The countdown for the 11th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) is on. The awards ceremony, which will be held on May 10 and shown live on Africa Magic channels, hopes to celebrate the best work from African filmmakers, TV creators, and online content makers.
This year, titles like Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors, Lateef Adedimeji-produced Lisabi: The Uprising, and Robert Peters’ Pan African Skeleton Coast lead the nominations. In the race for Best Lead Actress, Chioma Akpotha (Seven Doors) and Bimbo Ademoye (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre) have become top favourites, with Akpotha already ahead in our early audience poll.
The AMVCA is divided into two categories, one voted by the public and the other by a jury headed by Femi Odugbemi. This year, there are nine categories where viewers can pick the winners, and 18 others chosen by the jury. Special awards for lifetime achievement and Trailblazer will also be handed out.
Ahead of the big night, WKMUp editors have made their predictions. Also, we have asked audiences to make their predictions in 10 key categories, and the results show some exciting and surprising picks.
Below are both the audience’s and editors’ picks in select categories.
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
Seven Doors – WKMUp’s & Audience’s Pick
Lisabi: The Uprising
Kaka
Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Mai Martaba
Best Supporting Actress
Omoni Oboli’s performance in Wives on Strike: The Uprising makes her our top contender for Best Supporting Actress, bringing warmth, humour, and emotional depth to her role in a story filled with tension and heartbreak.
Mercy Aigbe – Farmer’s Bride – Audience’s Pick
Tina Mba – Suspicion – Audience’s Pick
Omoni Oboli – The Uprising: Wives on Strike – WKMUp’s Pick
Meg Otanwa – Inside Life
Ireti Doyle – All’s Fair in Love
Ini Dima-Okojie – Skeleton Coast
Darasimi Nnadi – Aburo
Best Supporting Actor
Our pick for Best Supporting Actor is Uzor Arukwe for his strong performance in Suspicion. Though he appears in a handful of scenes, Uzor brings a quiet intensity that makes each moment memorable. His performance is especially striking during the film’s major plot twist, which takes most viewers by surprise.
Uzor Arukwe – Suspicion – WKMUp’s & Audience’s Pick
Gabriel Afolayan – Inside Life
Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni – Lisabi: The Uprising
Aliu Gafar – Seven Doors
Femi Jacobs – Freedom Way
Richard Mofe-Damijo – Christmas In Lagos
Mike Afolarin – House of Ga’a
Efa Iwara – Princess on a Hill
Best Lead Actress
Can we just give both actors the award and call it a day? Chioma swept the audience poll for best actress for her performance in Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors. However, Hilda Dokubo in Wives on Strike: The Uprising is our choice. The veteran actress portrays Ebiere, a widowed butcher whose life takes a tragic turn when her son, Ayo, is kidnapped and killed. Critics have lauded Dokubo’s role, noting her ability to convey complex emotions with subtlety and power, which earned her a spot among the top performances of the year in our 2024 Critics Poll.
Chioma Chukwuka – Seven Doors – Audience’s Pick
Hilda Dokubo – The Uprising: Wives On Strike – WKMUp’s Pick
Gbugbemi Ejeye – Farmer’s Bride
Uzoamaka Onuoha – Agemo
Uche Montana – Thin Line
Uzoamaka Power (fka Aniunoh) – Phoenix Fury
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre
Best Lead Actor
Stan Nze is our editors’ pick for Best Actor at the 2025 AMVCA for his performance in Suspicion. In the film, he portrays Voke, a man grappling with supernatural powers inherited from childhood. Nze’s portrayal captures Voke’s internal conflict and protective instincts, delivering a steady performance that keeps the audience engaged. While some critics note a limited range in facial expressions, his consistent delivery keeps the audience engaged in his battles throughout the film.
Femi Branch – House of Ga’a – Audience’s Pick
Stan Nze – Suspicion – WKMUp’s Pick
Gideon Okeke – Tokunbo
Bucci Franklin – The Weekend
Thapelo Makoena – Skeleton Coast
Bimbo Manuel – Princess on a Hill
Femi Adebayo – Seven Doors
Adedimeji Lateef – Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Writing TV Series
Our editor’s pick for Best Writing in a TV Series is Princess on a Hill for its sharp, relatable storytelling. The writing team, led by Bibi Ukpo, Niyi Adeniji, and Sonia Nwosu, has crafted a narrative that takes a fresh look at ambition, power, and the cost of success in Nigeria’s corporate world. The show follows Zara, a young woman who unexpectedly rises to a top position at the Lawson Group after winning a reality show, only to find herself navigating office politics and facing off against a powerful CEO determined to see her fail. This has earned the show five AMVCA nominations, including Best Scripted Series
Roses and Ivy – Biodun Stephen, Abimbola Akinrinbola – Audience’s Pick
Princess on a Hill – Bibi Ukpo, Niyi Adeniji, Sonia Nwosu – WKMUp’s Pick
Untying Kantai – Abel Mutua Muysoka
Tuki? – Louise Kamwangi
Anikulapo Rise of The Spectre – Sola Dada
Cheta’M – Ifeanyi Barbara Chidi
Seven Doors – Adebayo Tijani, Yinka Laoye, Soyombo-Oluyombo Oluwagbemiga)
Best Writing in a Movie
Presented in four chapters, our pick for best writing in a movie shifts between past and present, capturing a personal journey of justice. Phoenix Fury has already earned major recognition, including Best Film and Best Director at the 2024 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), now a nominee in 3 categories at the AMVCA.
The Weekend – Egbemawei Dimiyesi Sammy, Vanessa Kanu, Frederick O. Anyaebunam JNR – Audience’s Pick
Phoenix Fury – Ifeoma N Chukwuogo – WKMUp’s Pick
Skeleton Coast – Omolola Lamikanra
Freedom Way – Blessing Uzzi
A Ghetto Love Story – Victoria Eze
House of Ga’a – Tunde Babalola
Christmas in Lagos – Jadesola Osiberu
Best Scripted Series
After making one of our top series in the past year, it’s a no-brainer that Clarence Peters’ Inside Life is our pick to win the Best Scripted Series award.
Seven Doors – Audience’s Pick
Clarence Peters’ Inside Life – WKMUp’s Pick
Princess On A Hill
Cheta’M
Roses & Ivy
Best Director
Our editor’s pick for Best Director at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) is the trio behind Seven Doors: Femi Adebayo, Tope Adebayo, and Adebayo Tijani, a series competing in a category filled with films. The series has been praised for its visual strength and production design. Their ability to bring out strong performances from the cast, including Femi Adebayo himself as King Adedunjoye and Chioma Chukwuka as Amaka, further solidifies this as our pick.
Bolanle Austen-Peters – House of Ga’a – Audience’s Pick
Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, Tope Adebayo – Seven Doors – WKMUp’s Pick
Robert O Peters – Skeleton Coast
Norman Maake – Inkabi
Awam Amkpa – The Man Died
Daniel Emeka Oriahi – The Weekend
Best Movie
An argument for Suspicion during our internal discussion to decide what films to choose was the freshness of Tosin Igho’s film, doing what it set out to do with the plot. The storyline was compelling, with strong performances to match. The cinematography, sound design, and all other elements in the film came together nicely to deliver an enjoyable supernatural action flick.
Lisabi: The Uprising – Audience’s Pick
Suspicion – WKMUp’s Pick
Skeleton Coast
Inkabi
House of Ga’a
Freedom Way
Christmas in Lagos
Farmer’s Bride
Voting for the public categories closes on May 4th at 9 PM WAT ahead of the 11th edition of the prestigious awards, which will be held on May 10 in Lagos.
See the full nominations list here.
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