The curtains have officially closed on the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, but like every AMVCA before it, the conversations are far from over. From emotional wins and career-defining moments to fashion that practically demanded its own category,
AMVCA 12 gave us a lot to unpack.
I’ve attended the AMVCA consistently for at least six years now, so for the first time in a long while, I decided to experience it differently this year. No rushing through traffic. No backstage chaos. No red carpet madness. No, trying to figure out where exactly your seat is while
someone’s stylist blocks the entire aisle with a dress train. This year, I watched from home. And honestly? It was kind of refreshing.
There’s something about watching from the comfort of your house that lets you notice things differently. You catch the little moments. The awkward pauses. The audience reactions. The performances. The details that sometimes get lost when you’re physically in the middle of the
madness. And while I definitely missed the energy that comes with being in the room, watching AMVCA 12 from my couch somehow made the night feel even more interesting.
Here are the moments, observations, hot takes, and things I simply cannot stop thinking about from the night.
Bovi Had Big Shoes to Fill, And He Did It Well!
For the first time in 11 years, the AMVCA stage had a different male host standing at the centre of it all. No IK Osakioduwa. No familiar “welcome to the AMVCAs” voice, we’ve basically associated with the show for over a decade. Instead, it was Bovi Ugboma. And let me just say
this: he held his own. Replacing someone who has hosted an award show for over a decade is not small pressure. IK had become part of the AMVCA identity itself. But Bovi stepped into that role with confidence, humour, ease, and enough personality to make the role feel fresh without
trying too hard to imitate what came before him. Bovi brought warmth to the stage, and honestly? The transition into this new AMVCA era was smoother than many people expected.
Nomzamo Mbatha and Dahmola? What a Team.
Can we just talk about Nomzamo Mbatha’s fashion run this year because wow. Five looks.FIVE. And not one miss. Styled by Dahmola, Nomzamo delivered glamour, structure, drama, elegance, and red-carpet perfection throughout the night. At this point, Dahmola handling an AMVCA host almost feels like tradition because every time he’s called upon, he delivers. And this year proved exactly why he remains one of the first names people think about for major fashion moments like this. Every outfit felt intentional. Nothing looked rushed. Nothing felt like
“wearing fashion for fashion’s sake.” It was polished, cinematic, and exactly what a host of Africa’s biggest film award show should look like. Honestly, one thing AMVCA consistently gets right is making its hosts look expensive.
Kanaga Jnr Was the Best Dressed Man of the Night
Yeah, I said it. Kanaga Jnr absolutely cleared the men’s category this year. Styled by Yomo Daj and dressed by Rogue NG, the reality star and actor stepped onto the AMVCA carpet looking like a modern-day pop star military prince with heavy Michael Jackson inspiration woven into the
look. And the thing about references like that is they can go wrong very quickly. It can easily become costume territory. But this? This was sharp. Structured. Clean. The Swarovski crystal embellishments and jewellery elevated everything beautifully without making the outfit feel too
loud. It photographed incredibly well, too, which matters more than people think on a carpet like AMVCA. And to crown the night? He also walked away with the award for Best Digital Content Creator alongside Sophia Chisom. Fashion and a win? We love efficiency.
Uche Montana Had the Best Female Look of the Night, And a Career-Defining Win
Now let’s talk about Uche Montana because she had herself a night. Styled by Dahmola (again) and dressed in Tubo, Uche stepped onto the AMVCA carpet looking like a walking sculpture.
The feather-inspired dress was dramatic without being chaotic, glamorous without trying too hard, and honestly just the perfect amount of “main character energy.” It moved beautifully. It photographed beautifully. It looked expensive. Everything worked. And then she topped the night off by taking home the Trailblazer Award for 2026. Honestly, it feels deserved. Over the past few years, Uche has quietly built a very solid film career for herself. Consistent performances. Consistent visibility. Consistent growth. And this felt like the industry officially
saying, “We see you.”
