Entertainment
AMVCA 2023: Full List Of Winners As Anikulapo, Osas Ighodaro,Tobi Bakre, Brotherhood Win Big
The highly-anticipated 9th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) was held on Saturday, May 20, in Lagos, JomogNews Nigeria reports.
The event was a night of glitz, glamour, emotional speeches and meritorious recognition of Africa’s best in the entertainment and movie industry.
The evening kicked off with attendees showing up on the red carpet dressed in exciting fashion ensembles and dapper tuxedos.
The coveted awards ceremony recognized and celebrated extraordinary talent in the African entertainment industry, with over 30 categories spanning television shows, movies, and other creative endeavors.
Bimbo Ademoye won the Best Actress in a Comedy award for her leading role in “Selina”, while Samuel Perry popularly known as Brother Shaggi received the Best Actor in a Comedy award for his performance in “Inside Life.”
Best Actor in a Drama or TV series award went to Tobi Bakre for his stellar performance in “Brotherhood.”
Osas Ighodaro won Best Actress in a Drama/TV series. While the biggest winners of the night were Kunle Afolayan’s “Anikulapo” and Jade Osiberu’s “Brotherhood” with five wins each from their numerous nominations.
Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor (Mama G) received the industry merit award from the AMVCA while young actress Angel Unigwe won the Trailblazer Award.
See full list of winners below:
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Adokiye Horsfall (Romeo WJ)- Inside Life
Charles Etubiebi – Just Friends
Charles Inojie – City Hustler
Chinedu Ikedieze – Aki and PawPaw
Kunle Idowu – Unintentional
Nedu Ani (Nedu Wazobia) – Inside Life
Nkem Owoh – Battle On Buka Street
Nosa Afolabi – The Razz Guy
Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi) – Inside Life – Winner
Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi) – Survivors
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Blossom Chukwujekwu – The Trade
Chidi Mokeme – Shanty Town
Chimezie Imo – Choke
Daniel Etim-Effiong – Kofa
Femi Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
NKakalukanyi Patriq – Tembele
O.C. Ukeje – Black Mail
Richard Mofe Damijo – Four Four Forty-Four
Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood – Winner
Tope Tedela – All The Colours Of The World Are Between Black and White
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Albert Oluwatoyin – Visa On Arrival
Bimbo Ademoye – Selina – Winner
Funke Akindele – Battle On Buka Street
Grace Wacuka – Married to Work
Mercy Johnson – Battle On Buka Street
Mercy Johnson – Passport
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Bimbo Ademoye – Anikulapo
Enado Odigie – Flawsome
Immaculata Oko Kasum – Ile Owo
Ini Dima-Okojie – Flawsome
Ini Edo – Shanty Town
Nimo Loveline – The Planters Plantation
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Shanty Town
Osas Ighodaro – Man of God – Winner
Queen Nwokoye – Strained
Scarlet Gomez – Wura
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Abdisattar Ahmed – Gacal – Winner
Bucci Franklin – The Razz Guy
James Webbo – County 49
Jeff Roberts Walusimbi – Bedroom Chains
O.C. Ukeje – Brotherhood
Taiwo Hassan – Anikulapo
Yinka Quadri – Anikulapo
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Dorcas Shola Fapson – Man of God
Efe Irele – Four Four Forty-Four – Winner
Gina Castel – Kofa
Ivie Okujaye – On Your Own
