AMVCA Cultural Day opened the 12th edition of the awards with colourful fashion, culture and celebrity appearances in Lagos

The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards began on Friday with a vibrant Cultural Day celebration that showcased African heritage, fashion and creativity ahead of the main awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday.

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The event, held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, attracted actors, filmmakers and entertainment personalities who appeared in elaborate traditional attire reflecting diverse African cultures.

Among the celebrities present at the AMVCA Cultural Day were Omowunmi Dada, Nnenna Mbonu, Uche Jombo, Scarlet Gomez, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman and Jason Jae.

Also spotted at the colourful gathering were Imisioluwa Ayanwale, Iyo Prosper and Ashiogwu Precious, all dressed in striking traditional outfits that added glamour to the celebration.

This year’s AMVCA Cultural Day carried the theme “Honouring Craft, Celebrating Culture”, with organisers using the platform to spotlight African storytelling and artistic excellence through fashion and entertainment.

The cultural showcase officially opened activities leading to the highly anticipated Award Night set for May 9.

Earlier, organisers unveiled the nominees for the 2026 edition while also announcing veteran actress Joke Silva as the Head Judge for this year’s awards.

Joke Silva succeeds filmmaker Femi Odugbemi in the influential role overseeing the judging process.

The 2026 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards features 32 categories, including 18 jury-decided awards, 11 audience-voted categories and three special recognition honours.

Organisers also introduced two new categories, Best Indigenous Language Film for North Africa and Best Indigenous Language Film for Central Africa, in a powerful move aimed at expanding the awards’ pan-African reach.

Among the productions leading this year’s nominations are Gingerrr, The Herd, My Father’s Shadow, 3 Cold Dishes and The Serpent’s Gift, all of which secured places in major categories.

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The AMVCA Cultural Day once again reinforced the awards’ reputation as one of Africa’s biggest celebrations of film, television, fashion and cultural identity.