Bucci Franklin’s Win Felt Like a Collective Victory
Brotherly…Every AMVCA has that one category where there’s a person the audience desperately wants to win. This year? It was Bucci Franklin. The moment his name was announced as Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Oboz in Netflix’s To Kill A Monkey, the crowd erupted. And I mean erupted. You could genuinely feel how badly people wanted that win for him. And honestly, deserved. Bucci gave one of the most talked-about performances of the past year, and what made the moment even more emotional was his dedication of the award to his late mother. Suddenly, the entire thing became bigger than just an award win. It became personal. Those are the moments that make award shows matter. Also, a side note: if you still haven’t seen our interview with Bucci Franklin, what exactly are you waiting for?
My Father’s Shadow Completely Dominated the Night
If there was one film that truly owned AMVCA 12, it was My Father’s Shadow. Akinola Davies Jr.’s bold and poetic debut didn’t just win awards—it swept through the night with five major wins, including Best Movie, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Score, and Best Sound Design. And
honestly? What makes the film so powerful is how intimate it feels despite existing against the backdrop of political unrest. But beyond politics, the heart of the story is really about fatherhood, connection, masculinity, survival, and memory. It’s layered. Emotional. Quietly devastating in
parts. And seeing a film like that dominate the AMVCAs honestly felt important. It’s proof that there’s room for softer, more reflective storytelling within Nollywood’s mainstream conversation. Earlier in the year, the film had already earned international recognition with a BAFTA win, but there was something especially emotional about seeing it triumph at home. Wale Davies even posted, “This stew is sweeter at home,” and honestly, you could feel that sentiment throughout the
moment. As huge as global recognition is, there’s something deeply personal about being celebrated by your own industry, in your own country, by people who fully understand the cultural texture of the story you’re telling. The AMVCA wins didn’t just feel prestigious — they
felt personal.
Two Certified Legends Finally Given Their Flowers
One of the most beautiful moments of the night was watching Nollywood veterans Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo receive the Industry Merit Award. And honestly? About time.
These are actors who have been in the industry longer than some of us have been alive. Generations have grown up watching them completely disappear into roles, carry films on their backs, and sacrifice endlessly for the craft (pun intended). Sola Sobowale brings intensity to every role like her life depends on it. Kanayo O. Kanayo has mastered screen presence to the point where sometimes all he has to do is stare, and the entire scene changes. These are legends.
Uzor Arukwe Cannot Stop Winning Right Now
Some people just enter a season where everything starts aligning at once. That’s Uzor Arukwe right now. Ever since Love In Every Word came out, this man has genuinely been on a roll.
Bigger visibility. Bigger conversations. More movie roles. More endorsements. More momentum.
And now? Best Lead Actor at the AMVCA. What a run.
And maybe this is why the win made me smile a little extra: I remember AMVCA 7 when I was working behind the scenes creating content, and Uzor was genuinely one of the nicest people I interacted with that night. We had a full conversation. No attitude. No superstar behaviour. Just
kind and present. So watching someone like that continue to rise and have his moment publicly is always nice to see.
BNXN and Tiwa Savage Performed Like Rent Was Due
Listen… music and film will always go hand in hand. And BNXN and Tiwa Savage absolutely understood the assignment. Both performances brought energy back into the room at exactly the right moments. It didn’t feel lazy or obligatory. It felt like actual performers taking the stage to perform. Tiwa especially moves like someone who understands the power of presence. Even when she’s standing still, your eyes somehow remain glued to her. And BNXN? Fully locked in. Fave? Literally a voice like no other. At some point, it genuinely started feeling like they wanted to win AMVCA awards for Best Performance while they were at it. And honestly? We would have handed them trophies, too.
Linda Ejiofor Just Did Something Truly Wild
Now, let’s talk about Linda Ejiofor, because winning an acting category at the AMVCA is already a huge deal. But winning two major acting categories in the same night? That’s history-making stuff. Linda walked away with both Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress, and honestly, that’s the kind of AMVCA stat people will still be referencing years from now. What makes it even more impressive is how difficult both categories are. These aren’t “show up and collect your plaque” categories. These are competitive rooms filled with some of the strongest performances across African film and television over the past year. To dominate both at the same award show says a lot about the kind of range, consistency, and screen presence she brought this year.
And the thing about Linda Ejiofor is that she has always been a solid actress. Always believable. Always emotionally present. Always committed to the role. So seeing her have a night this massive honestly felt like watching years of good work finally collide into one unforgettable moment. History made. Simple.