Sola Sobowale – Anikulapo
Teniola Aladese – Love in a Pandemic
Toni Tones – Brotherhood
BEST SHORT FILM
Adeoye Adetunji – Pa Aromire – Winner
Gbenga Salu – Convictus
Nkem Nwaturuocha – The Song Maiden
Teniola Zara King – Teju’s Tale
Usama Mukwaya, Loukman Ali – Sixteen Rounds
Uzoamaka Aniunoh – Love Language
Victor Onwudiwe, Goodnews Erico Isika – Away
BEST ONLINE SOCIAL CONTENT CREATOR
Abiola – VIP Bathroom
Adeaga Bukunmi – Fake Alert with Mercy Johnson
Bimbo Ademoye – Iya Barakat Teropi Secxxion
Edem Victor – The Activist
Elozonam, Kie Kie – Back From The Future – Winner
Isbae U – My Sweet Mother In-law
Kenzy Udosen – Quick Pronunciations
Oluwadolarz and Abayomi Alvin – Soldiers at War (Compilation)
Steve Chuks – Husband’s Side Chick
Tee Kuro – Nollywood Epic Love Story Parody (The Finale)
BEST ORIGINAL TELENOVELA
Covenant
Dede
Huba
Itura
Mahinga
Maida
Mpali – Winner
Prestige
Salem
BEST UNSCRIPTED ORIGINAL
Come Play Naija
Judging Matters
Kan-See-Me
King Bugar – Winner
Off Air with Gbemi & Tools
Rock that Aisle Again
Sakofa
BEST ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES
Co-Habits
Flatmates
Mussulando
My Siblings and I
Njoro Wa Uba – Winner
Popi
RSM
The Johnsons
The Return of Original Comedy
Uncle Limbani
BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES
A Infiltrada
Accra Medics
Dirty Laundry
Junior Drama Club
Njila
Pazia
Pete
Ricordi – Winner
The Rishantes
To Have and To Hold
Unmarried
BEST ART DIRECTOR
Olalekan Isiaka – Shanty Town
Olatunji Afolayan – Battle On Buka Street
Olugbenga Ogunshina and Joy Kadiri – Brotherhood
Pat Nebo & Temple Chima Adighije – Crime & Justice
Toka Mcbaror – Almajiri
Uche Nwaohiri & Tunde Lawal – Diiche
Wale Adeleke – King Of Thieves (Agesinkole) – Winner
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER
Adeola Art-Alade – The Real Housewives of Lagos Reunion Episode – Winner
Bolanle Austen-Peters, Clement Effanga, Juliana Dede – Man of God
Bunmi Fashina, Tiannah Empire & Secrets of April – Shanty Town
Ezugworie Franca – Brotherhood
Kingsley Okoye Rex – Nnewi The Land of Gold
Millicent Jack – Four Four Forty Four
Toyin Ogundeji – Anikulapo
BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER
Francis Wanyahdeh – Crime & Justice
Francis Wanyahdeh & Ebuka Enejere – Diiche
Godwin Lawal – Tarella
Ismail Adewunmi – Ile Owo
Lanre Omofaiye – Anikulapo
Mathew Yusuf – Brotherhood – Winner
Muri Salami – Four Four Forty Four
Renaldo Van Den Berg, Emmanuel Patrick, David Otuokere – Real Housewives of Lagos
Segun Adeleke – Flawsome
Walter Odhiambo – Shanty Town
BEST PICTURE EDITOR
Kimera Paul – Tembele
Adio Solanke – Ile Owo
Banjo Onyekachi, Winston Aig-Ohioma, Oluwaseun Adeosun – Diiche
Holmes Awa & Daniel Tom – Crime & Justice – Winner
Martini Akande – Brotherhood
Sanjo Adegoke – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Steve Sodiya – Ijakumo the Born Again Stripper
Temitope Folarin – Anikulapo
Valentine Chukwuma – Battle on Buka Street
BEST SOUND EDITOR
Anu Afolayan – Anikulapo – Winner
Dare Olaitan, Adio Solanke – Ile Owo
Fredrick Karumba – Click Click Bang
Grey Jones – The Set Up 2
Ismail Kyobe Ssebowa – Bedroom Chains
Kazeem Agboola – Ijakumo the Born Again Stripper
Kolade Kayode Morakinyo – Shanty Town
Kolade Morakinyo, Pius Fatoke – Battle On Buka Street
Q Rodney Abia, Angelo Anosike, Kayode Kasum – Obara’ M
Shiloh Godson – Black Mail
BEST SOUND TRACK
Abiola Olayinka, Habeeb Adebayo – L.I.F.E.
