeria.
A decade ago, Netflix expanded into almost every country in the world in a single day, and since then, it has been “a champion of local stories”, spotlighting them on a global stage.
Netflix signalled its Nigeria ambitions with the acquisition of Lionheart, a film produced in 2018 by industry veteran, Genevieve Nnaji, as its first original film in the country.
The streamer has since commissioned and co-produced multiple original series and films in the years since.
However, in late 2024, it was reported that Netflix was exiting the Nigerian market; it denied the reports, but has since cut back on original productions.
Viewing of non-English language titles represented less than a tenth of total viewing on Netflix ten years ago, while today it’s more than a third.
Netflix says the data underscores its continued commitment to supporting creative communities everywhere.
In Nigeria, some Netflix-affiliated films have amassed hit followings and series, such as Gingerrr, King of Boys, The Black Book, Anikulapo, Sugar Rush, Hijack ’93, among others.
Speaking on the development, Mr Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, commented: “[…] what really matters are the people behind those numbers — the writers, directors, carpenters and electricians, the small business owners and community members and of course, the fans who make everything possible.”
This data is revealed as Netflix launches The Netflix Effect, designed to bring together stories from around the world that explore the economic and cultural impact Netflix has had on the entertainment industry.
“Over the last decade, Netflix shows and movies have consistently shaped what people read, buy, listen to, eat, wear and play. We’ve pushed old songs back up the musical charts, helped niche sports go mainstream, and boosted sales of everything from chess sets to Halloween costumes, to home storage.” Mr Sarandos added.
“Now we have a responsibility to keep that flywheel going. That’s why, while other entertainment companies pull back, we’re leaning in — spending tens of billions of dollars on content every year, investing in production facilities from Spain to New Jersey, and growing the entertainment industry through training programmes that have reached over 90,000 people across more than 75 countries.”
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