The 2026 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 may have celebrated some of Africa’s finest filmmakers and actors, but the night also left many fans debating surprising losses and unexpected outcomes.
Held on Saturday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, the glamorous ceremony produced emotional moments, major wins and several controversial snubs that quickly became trending topics across social media.
While My Father’s Shadow emerged as the biggest winner of the night with multiple awards, several fan favourites and highly celebrated projects walked away without the recognition many viewers expected.
Among the most talked-about disappointments was Funke Akindele, whose movie Behind The Scenes failed to secure major wins despite its commercial success and online popularity.
The actress lost the Best Supporting Actress award to Linda Ejiofor for her role in The Herd. Many fans had predicted victory for Akindele after her performance as Adetutu Fernandez gained attention throughout the year.
Despite grossing over N2bn at the Nigerian box office and dominating entertainment conversations, Behind The Scenes also missed out on the Best Movie award.
Scarlet Gomez was another name heavily discussed online after failing to secure an acting award for her role in Behind The Scenes. Supporters argued that her emotionally charged performance deserved stronger recognition.
The movie Gingerrr, which entered the awards with nine nominations, also failed to translate its strong presence into major victories. The project, featuring stars like Bisola Aiyeola and Wunmi Toriola, had generated significant buzz before the awards night.
Fans also expressed disappointment over Daniel Etim-Effiong missing out despite the success of The Herd. While the film earned recognition through Linda Ejiofor’s win, many believed Etim-Effiong deserved praise for his directorial effort.
Similarly, Genoveva Umeh failed to clinch the Best Lead Actress award despite strong reviews for her role in The Herd.
In the digital creator category, content creator Akwaman was considered by many online users as a favourite to win after his viral skit Did I Just Hear Muah became a major internet sensation in 2025. However, the award eventually went to Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom for Leave To Live.
Popular skit maker Taaoma also left the ceremony without a win despite her strong social media influence and consistent online presence over the past year.
Another content creator, Steve Chuks, also failed to win his category despite massive support from fans online.
Actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo was equally mentioned among notable snubs. Many movie lovers had tipped him for Best Lead Actor following his role in Agesinkole 2.
For filmmaker Kemi Adetiba, the night delivered mixed emotions. Although To Kill A Monkey picked up some technical awards, the project lost key categories including Best Scripted Series. The film had also previously missed out on a Best Director nomination.
Meanwhile, reality television fans were surprised after The Real Housewives of Lagos failed to win Best Unscripted Series despite its popularity and strong online following.
Amid the disappointments, veteran Nollywood stars Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo provided some of the night’s most emotional moments after receiving Lifetime Achievement honours for their contributions to the industry.
As reactions continue trailing the awards, the 2026 AMVCA has once again shown that while fan support and online popularity may shape expectations, award decisions can still produce surprises that keep audiences talking long after the ceremony ends.
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