Adam Songbird and Tolu Obanro – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Gbas Gbos by Tolu Obanro and Adam Songbird – Battle on Buka Street
Jaysynths and Hotkid – Shanty Town
Joel Christian Goffin – Black Mail
Kent Edunjobi – Anikulapo – Winner
Q Rodney Abia, Angelo Anosike, Kayode Kasum – Obara’ M
BEST MAKE UP
Carina SFX – The Trade
Feyzo Artistry – Ile Owo
Francisca Otaigbe – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Hakeem Effects Onilogbo – Anikulapo
Hakeem Effects Onilogbo, Jemila Sedik – Battle on Buka Street
Maryam Ndukwe , Hakeem Effects Onilogbo – Shanty Town – Winner
Sandra Oyiana-Ogbeni – Tarella
BEST WRITER
Funke Akindele, Jack’enneth Opukeme, Stephen Oluboyo, Jemine Edukugho – Battle on Buka Street
Jade Osiberu – The Trade
Sodi Kurubo, Stephanie Dadet and Victor Aghahowa – Diiche (Episode 5)
Sola Dada – Anikulapo – Winner
Tunde Apalowo and Jeffery Musa David – Kanaani
Uche Ateli – Choke
Yinka Laoye – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
Charles Oleghe – Diiche
Ekuka Ishaq – Tembele
Idowu Adedapo – Ijakumo the Born Again Stripper
Idowu Adedapo (Mr Views) – Flawsome
Jonathan Kovel – Shanty Town
Jonathan Kovel – Anikulapo
Loukman Ali – Brotherhood – Winner
Mex Ossai, Philip Okpokoro, Esmond Igho, KC Obiajulu, Goke Oyerinde – Real Housewives of Lagos
Paul Gambit – Jolly Roger
Yinka Edward – Crime & Justice
BEST MOVIE SOUTHERN AFRICA
Elvis Chucks – Jewel
Emmanuel Mwape – Silver Lining
Leburugraphy – Ke Bona Spoko
BEST MOVIE EAST AFRICA
Click Click Bang – Winner
Philip Karanja Njenga
Elenor Nabwiso
Karamoja
Gashumba Emmanuel
Dial M for Maya
Hassan Mageye
Bedroom Chains
Lucy Mwangi
Baba Twins
Mugisha Herbert Morris
Tembele
Nadira Shakur
Married to Work
Omar Hamza
Gacal
Wilson Nkya & Jane Moshi
Frida
Wilson Nkya & Philipo Ngonyani
Mvamizi (The Intruder)
BEST MOVIE WEST AFRICA
Jade Osiberu – Brotherhood – Winner
Chris Odeh – Choke
Kayode Kasum – Obara’ M
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
Rent-A-Studio & Native Media TV – Kanaani
Samira Yakubu – Red Carpet
Winifred Mena Ajakpovi – Four Four Forty Four
BEST TELEVISION SERIES
Adeola Art-Alade & Dare Art Alade – Real Housewives of Lagos
Bovi Ugboma, Ann Obaseki – Visa On Arrival (Season 1)
Dimbo Atiya, Rahama Sadau, Safina Mellisa – The Plan
Grace Kahaki & Philippe Bresson – Single Kiasi
Ife Olujuyigbe, Kayode Kasum – When are we getting married
James Omokwe — Diiche
Millicent Ogutu – County 49
Tola Odunsi & Akin Akinkugbe – Flawsome
Vincent Nwachukwu – Game On (Season 2)
Yinka Edward – Crime & Justice – Winner
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Best Okoduwa – 100 of Us
Charles F. Solomon – Way to the Top
Charles F. Solomon; Oluchi Nsofor; Aaron Olayemi; Famous Odion- Green: – The Amazons
Chude Jideowo – Awaiting Trial
Nathaniel George – Truck Blind Spot
Nora Awolowo – Nigeria: The Debut – Winner
Nora Awolowo – Baby Blues
BEST DIRECTOR
Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Babatunde Apalowo – All The Colours of the World are between Black and White
Bolanle Austen-Peters – Man of God
Dimeji Ajibola – Shanty Town
Jade Osiberu – The Trade
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo
Loukman Ali – Brotherhood – Winner
Mugisha Herbert Morris – Tembele
Obi Emelonye – Black Mail
Tolu Ajayi, Fiyin Gambo, Ifeoma Chukwuogo, James Omokwe – Diiche
THE MULTICHOICE TALENT FACTORY FILM
A Quiet Intruder
Cheza
Leaked – Winner
Revisit
Stinger
Strings
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE – SWAHILI
Daniel Manege – Mpiganaji
