The 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) turned into a triumphant night for Femi Adebayo’s historical drama Seven Doors, which claimed two of the ceremony’s most prestigious honors at Saturday’s star-studded event in Lagos.
Adebayo himself secured the Best Lead Actor award for his portrayal of King Adedunjoye, a monarch grappling with a generational curse requiring him to take six additional wives despite his devotion to Queen Amaka, played by Chioma Chukwuka who won Best Lead Actress. The film’s haunting exploration of tradition versus personal sacrifice also earned Tolu Obanro the Best Score/Music award.
Veteran actors Sani Mu’azu and Nkem Owoh received standing ovations as they accepted Lifetime Achievement Awards, while director Kayode Kasum’s innovative storytelling earned him the Trailblazer Award. The ceremony celebrated African cinema’s expanding creative horizons, with Lateef Adedimeji’s Lisabi (The Uprising) also claiming multiple technical awards including Best Art Direction and Best Makeup.
Other notable winners included Mercy Aigbe (Best Supporting Actress for Farmer’s Bride), Gabriel Afolayan (Best Supporting Actor in Inside Life), and director Awam Amkpa whose political drama The Man Died won Best Director. The diversity of honorees—from Clarence Peters’ scripted series Inside Life to Kefa Igilo’s unscripted show Wa Milele?—highlighted Nollywood’s genre-bounding evolution.
Now in its eleventh year, the AMVCA continues to set the gold standard for African entertainment awards, blending audience votes with jury decisions to honor both emerging talents and industry legends. This year’s ceremony particularly underscored historical dramas’ resurgence, with Seven Doors and Lisabi demonstrating how filmmakers are reimagining Africa’s past for contemporary audiences.
