Nollywood stars Toyin Abraham, Osas Ighodaro, Wale Ojo and Daniel Etim-Effiong are among the actors and filmmakers nominated in major categories for the 2026 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The nominations highlight films and talents from across Africa, with Nigerian productions including To Adaego with Love and The Herd competing alongside entries from South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and other countries.
In the Best Actress in a Leading Role category, Abraham earned a nomination for Oversabi Auntie, while Ighodaro was recognised for her performance in Colours of Fire. They will compete against Chisom Agoawuike for To Adaego with Love, Sarah Karel for One Woman, One Bra, Deborah Kabongo for Rusambo, Faithia Balogun for Efunroye: The Unicorn, Jackline Nafula for Slum Bomber and Naku Sy Savane for The Color of Exile.
The Best Actor in a Leading Role category features Wale Ojo for Lights Out and Etim-Effiong for The Herd. Other nominees include Maurice Carpede for The Trek, Ricky Adelayitar for The Fisherman, Uzor Arukwe for Colours of Fire, Marcus Mabusela for Ben Made It, Abdoulaziz Sall for The Color of Exile and Kang Quintus for Mabanda.
The Best Director category also features strong competition, with Etim-Effiong nominated for The Herd and Nwamaka Chikezie recognised for To Adaego with Love. Other nominees include Meekaaeel Adam for The Trek, Azlorabe Alaoui for The Color of Exile, Maureen Nankya for Slum Bomber, Vincho Nchongu for One Woman, One Bra, Pheello Makosholo for Ben Made It, Kang Quintus for Mabanda and Zoey Martinson for The Fisherman.
The race for Best Debut Feature Film by a Director includes Etim-Effiong’s The Herd and Chikezie’s To Adaego with Love, alongside Slum Bomber, One Woman, One Bra, The Trek, The Fisherman, Rusambo, Ben Made It, A Tribe Called Love and Her Mothers Daughter.
The Best Film category features nine productions representing different African film industries. They are The Trek from South Africa, To Adaego with Love and The Herd from Nigeria, The Fisherman from Ghana, The Color of Exile from Côte d’Ivoire, Slum Bomber from Uganda, One Woman, One Bra from Kenya, Ben Made It from South Africa and Mabanda from Cameroon.
Other names appearing in the supplied nominations include Phumzile Kubheka for Ben Made It and veteran Nigerian actress Patience Ozokwo for Onobiren: A Woman’s Story.
The nominations reflect the diversity of African cinema, bringing together established performers, emerging directors and productions exploring different stories and experiences across the continent.
With Nigerian films and talents represented in several major categories, the 2026 AMAA awards race will be an important one for Nollywood as it competes with productions from other African countries for continental recognition.
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