Freddy Feruzi – Dau
Malcom Hamisi – Barakatatu
Philip Karanja Njenga – Click Click Bang – Winner
Phoebe Ruguru & Njue Kevin – Safari
Wilson Nkya- Mvanmizi – The Intruder
Wilson Nkya & Jane Moshi – Frida
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE – YORUBA
Funmi Bank Anthony Abdullahi Abdulrasaq- Abebi Seranko Seniyan
Karamot Adeboye – Morenikeji
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo – Winner
Okusanya Bayonle Samson – Mr Raji
Ololade Tijani-Ebong – Ogeere
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE – HAUSA
Abubakar Bashir Maishadda – Aisha – Winner
Evans Ejiogu – Kwana Casa’in
Nancy Yiljep – Guzama
Ty Shaban – Lulu Da Andalu
BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE – IGBO
Brown Ene, Victor Onwudiwe, Ben Cassie – Ifediche
Shileold A. Ibironke – Ijeoma
Shileold A. Ibironke – Ego Mbute
Trinity Ugonabo – The Bride Price (imego)
Victor Iyke – Uhuruchi – Winner
BEST OVERALL MOVIE
Femi Adebayo – King of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Funke Akindele – Battle on Buka Street
Jade Osiberu – Brotherhood
Kayode Kasum – Ile Owo
Kunle Afolayan – Anikulapo – Winner
Mugisha Herbert Morris – Tembele
Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi – Four Four Forty Four
Nigerian superstar Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid has officially made history as the first African artist to surpass 10 billion streams on Spotify across all credits.
This milestone cements his legacy as the leading figure in the global expansion of Afrobeats, having been the first African artist to reach every billion-stream threshold on the platform (from 1 billion to 10 billion).
The Ojuelegba crooner achieved the feat as his streams across all credits on the platform recently hit the 10 billion-stream mark.
His collaborative hit with Canadian superstar Drake and British singer, Tyla is his most streamed song on the platform with almost 4 billion streams.
His third studio album, ‘Made In Lagos Deluxe’ is his most streamed project on Spotify with over a billion streams.
Wizkid’s most streamed song as lead is ‘Essence’ featuring Tems, which has amassed over 333 million streams.
Meanwhile, American singer Billie Eilish’s ‘Birds Of A Feather’ has surpassed Tones and I’s ‘Dance Monkey’ as the most streamed solo song by a female artist in Spotify history.
‘Birds Of A Feather’ recently hit 3.37 billion to surpass ‘Dance Monkey’, which has 3.3 billion streams.
Actress and producer Funke Akindele has officially shattered box office records once again. Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has surpassed her previous work to become the highest-grossing film of all time in West Africa.
The film reached this historic milestone after crossing the ₦1.77 billion mark at the box office in early January 2026.
This is according to box office performance data from cinema distributors and industry trackers across the region.
The development shows the growing commercial power of locally produced films and Funke Akindele’s continued dominance as Nollywood’s most bankable filmmaker.
The film’s record-breaking run comes after weeks of sustained audience turnout, strong word-of-mouth, and consistently high weekly grosses, positioning it ahead of Akindele’s previous blockbuster, Everybody Loves Jenifa, which ended its theatrical run at about N1.8 billion.
What the data is saying
Available data shows that Behind The Scenes has already recorded a cumulative box office gross of approximately N1.77 billion as of the last weekend in cinemas.
