The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), held on Saturday night at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, delivered glamour, emotional speeches, and memorable moments but also ignited widespread discussions over several high-profile snubs.
While “My Father’s Shadow” emerged as the biggest winner of the night, clinching five major awards, a number of acclaimed actors, filmmakers, blockbuster films, and digital creators went home empty-handed despite strong fan support, impressive box office performances, and multiple nominations.
Notable Snubs from AMVCA 2026: Funke Akindele and “Behind The Scenes”: One of the most talked-about omissions. Akindele lost in the Best Supporting Actress category to Linda Ejiofor (“The Herd”). Her blockbuster “Behind The Scenes,” which grossed over ₦2 billion at the Nigerian box office and dominated online conversations, failed to win Best Movie despite heavy fan predictions. Many believed her performance as Adetutu Fernandez in the black tax-themed drama warranted stronger recognition.
Scarlet Gomez: Praised for her emotionally deep role in “Behind The Scenes,” Gomez was widely expected to secure an acting award but left without a win.
“Gingerrr”: The film secured nine nominations but converted none into victories. Featuring stars like Kie Kie, Wunmi Toriola, Bisola Aiyeola, and Bolaji Ogunmola (also co-producers), the box office hit and streaming success on Kava and Netflix was anticipated by many to dominate the ceremony.
Daniel Etim-Effiong (“The Herd”): Despite the film’s success and Linda Ejiofor’s win, fans felt Etim-Effiong deserved recognition for his dual contributions as director and actor.
Genoveva Umeh (“The Herd”): Her critically praised, emotionally charged performance earned a Best Actress nomination, but she did not take home the award.
Digital Content Creators: Akwaman (“Did I just hear Muah”), Taooma, and Steve Chuks were strong contenders in the Best Digital Content Creator category with massive online traction and fan backing, yet none emerged victorious.
Kemi Adetiba and “To Kill A Monkey”: The project earned eight nominations and won several technical categories but missed out on major awards, including Best Scripted Series. Adetiba also faced an earlier nomination snub in the Best Director category. Oscar Heman-Ackah was nominated for Best Music Score but lost.
“The Real Housewives of Lagos”: The popular reality series failed to win Best Unscripted Series despite its strong cultural impact and dedicated following.
Femi Adebayo: Many fans believed his lead role in “Agesinkole 2” deserved recognition in the Best Lead Actor category. Heartening Moments Amid Disappointment
Veteran stars Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo received well-deserved Industry Merit (Lifetime Achievement) Awards, providing emotional highlights and celebrating Nollywood legends.
The snubs have once again underscored the subjective and often unpredictable nature of award shows, where jury decisions, fan votes, and industry dynamics may not always align with public expectations.