It’s usually described as Africa’s largest evening in movie and vogue.
Celebrities, filmmakers and creatives introduced dramatic trains, sculptural robes, shimmering materials and theatrical designs to the twelfth Africa Magic Viewers’ Selection Awards (AMVCA) in Nigeria, reworking the occasion from an awards ceremony to a classy spectacle as soon as once more.
The annual ceremony, held on the Eko Resort and Suites in Lagos, celebrates the achievements of African movie, tv and digital storytelling, whereas additionally serving as one of many continent’s largest cultural showcases, with celebrities successful awards in addition to competing for best-dressed.
This 12 months’s carpet was all about vogue extra.
A number of celebrities entered with their entourages and helped carry the outsized costumes by way of the throng of photographers and screaming followers.
Listed here are a number of the evening’s most talked about appearances and moments.
The pink carpet turns right into a bakery
Actuality TV star Queen Mercy Attan wore one of many evening’s most attention-grabbing seems to be, she stated, sporting a gown created from greater than 500 loaves of bread.
Surrounded by two maidens carrying trays of bread and several other assistants serving to her carry her costume on the carpet, Atan struggled to maneuver freely.
Talking to the BBC, she claimed the outfit was designed to advertise her baking enterprise and that the look was intentional advertising and marketing reasonably than shock worth.
“What higher place to advertise my enterprise than AMVCA?” she stated.
The gown was designed by the enduring Toyin Lawan of Tianna’s Empire, who commented on Instagram that the pattern of “everybody wears your online business” is beginning.
This look shortly turned one of many largest social media matters of the evening.
Some social media followers praised the design as “the true definition of enterprise head-on.”
Nonetheless, not all followers have been impressed. Some stated the show represented meals waste, however the actuality TV star rejected the suggestion.
Nana Aqua Addo seems dressed like a cathedral
Ghanaian vogue star Nana Akua Addo lived as much as AMVCA vogue’s repute for dramatic moments with a silver structured gown impressed by Germany’s Cologne Cathedral.
The closely structured outfit featured hand-painted window-like particulars, cathedral-shaped extensions and matching silver equipment, and members of her workforce helped carry components of the gown.
Her designer, Abbas Girl, advised the BBC that the design course of started in November 2025 and was accomplished simply two days earlier than the ceremony.
Based on her workforce, the costume was impressed by the development of well-known cathedrals, and the gown was supposed to replicate each grandeur and craftsmanship.
Uche Montana embraces hearth and rebirth
Nigerian actress Uche Montana appeared in a dramatic ensemble of pink and gold feathers, which she described as representing “hearth” and “the rising of the phoenix.”
Wrapping her arms in red-encrusted stones, she advised the BBC she had been creating the look because the starting of the 12 months.
Though he declined to disclose the precise quantity, he stated he spent a “big quantity” to convey the look to life, including that one of many largest misconceptions about movie star glamor is that stars are styled by manufacturers utterly freed from cost.
“Loads of monetary and psychological work goes into these seems to be,” she stated.
Her look capped off a big evening for the actress, who additionally received the AMVCA Trailblazer Award, a non-voting class that acknowledges rising expertise who’re making a powerful affect on the trade.
Butch Franklin’s emotional victory on ‘To Kill a Monkey’
Other than the style present, one of many emotional moments of the evening was when actor Butch Franklin received Greatest Supporting Actor for his position as “Oboz” in “To Kill a Monkey.”
Franklin performs a vocal and fiercely loyal cybercrime boss whose character is deeply rooted in Benin’s avenue identification. In preparation for the position, he studied the small print of Benin’s influencers, music, and dialect, which many viewers praised for his or her realism.
This efficiency resonated with many viewers, particularly within the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, due to the character’s identification.
In an interview with the BBC after his win, Franklin stated that though the position bore no resemblance to his actual character, he was glad he took the position.
He devoted the award to his mom, who handed away seven days earlier than the movie’s launch.
“To Kill a Monkey” additionally received Greatest Cinematography.
Linda Ejiofor makes historical past with two main awards
Linda Ejiofor emerged as one of many evening’s largest winners in AMVCA historical past, as the primary particular person to win each Greatest Actress for “The Serpent’s Reward” and Greatest Supporting Actress for “The Herd.”
After successful the award, she advised the BBC that she had hoped to win in at the very least one class, however earlier than the ceremony her husband tried to calm her nerves by telling her he may take each awards and go house.
Seems he was proper.
Reflecting on his victory, Ejiofor thanked his household, saying the second was very emotional and that his mom helped him apply his Igbo pronunciation and hone his supply till he felt assured within the position.
“My Father’s Shadow” wins three awards
“The Father’s Shadow” continued to obtain worldwide acclaim. The movie emerged as one of many evening’s largest winners, successful Greatest Movie, Greatest Director, and Greatest Unique Screenplay.
Directed by Akinola Davis Jr., the movie surpassed works resembling The Herd, The Serpent’s Reward, and Gingerrr.
The movie, which depicts the reminiscences of a father’s love, estrangement and loss, has made historical past, changing into the primary Nigerian movie to obtain worldwide acclaim as an official choice on the prestigious Cannes Movie Pageant in 2025.
It was streamed in cinemas in Nigeria and the UK.
In the meantime, Uzor Alukwe received the Greatest Actor award for Colours of Hearth, whereas trade veterans Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo acquired the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kanayo O Kanayo described his outfit as “a tackle Godfatherism, previous cash and tailor-made mafia.”
He was styled by Prinz Innovation to embody his on-screen persona as a rich and trendy character.
Nigerian actor Stan Ze, identified for his interpretation of Igbo tradition, wore a black outfit and carried his signature conventional carved horsehide fan.
Actuality TV star and actor Tobi Bakure beckoned Yoruba royalty to the carpet sporting a standard agbada designed by Deji and Kola and carrying a custom-made brass cane.
Nollywood actress and producer Monica Friday confirmed off the flags of seven nations, together with Iran, embroidered on her purple ball robe. She described her outfit as a tribute to a “bloody world” and a plea for peace.
Actress Osasu Ighodalo has been successful the AMVCA Greatest Dressed Award for the previous few years, however regardless that that class was dropped this 12 months, her pink carpet seems to be are often extremely anticipated in Nollywood. She wore a flowing silver corset gown by Vekie James that was embellished with lots of of stones and crystals.
Digital creators additionally walked the pink carpet, sporting cultural and sculptural clothes and searching glowing.
Actuality TV star OJ Posharella graces the pink carpet sporting a multi-layered, colourful outfit of her personal design, full with a large bow on high of her head.