The movie also posted a historic N129.5 million single-day gross on Boxing Day, one of the highest ever recorded in Nollywood history.
In terms of audience turnout, the film leads West Africa’s 2025 admissions ranking with 223,768 admissions between January 1 and December 31, 2025 (not calculating spillover numbers in 2026 yet. This places it well ahead of Everybody Loves Jenifa, which recorded 148,863 admissions within the same period. The numbers reflect not just higher ticket prices, but a significantly larger cinema-going audience.
More context from the box office
Beyond becoming the region’s highest-grossing film, Behind The Scenes is also the highest-grossing movie of 2025 so far. It represents Funke Akindele’s third N1 billion film, an achievement that remains unprecedented in Nollywood.
The film features an expansive, star-studded cast including BBNaija stars Wanni x Handi, Uche Montana, Scarlet Gomez, Tobi Bakre, Uzor Arukwe, Vee, Mr Macaroni, Ini Dima-Okojie, Iyabo Ojo, Ibrahim Chatta, Dele Odule, Destiny Etiko, Kamo, Afeez Oyetoro, and Ejiro Onojafe. Its broad appeal across demographics helped sustain momentum weeks after release.
The success of Behind The Scenes reinforces Nollywood’s transition into a data-driven, big-budget industry capable of delivering consistent theatrical returns. Funke Akindele previously disclosed that the film’s production budget was close to N1 billion, highlighting the growing scale and financial risk of modern Nigerian filmmaking.
What you should know
Nairametrics has consistently reported on the rise of billion-naira Nollywood films and Funke Akindele’s outsized influence on the box office. The actress-producer had earlier warned fans against sharing pirated cinema recordings, emphasizing how piracy directly threatens film profitability.
Behind The Scenes had shown strong box office momentum from its opening weekend. Funke Akindele’s latest film recorded over N200 million in box office revenue during its first weekend in cinemas, making it the highest-grossing opening weekend of 2025, according to figures released by FilmOne Entertainment, the film’s West African distributor.
The movie, which debuted in cinemas on December 12, attracted 34,548 admissions between December 12 and 14, setting multiple opening-weekend benchmarks in the Nigerian film market. Within just two weeks of release, the title crossed the N500 million mark at the Nigerian box office.
Its momentum continued across the region, as Behind The Scenes surged past N1.1 billion at the West African box office just 17 days after release, becoming the fastest film in the region’s history to cross the billion-naira threshold.
Entertainment
Police Launch Manhunt For Portable Following Alleged Assault On Baby Mama, Ashabi Simple
Controversial Nigerian singer, Portable, has escaped police arrest after beating up his fourth baby mama, actress Ashabi Simple.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday, January 1, 2026 during Ashabi’s visit to his bar in Ogun state.
In a viral video of the incident online, Ashabi, who was seen holding the singer’s cloth saying she’s tired of being called his baby mama, insisted that Portable must also recognise her as his wife.
She said: “Oya Pami baby, I’m also your wife, you’ve to stop calling me your baby mama.”
Portable immediately pushed her and replied that he only recognises his wife, Bewaji, noting that other women that have kids with him are baby mamas.
“I only have one wife, the rest of you are just baby mamas,” the singer said.
His response escalated the altercation with Ashabi responding emotionally “Then you will have to kill me, baby.”
After the commotion, the actress and her siblings reported Portable to the police for assault and abuse.
Speaking in a video on Instagram, Ashabi revealed that the police met Portable’s pregnant wife, Bewaji at home as Portable escaped arrest.
“I celebrated the new year in a happy mood with my family. You are the one that called me that you’re in a bad mood, and I told you that I went to my dad’s house for the new year. And you asked me to bring new year food for you and I said ok.
“I called you when I got to your bar, and you asked me to meet you outside. When I got there, we had a minor disagreement and you slapped me, beat me up, seized our phones and threatened my siblings and I with axe,” she alleged.
Reacting to the fight, many Nigerians berated her for forcing herself on him, while some said she has low self esteem.
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