Full list of winners as Lateef Adedimeji’s ‘Lisabi’ sweeps AMVCA 2025 Awards

The glittering ceremony that celebrated African storytelling excellence took place in Nigeria’s commercial hub Saturday evening, drawing renowned talents from across the continent to the 11th AMVCA edition.

Excellence in African television and film was celebrated at the star-studded occasion, with IK Osakioduwa serving as host. The ceremony recognised outstanding work in 28 categories, with Best Music Score making its debut as a new award category.

Several major honours went to the historical drama about an Egba farmer’s resistance against the oppressive Alaafin of Oyo in the 1800s. Lateef Adedimeji both starred in and produced Lisabi: The Uprising, which claimed Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), Best Art Direction and Best Makeup.

The film’s director Niyi Akinmolayan crafted this compelling historical narrative, while Adedimeji and his wife Adebimpe Oyebade, also a star in the production, expressed gratitude to both God and their dedicated production team when accepting their awards.

Though Lisabi received multiple accolades, Blessing Uzzi’s Freedom Way claimed Best Movie award. The action thriller from 2024, directed by Afolabi Olalekan, examines corruption, police brutality, and youth oppression in Nigeria, beating out strong competitors including Skeleton Coast, Suspicion, and House of Ga’a.

The Man Died, the feature film inspired by Wole Soyinka’s prison notes of the same title, won Best Director for Awam Amkpa.

Multiple awards also went to the supernatural Netflix series about a cursed monarch, as Seven Doors by Femi Adebayo won Best Lead Actor (Femi Adebayo), Best Lead Actress (Chioma Chukwuka), and Best Music Score (Tolu Obanro). The show’s compelling narrative resonated strongly with fans at the ceremony.

The evening featured special recognition for industry veterans, with Lifetime Achievement Awards presented to Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu, while Kayode Kasum received the Trailblazer Award for his contributions to African storytelling.

Entertainment for the evening included performances by Chima (Nigerian Idol Season 9 winner), singer Johnny Drille, and viral sensations Fido, Kunmie, and Serotonin.

See the full list of winners below:

Nominees for Best Multichoice Talent Factory

1. Gone — West Africa
2. Everything Light Touches — West Africa – WINNER
3. The Immersive Alarm — East Africa
4. Deadbeat — East Africa
5. Mwananga — Southern Africa
6. Rivals in Time — Southern Africa

Nominees for Best Scripted (M-Net Original)

1. Uriri — Xavier Ighorodje
2. All Mine — Hadizat Ibrahim
3. My Fairytale Wedding — Chinenye Nworah and Taiwo Adebayo – WINNER
4. Italo — Rogers Ofime
5. The Caller — Brain Munene
6. Kam U Stay — Damaris Irungu Ochieng

Best Unscripted M-Net Original

1. Nigerian Idol – WINNER
2. Pastor Wants A Wife (Zambia)
3. Overall Best
4. Husband Material
5. The Queens of Kopala

Nominees for Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)

1. Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo
2. Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Latest and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji – WINNER
3. Kaka — Prince Daniel
4. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Kunle Afolayan
5. Mai Martaba — Prince Daniel

Nominees for Best Indigenous (M-Net Original)

1. Mai Shayi — Ben Pever
2. The Caller — Brian Munene
3. ZI M UZO — Nnodim Chigozie – WINNER
4. Ebighi Ebi — Florence Okechukwu and Iyke Okechukwu
5. Subterranea — Brain Munene and Likarion Wainaina
6. Onye Agata Obim — Alozie Newman
7. Amoanimaa’s Era — Kwabena Gyansah

Nominees for Best Short Film

1. Sukari — Omar Hamza
2. Brukaci — Jide Jblaze Oyegbile – WINNER
3. What Are You Truly Afraid Of? — Nora Awolowo
4. In Bloom: Afefe — MTV STAYING ALIVE FOUNDATION
5. The Incredible Sensational Fiancee of Seyi Ajayi — Abbesi Akhami

Nominees for Best Indigenous Language (West Africa)

1. Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo
2. Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Latest and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji – WINNER
3. Kaka — Prince Daniel
4. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Kunle Afolayan
5. Mai Martaba — Prince Daniel

Nominees for Best Indigenous (M-Net Original)

