By Elizabeth Godwin
The 11th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) dazzled audiences on Saturday, May 10, 2025, with a night of glamour, celebration, and cultural pride at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. Regarded as the “Oscars of Africa,” the AMVCA continues to be the continent’s premier platform for honouring cinematic excellence, creativity, and innovation.
This year’s ceremony, recognizing works released between January 1 and December 31, 2024, celebrated both household names and rising stars across 28 categories, blending jury selection with public votes to reflect industry and audience sentiment.
A Night of Artistic Triumphs
“Freedom Way”, directed by Blessing Uzzi, emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, securing Best Movie and Best Writing in a Movie, thanks to its powerful storytelling and sharp screenplay. Uzzi’s success underscored the evolving depth of African narratives and their resonance with contemporary audiences.
Another standout was “Seven Doors”, which dominated the acting categories. Femi Adebayo claimed Best Lead Actor, while Chioma Chukwuka, despite her absence, was named Best Lead Actress. She later shared her gratitude with fans via Instagram. The film also clinched Best Music/Score, with composer Tolu Obanro praised for his emotionally rich soundtrack.
In the supporting categories, Mercy Aigbe won Best Supporting Actress for Farmer’s Bride, while Gabriel Afolayan earned Best Supporting Actor for Inside Life, highlighting the calibre of performances across the continent’s diverse film landscape.
Technical Excellence and Innovation
Behind the camera, African filmmakers were equally celebrated. “The Legend of The Vagabond Queen Of Lagos” won Best Cinematography, with director of photography Leo Purman applauded for his visually arresting style. Tongai Furusa took home Best Editing for his work on Inkabi, while Suspicion was recognised with Best Sound Design, further showcasing Africa’s growing technical expertise in film production.
The event also reflected the surge in digital storytelling. Iyo Prosper Adokiye was named Best Digital Content Creator, while the short film “Brukaci” and documentary “Mai DùnDún” were recognised for their compelling narratives and production quality.
Celebrating Heritage and Originality
This year’s AMVCA paid significant attention to indigenous language productions. Lisabi: The Uprising won both Best Indigenous Language (West Africa) and Best Art Direction, while Makosa ni Yangu and Mwizukanji were honoured in the East and South African indigenous language categories, respectively. These awards celebrated the linguistic diversity of the continent and its vibrant storytelling traditions.
Original programming also featured strongly, with My Fairytale Wedding winning Best Scripted M-Net Original, while Nigerian Idol (Season 9) took home Best Unscripted M-Net Original, reflecting MultiChoice’s growing role in championing homegrown content.
Special Honors and Cultural Moments
Filmmaker Kayode Kasum was honoured with the Trailblazer Award, celebrating his genre-pushing work and contribution to new African narratives. Veterans Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu received Lifetime Achievement Awards, acknowledging their decades-long impact on African film and television.
The night was also a visual and auditory feast. Red carpet fashion turned heads, with stars like Femi Adebayo, Mercy Aigbe, and Chioma Chukwuka making bold statements. Live performances by Johnny Drille and Kunmie added rhythm and soul to the festivities, reinforcing the synergy between music and film in African culture.
Full List of Major Winners:
Category Winner
Best Movie Freedom Way
Best Director The Man Died
Best Lead Actress Chioma Chukwuka (Seven Doors)
Best Lead Actor Femi Adebayo (Seven Doors)
Best Supporting Actress Mercy Aigbe (Farmer’s Bride)
Best Supporting Actor Gabriel Afolayan (Inside Life)
Best Cinematography The Legend of The Vagabond Queen Of Lagos
Best Editing Inkabi (Tongai Furusa)
Best Costume Design Christmas in Lagos
Best Makeup Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Music/Score Seven Doors
Best Sound Design Suspicion
Best Writing (Movie) Freedom Way
Best Writing (TV Series) Untying Kanti
Best Digital Content Creator We Listen We Don’t Judge (Bible Edition)
Best Short Film Brukaci
Best Documentary Mai DùnDún
Best Series Scripted Inside Life
Best Series Unscripted Wa Milele
Best Scripted M-Net Original My Fairytale Wedding
Best Unscripted M-Net Original Nigerian Idol (Season 9)
Best Indigenous Language (West Africa) Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Indigenous Language (East Africa) Makosa ni Yangu
Best Indigenous Language (South Africa) Mwizukanji
Best Indigenous M-Net Original Zi M Uzo
Trailblazer Award Kayode Kasum
Lifetime Achievement Awards Nkem Owoh, Sani Mu’azu
Best MultiChoice Talent Factory Film Everything Light Touches
A Vision for the Future
The AMVCA 2025 was more than an awards show—it was a celebration of identity, progress, and storytelling. As the curtains fell, it left a lasting impression on the industry and audience alike, reinforcing the event’s role as a springboard for African talent and a beacon for global recognition.
As one attendee aptly put it, “This is where African dreams are seen and heard—the AMVCA is our global stage.”
