The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 took place on Saturday night at Eko Hotel and Suites, featuring emotional speeches, dazzling red carpet appearances, unexpected winners, and significant disappointments that sparked online discussions. While *My Father’s Shadow* claimed five major awards, many actors, filmmakers, content creators, and popular productions left empty-handed despite high expectations from their supporters.

Highlighted below are some of the most notable snubs from the 2026 AMVCA:

*Funke Akindele – “Behind The Scenes”*

Funke Akindele became a prominent topic of discussion after losing the Best Supporting Actress award to Linda Ejiofor for *The Herd*. Her film, *Behind The Scenes*, which grossed over N2 billion at the Nigerian box office and remained a hot topic all year, also failed to win the Best Movie award despite strong predictions from fans. Many believed her portrayal of Adetutu Fernandez in the black tax-themed drama deserved greater recognition, as she topped various fan polls leading up to the awards.

**Scarlet Gomez**

Scarlet Gomez was another subject of online chatter for missing a significant acting award despite commendations for her performance in *Behind The Scenes*. Viewers felt her emotionally charged role warranted more recognition.

Despite being nominated nine times, *Gingerrr* did not convert those nominations into major wins. The film, which starred Kie Kie, Wunmi Toriola, Bisola Aiyeola, and co-producer Bolaji Ogunmola, performed well at the box office and is currently available for streaming on Kava and Netflix. Many anticipated the film would take center stage at the ceremony after receiving substantial publicity and social media buzz.

**Daniel Etim-Effiong** was recognized as a significant snub, as many fans felt he deserved acknowledgment for his directing of *The Herd*, which garnered multiple nominations and won thanks to Ejiofor’s performance.

**Genoveva Umeh** also failed to secure a win despite praise for her emotional portrayal in *The Herd*, for which she was nominated for Best Actress.

Content creator **Akwaman**, although a topic of online discussion in the Best Digital Content Creator category, did not win for his viral entry, “Did I just hear Muah,” which became a meme after gaining popularity in 2025. The award ultimately went to Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom for “Leave to Live.”

**Taooma** once again left the event without a win, despite being among the most recognized nominees in the Best Digital Content Creator category. Her comedy skits continued to trend across TikTok, Instagram, and X throughout the eligibility period.

**Steve Chuks** was another contender who missed out, despite strong online support for his comedic skits and relatable storytelling, leading fans to expect a victorious outcome after another successful year.

**Femi Adebayo** was widely viewed as deserving of the Best Lead Actor award for his role in *Agesinkole 2*, which generated significant buzz ahead of the event but ultimately did not secure a major win.

**Kemi Adetiba** and her project *To Kill A Monkey* experienced a mixed outcome. Despite earning eight nominations and winning technical awards, the project lost in major categories, including Best Scripted Series, after missing out on a Best Director nomination. Oscar Heman-Ackah was nominated for Best Music Score for the project but lost to Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra for *My Father’s Shadow*.

*The Real Housewives of Lagos*, produced by Darey Art-Alade and Deola Art-Alade, also did not win Best Unscripted Series, despite its popularity and substantial online following. Many reality TV fans anticipated the show would win due to its cultural significance and prominence in entertainment discussions.

A touching moment of the night occurred when veteran actress **Sola Sobowale** received the Industry Merit Award for her contributions to Nollywood. Her performance in *Her Excellency*, produced by Adebayo Salami, was celebrated as she playfully teased Linda Ejiofor during her speech. Veteran actor **Kanayo O. Kanayo** also received a Lifetime Achievement Award, despite losing the Best Actor category for *Grandpa Must Obey*. These honors for Nollywood veterans helped soften the disappointment regarding the night’s significant snubs and provided an emotional conclusion to the ceremony.

As reactions continue online, these snubs have once again demonstrated the unpredictability of award shows, where fan support, online popularity, and judges' decisions do not always align.

Source.

https://opr.news/5ec5a6cd260510en_ng?link=1&client=ex_global