1. Mai Shayi — Ben Pever
2. The Caller — Brian Munene
3. Show Me The Way — Nnodim Chigozie – WINNER
4. Ebighi Ebi — Florence Okechukwu and Iyke Okechukwu
5. Subterranea — Brain Munene and Likarion Wainaina
6. Onye Agata Obim — Alozie Newman
7. Amoanimaa’s Era — Kwabena Gyansah

Nominees for Best Supporting Actor

1. Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Gabriel Afolayan – WINNER
2. Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedayo Adebowale Macaroni
3. Seven Doors — Aliu Gafar
4. Freedom Way — Femi Jacobs
5. Christmas in Lagos — Richard Mofe-Damijo
6. Suspicion — Uzor Arukwe
7. House of Ga’a — Mike Folarin
8. Princess On A Hill — Efa Iwara

Nominees for Best Supporting Actress

1. Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Meg Otanwa
2. Suspicion — Tina Mba
3. All’s Fair in Love — Ireti Doyle
4. Skeleton Coast — Ini Dima-Ojokie
5. Farmer’s Bride — Mercy Aigbe – WINNER
6. The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3 — Omoni Oboli
7. Aburo — Darasimi Nnadi

Nominees for Best Lead Actor

1. Tokunbo — Gideon Okeke
2. The Weekend — Bucci Franklin
3. House of Ga’a — Femi Branch
4. Skeleton Coast — Thapelo Makoena
5. Princess on A Hill — Bimbo Manuel
6. Suspicion — Stan Nze
7. Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo – WINNER
8. Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Lateef

Nominees for Best Lead Actress

1. Seven Doors — Chioma Chukwuka – WINNER
2. Farmer’s Bride — Gbubemi Ejeye
3. Agemo — Uzoamaka Onuoha
4. Thinline — Uche Montana
5. Phoenix Fury — Uzoamaka Aniunoh
6. The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3 — Hilda Dokubo
7. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Bimbo Ademoye

Nominees for Best Cinematography

1. Yen Ara Asaase Ni (This Is Our Land) — Onasis Gaisie, Michael Sefa, and Apagnawen Annankra
2. Inkabi — Chuanne Blofield
3. The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos — Leo Purman WINNER
4. Skeleton Coast — Wesley Johnston
5. Soft Love — Ebrahim Hajee
6. Lisabi: The Uprising — Barnabas Emordi and Nora Awolowo
7. Agemo — Papama Tangela

Nominees for Best Editing

1. Inkabi — Tongai Furusa – WINNER
2. Christmas in Lagos — Martini Akande
3. Skeleton Coast — Jordan Koen
4. Soft Love — Holmes Awa and Paballo Modingoane
5. Lisabi: The Uprising — Anthill Studios
6. Princess on A Hill — Laughter Ephraim and Peter Ugbede

Nominees for Best Sound/Sound Design

1. Inkabi — Vaughn Philips
2. Seven Doors — Tolu Obanro, Pius Fatoke, and Adam Songbird
3. Freedom Way — Ahuurra Andrew and Olusola Wilson
4. Lisabi: The Uprising — Tolu Obanro and Bode Odeyemi
5. Ajakaju: Beast of Two Worlds — Adams Songbird and Pius Fatoke
6. Suspicion — Michael Botha and Olaosebikan Okonrende – WINNER

Nominees for Best Score/Music

1. Inkabi — Seoli Bongani Mashaba
2. Freedom Way — Ahuurra Andrew, Kehinde ‘Louddaaa’ Alabi, and Cobhams Asuquo
3. Seven Doors — Tolu Obanro – WINNER
4. Soft Love — Kolade Morankinyo (MPSE) and Efa Iwara (Love and Hate)
5. Skeleton Coast — Chris Letcher

Nominees for Best Art Direction

1. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Kunle Afolayan and Solihull Quadri Afolabi
2. Christmas in Lagos — Joy Kadiri
3. Farmer’s Bride — Daniel Okoi
4. Seven Doors — Tunji Afolayan
5. The Man Died— Theo Lawson
6. Lisabi: The Uprising — Solihull Badu Noutical and Ayanmo Yakub – WINNER

Nominees for Best Costume Design

1. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Toyin Ogundeji

.2. House of Ga’a — Bolanle Austen-Peters, Yolanda Okereke, Juliana Dede, and Gloria Ovu

