African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2026 is set for Sunday, November 15, 2026 at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, and Nigerian films are leading strongly.
The nominations for the 22nd Movie Awards were announced on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Radisson Blu, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Nigerian frontrunners:
• To Adaego With Love – 11 nominations (directed by Nwamaka Chikezie)
• The Herd – 10 nominations (by Daniel Etim-Effiong)
• Colours of Fire – 9 nominations
Best Film race:
Two Nigerian films made the final cut for Best Film against 7 other African films:
1. To Adaego With Love (Nigeria)
2. The Herd (Nigeria)
3. The Trek (South Africa)
4. Ben Made It (South Africa)
5. The Fisherman (Ghana)
6. Colours of Exile (Côte d’Ivoire)
7. Slum Bomber (Uganda)
8. One Woman, One Bra (Kenya)
9. Mabanda (Cameroon)
Uganda’s Slum Bomber and Kenya’s One Woman, One Bra lead the overall nominations with 14 each.
Nigerian acting nominations:
Best Actress in a Leading Role:
• Chisom Agoawuike – To Adaego With Love
• Toyin Abraham – Oversabi Aunty
• Osas Ighodaro – Colours of Fire
• Faithia Balogun – Efunroye (The Unicorn)
Best Actor in a Leading Role:
• Daniel Etim-Effiong – The Herd (he also got personal noms for Best Director and Best Debut Feature)
• Wale Ojo – Light Out
• Uzor Arukwe – Colours of Fire
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Linda Ejiofor, Mercy Aigbe, Omowunmi Dada, Patience Ozokwo also nominated.
Nigeria also has 9 films competing for Best Nigerian Film: Iwe Ala, To Adaego With Love, Colours of Fire, Suky, Efunroye, The Herd, Cordelia, The Creek and Oversabi Aunty, plus entries in short film, animation and documentary categories including The Spectacular Death of Prisca, The Lion of Gwoza and Asaba Massacre.
