When Beverly Osu tweeted that the AMVCA has “lost the plot,” she wasn’t just throwing shade, she was sparking a long-overdue conversation. It’s a conversation many insiders, actors, and filmmakers have whispered behind the scenes: Has the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) become more about the glamour than the grind? More about clout than craft?
Now, I don’t believe the AMVCAs have lost their relevance. Not at all. But I do think they’re losing their balance.
Photo credit: nollywood(Instagram)
Honouring the Icons Before the Cameras Roll
This year, the AMVCAs introduced something truly beautiful: the Icons Night. A quieter, more intimate event held before the glitz of the main awards. Legends like Tony Akposheri, Bukky Thomas, Tommy Oyewole, Joke Silva, and Ireti Doyle were honoured. These are the giants whose shoulders Nollywood stands on, and it was refreshing to see their faces light up with pride
Still, here’s the irony: most of these OGs didn’t attend the main awards show.
The Industry Merit Award is a noble tradition, but giving only two a year in a continent this vast feels like crumbs. I strongly believe it should be increased to four, or even more, so that we honour our legends while they’re still alive to hear the applause.
Photo credit: nollywood(Instagram)
And what about our fallen heroes?
Let’s create a Posthumous Category—to honour legends we lost but never celebrated properly.
People like: Sam Loco Efe, Ashley Nwosu, Funmilayo Ogunsola (Ijewuru) e.t.c
Let their names live. Let their families be invited. Let their legacies be engraved into our cinematic memory. We owe them that much.
Did We Forget That AMVCA Means Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards?
I’ll be honest, the “Africa” part of AMVCA is fading. When the awards began in 2013, it was proudly pan-African. That first edition saw South Africa’s Otelo Burning lead with 14 nominations, with Ghana’s Contract and Kenya’s Nairobi Half Life grabbing wins too.
Fast forward to 2025… it feels more and more like a Nigerian awards show. Amazing, but limited. The inclusiveness we once celebrated is missing.
Maybe I’m overthinking, but if it’s still meant to be pan-African, then let’s make sure other African countries feel truly seen again.
And About YouTube and Low-Budget Films… Let’s Talk Truth
Many filmmakers now pour their hearts into YouTube projects—short films, web series, mini-features. And let’s not act like they don’t reach people. Some of these films have millions of views, fan bases, and impact.
Funke Akindele once won an AMVCA for Sheri Koko, Mercy Johnson for Dumebi the Dirty Girl, films that weren’t dripping with dollars but told beautiful stories. Let’s not rewrite history.
So What’s Next? A Few Suggestions
Expand the categories: Add slots for YouTube films, short-form digital series, low-budget brilliance, and student films.
Posthumous and Veteran Recognition: Let the AMVCAs also be a memorial. The Oscars do it. Why not us?
Bring Back Africa: Let’s open up again. Let filmmakers from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa feel like the AMVCAs belong to them too.
Let OGs Present Awards: Imagine Chiwetalu Agu handing a trophy to a rising actor. That’s legacy meeting future.
So, Has the AMVCA Lost the Plot?
Not entirely. But it’s wandering close to the edge. And if it doesn’t double down on its purpose to celebrate excellence in African filmmaking it may lose what made it magical in the first place. Let the AMVCAs remember what it was born to do: celebrate film, not just fame.
The red carpet may go viral. But history remembers who took the trophy home.