3. Lisabi: The Uprising — Oluwatoyin Balogun and Oyebade Adebimpe Adedimeji
4. Phoenix Fury — Opeyemi Sogeke
5. Christmas in Lagos — Adedamola Adeyemi – WINNER

Nominees for Best Make-Up

1. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect)
2. Lisabi: The Uprising — Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect) – WINNER
3. Seven Doors — Hakeem Onilogbo (Hakeem Effect)
4. Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Kpoudosu Winifred
5. Suspicion — Tracy Izogie and Adeleke Toluwulashe Maigari
6. Farmer’s Bride — Abejide Oluwatosin Mercy

Nominees for Best Writing (TV Series)

1. Untying Kantai — Abel Mutua Musyoka – WINNER
2. Tuki? — Louise Kamwangi
3. Roses and Ivy — Biodun Stephen and Abimbola Akinrinbola
4. Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — Shola Dada
5. Princess on A Hill — Bibi Ukpo, Niyi Adeniji, and Sonia Nwosu
6. Cheta’M — Ifeanyi Chidi Barbara
7. Seven Doors — Adebayo Tijani, Yinka Laoye, and Soyombo-Oluyombo Oluwagbemiga

Nominees for Best Writer (movie)

1. The Weekend — Egbemawei Dimiyei Sammy, and Vanessa Kanu, and Frederick O. Anyaebunam Jnr
2. Skeleton Coast — Omolola Lamikanra
3. Freedom Way — Blessing Uzzi – WINNER
4. Phoenix Fury — Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo
5. A Ghetto Love Story — Victoria Eze
6. Christmas in Lagos — Jadesola Osiberu
7. House of Ga’a — Tunde Babalola

Nominees for Best Documentary

1. Walvis Tale — David Benade and Tim Huebschle
2. Dundun — Ifeoluwa Fatogun and Ebi Atawodi – WINNER
3. O.Y.O (On Your Own) — Daniel Omokhagbo Itegboje
4. Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Woman — Jessica Eneh, Eric Chidom, Kelechi Agbara, and Vera Okoh
5. I Will Remember You — Mohamed Rida Gueznai

Nominees for Best Series (Scripted)

1. Clarence Peters’ Inside Life — Clarence Peters – WINNER
2. Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo
3. Princess on A Hill — Chuka Ejorh, Shayo Oke Sobo, Tolu Ajayi, and Abiola Soyo
4. Cheta’M — James Omokwe
5. Roses and Ivy — Biodun Stephen

Nominees for Best Series (Unscripted)

1. Style Magnate — Abisola Omolade
2. Skillers (The Builders Show) — Bright Jaja, Uche Ikejimba, and Cross Okonkwo
3. Ebuka Turns Up Africa — Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Erika Klopper, Ziyanda Ngcaba, and Olamide Ayodeji Adedeji
4. Wa Milele? (Forever?) — Kefa Igilo and Jerryson Onasaa – WINNER
5. Uzoamaka Tries Palmwine — Chinekwu Osakwe and Kennedy Ezumah

Nominees for Best Director

1. Skeleton Coast — Robert O. Peters
2. Inkabi — Norman Make
3. House of Ga’a — Bolanle Austen-Peters
4. The Man Died — Awam Amkpa – WINNER
5. The Weekend — Daniel Emeke Oriahi
6. Seven Doors — Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani, and Tope Adebayo

Nominees for Best Movie

1. Lisabi: The Uprising — Adedimeji Lateef and Adebimpe Oyebade Adedimeji
2. Skeleton Coast — Mondjila Studios
3. Suspicion — Tosin Igho
4. Inkabi — Princess Mhlongo
5. House of Ga’a — Bolanle Austen-Peters and Joseph Umoibom
6. Freedom Way — Blessing Uzzi – WINNER
7. Christmas in Lagos — Jadesola Osiberu
8. Farmer’s Bride — Kene Okwuosa, Moses Babatope, Craig Shurn, and Colette Otusheso

Best Digital Content Creator

Iyo Prosper Adokiye – WINNER

Trailblazer Award

Kayode Kasum – WINNER

Industry Merit Award

Sani Mu’azu – WINNER

Nkem Owoh – WINNER