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.

The AMVCA has always been known for one thing at its core, rewarding films and television projects that actually stand out in storytelling, direction, performance, and craft. It’s not just about popularity; it’s about the projects that show real depth and execution. And this year’s edition made that even clearer, with My Father’s Shadow emerging as the biggest winner of the night, reinforcing what the AMVCA has always stood for.

The film didn’t just win one or two categories, it showed up across the biggest ones of the night, including Best Movie, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Music Score, and Best Sound Design. By the time the ceremony was wrapping up, it had become the reference point for the entire evening. If anything defined the tone of this year’s awards, it was how strongly My Father’s Shadow was recognized across multiple craft categories.

Then came one of the most unforgettable individual moments of the night, Linda Ejiofor.

Her win wasn’t just a highlight, it was historic. Taking home both Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress on the same night is unprecedented in AMVCA history. It didn’t just trend; it stopped conversations entirely. It was loud, shocking, and instantly stamped as one of the defining moments of the entire ceremony.

But beyond the wins, the AMVCA this year also carried a sense of scale that you couldn’t ignore.

The room brought together a full spectrum of industry veterans who have shaped Nollywood for decades, like Sola Sobowale, Kanayo O. Kanayo, and Joke Silva, sitting alongside rising actors, filmmakers, and content creators shaping the new digital era of African entertainment. It felt like a living archive of the industry’s past, present, and future all in one room.

Both Kanayo O. Kanayo and Sola Sobowale also received the Industry Merit Awards, a moment that honoured their long-standing contribution to African cinema and reinforced their status as pillars of the industry.

And then there was fashion, which honestly deserved its own category of conversation.

The red carpet turned into its own conversation entirely. It wasn’t just “best dressed” debates,  it was full-on visual storytelling. From Osas Ighodaro, who arrived in a striking iron sponge-inspired dress that immediately became one of the most talked-about looks of the night, to Queen Mercy Atang, who showed up in a bold bread-themed dress that instantly divided opinion online, as well as Eniola Ajao, who leaned fully into spectacle with a balloon-inspired outfit that kept social media busy for hours.

Stars like Uche Montana stood out not just for presence but for intent, especially on a night where she also took home the Trailblazer Award, marking one of the defining career moments of the ceremony. Another strong moment came from Lateef Adedimeji, whose film also walked away with two major wins, further cementing his growing presence not just as an actor but as a storyteller whose work is now being recognised at a high level within the industry.

But the night wasn’t just about appearances, it was about recognition across the continent.

The AMVCA leaned heavily into its African identity this year, with winners spanning across regions. From Central Africa’s Qang Quintus (Mabanda), to North Africa’s Our Memories – Artal Alhanin by Mohammed Abdulrahman Aldouma, East Africa’s Leul – Addis Fikir, and Southern Africa’s Tlhaho Ya Mosadi, led by Promos Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka, and Promise Ramoroka, further reiterated that this is not a single-market conversation: it is firmly Pan-African in scope and direction.

On the series side, Out N’ About by Bruk Yibrah took Best Unscripted Series, while Inimba won Best Scripted Series, further strengthening the AMVCA’s continental storytelling reach.

Beyond the wins and fashion, the night also carried emotional and reflective weight.

A memorial tribute led by Purp (Anu Agosa), Nigerian Idol season 10 winner, shifted the atmosphere entirely, reminding everyone of the people whose work built the foundation the industry now stands on.

The AMVCA also made room for the future, with MTN awarding ₦5 million to Best Short Film winners Josh Olaoluwa and Orire Nwani, a moment that reinforced how seriously emerging filmmakers are now being taken.

And throughout the night, performances from Fave, Tiwa Savage, and BNXN kept the energy flowing, breaking the ceremony into moments that felt alive rather than staged.

Even outside the hall, the entertainment never stopped.

The red carpet looks, viral clips, and reactions immediately took over social media, turning the ceremony into a full digital experience that extended far beyond the venue itself.

And when you put it all together, these weren’t just highlights of the night, they were the defining moments of this year’s AMVCA. The fashion, the veterans, the newcomers, the continental wins, the historic individual achievements, and the cultural energy all collided in one space.

Because this year’s AMVCA wasn’t just an awards show.

It was a full African entertainment moment, loud, layered, and impossible to ignore.

The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards was held on May 9, 2026, at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre, under the evolving partnership between Canal+ and MultiChoice, bringing together the biggest names in African film, television, and entertainment for a night of celebrating cinematic excellence and storytelling across the continent.

Hosted by Nomzamo Mbatha and Bovi, the ceremony opened with the Best Costume Design category, where Valerie Okeke won for Colors of Fire.
Among the biggest winners of the night was My Father’s Shadow, which secured five awards, including Best Movie, Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr., Best Writing Movie for Wale Davies and Akinola Davies, Best Sound Design, and Best Score/Music.

Colors of Fire also emerged as one of the night’s standout productions, earning three awards, including Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction for Ajamolaya Bunmi and Yakub Oladejo, and Best Lead Actor for Uzor Arukwe.

Similarly, To Kill a Monkey snagged multiple wins, taking home Best Cinematography for Kabelo Thathe, Best Editing for Daniel Anyiam, and Best Supporting Actor for Bucci Franklin.

In the acting categories, Linda Ejiofor earned two awards, winning Best Lead Actress for The Serpent’s Gift and Best Supporting Actress for The Herd.

Other major winners included Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) for Best Makeup for Lisabi, while MTV Shuga Mashariki won Best Writing TV Series.

The awards also celebrated storytelling across Africa’s indigenous language categories, with Lisabi winning Best Indigenous Language (West Africa), Leul Addis Fikir winning East Africa, Tlhaho Ya Mosadi taking Southern Africa, Our Memories, Areal Alhanin winning North Africa, and Mabanda emerging winner in Central Africa.

In television and digital categories, Inimba secured two awards for Best Indigenous M-Net Original and Best Scripted Series, while Nigerian Idol Season 10 won Best Unscripted M-Net Original. Out and About emerged as the winner of Best Unscripted Series, while Leave to Live by Sophia Chisom and Emmanuel Kanaga won Best Digital Content Creator.

The Best Documentary award went to Beyond Olympic Glory by Shedrack Salami, while Hussaini, by Josh Olaoluwa and Orire Nwani, won Best Short Film. MTN also rewarded the winners with a ₦5 million cash prize in recognition of their achievement.

Beyond the awards, the ceremony featured memorable performances from Fave, Tiwa Savage, and BNXN, while Purp (Nigerian Idol Season 10 winner)  delivered a moving memorial performance in honour of industry figures who passed away.

Veteran actors Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo received the Industry Merit Award for their contributions to the African film industry, while Uche Montana was honoured with the Trailblazer Award.

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also addressed guests during the ceremony, commending Canal+ and the organisers for sustaining the platform and celebrating African creativity.

“If you don’t win tonight, you can win next year because it is not just about winning alone. Even being nominated is a big achievement,” he said, adding that the AMVCA would continue to grow bigger with each edition.

With its blend of entertainment, recognition, and cultural celebration, AMVCA 12 once again reinforced its position as one of Africa’s most prestigious platforms celebrating excellence in African film and television.