The AMAA 2026 shortlist brings together productions from across the continent and the diaspora, including films that have already earned recognition at international festivals, won industry awards, or secured their countries’ submissions for the Academy Awards.
By Joseph Jonathan
The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has announced the nominees for its 22nd edition, with Uganda’s Slum Bomber and Kenya’s One Woman, One Bra leading the nominations with 14 nods apiece. Nigeria’s To Adaego With Love, directed by Nwamaka Chikezie, follows with 11 nominations, making it the country’s most-nominated film this year.
The nominations were announced on Saturday, 17 October 2026, during a livestream on the awards’ official YouTube channel. The 2026 shortlist brings together productions from across the continent and the diaspora, including films that have already earned recognition at international festivals, won industry awards, or secured their countries’ submissions for the Academy Awards.
Vincho Nchogu’s One Woman One Bra arrives at the AMAAs with a particularly notable international profile. The Kenya-Nigeria co-production premiered in the Biennale College Cinema section of the 2025 Venice International Film Festival before winning the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature at the BFI London Film Festival. At the 2026 Tribeca Festival, it received the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature and a special jury mention for lead actress Sarah Karei. The film was subsequently selected as Kenya’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
Its 14 AMAA nominations include Best Film, Best Director, Best Debut Feature Film by a Director, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Karei, and several technical categories. For Nchogu, the nominations add another layer of recognition to a debut feature that has already travelled through some of the international festival circuit’s prominent platforms.
Cameroon’s Mabanda, directed by Kang Quintus, also features among the nine Best Film nominees. The film was selected as Cameroon’s submission for the 99th Academy Awards, giving the Central African production a place in the international awards conversation alongside One Woman, One Bra. Its AMAA nominations include Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Quintus, and Best Film in an African Language.
Close behind the two nomination leaders are Nigeria’s The Herd, South Africa’s The Trek and Ben Made It, and Côte d’Ivoire’s Colours of Exile, with ten nominations each. Nigeria’s Colours of Fire follows with nine.
The strong showing of these productions reflects the range of films represented in this year’s shortlist, from debut features and performances to cinematography, editing, screenplay, sound, and other technical crafts.
South Africa’s The Trek, directed by Meekaaeel Adam, is another contender whose nominations follow recognition elsewhere. The film has received honours on the international festival circuit, including the Jury’s Special Award at Fantasporto and a cinematography award at Fantaspoa. It also earned recognition at South Africa’s Directors Guild of South Africa Creatives Awards. Its ten AMAA nominations include Best Film, Best Director, and Best Debut Feature Film by a Director.
Nigeria’s To Adaego With Love has also received recognition before the AMAA announcement. The film premièred at AFRIFF 2025 where it won Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay. Chikezie also won Best Feature Director and Best First-Time Director at the 2026 Directors Guild of Nigeria Awards, making her debut feature’s 11 nominations a continuation of its domestic awards run. The film is nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Chisom Agoawuike, and Best Debut Feature Film by a Director, among other categories.
Meanwhile, Kaelo Iyizoba’s The Spectacular Death of Prisca earns a nomination for Best Short Film following its recognition at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The film received an honourable mention from the jury of TIFF’s Short Cuts programme, a notable achievement for a Nigerian short film competing on an international platform.
Beyond To Adaego With Love, Daniel Etim-Effiong’s The Herd is among Nigeria’s strongest contenders, with ten nominations across acting, directing, and technical categories.
Etim-Effiong is nominated for Best Director, Best Debut Feature Film by a Director, and Best Actor in a Leading Role. The triple recognition places him in contention for achievements both behind and in front of the camera for the same film. The Herd also earned acting nominations for Linda Ejiofor in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category and Bob-Manuel Udokwu in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category.
Colours of Fire, with nine nominations, adds to Nigeria’s showing. Its nominations include Best Nigerian Film, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Osas Ighodaro, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Mercy Aigbe, and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Uzor Arukwe.
The 22nd Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on 15 November 2026.
Below is the full list of nominees.
EFERE OZAKO AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
- The Last Miracle — Egypt/Germany/Sudan
- Demm — Senegal/Switzerland
- Taxi Moto — Rwanda/Switzerland
- Hurriyah — Nigeria
- Ashes of Accra — Ghana
- The Spectacular Death of Prisca — Nigeria/USA
- The Man, The Cliff and The Dog — South Africa
- A Night With The Queen — Nigeria/UK
- God Sleeps On Sunday — Zimbabwe
- Emanya — Namibia
JUBRIL MALAFIA AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION
- The Plot — Nigeria/UK
- Ananse and The Divine Journey — Ghana/USA
- Sundrud — Mali/France/Belgium/Iceland
- Ana Fein W Geit Menein — Egypt
- The Lion of Gwoza — Nigeria
- The Shadow of a Griot (L’Ombre d’un Griot) — Côte d’Ivoire
BEST DOCUMENTARY
- Truck Mama — Kenya
- The Greatest Soul on Earth — South Africa
- Djeyha, Memory of Django — Burkina Faso
- Fosta — South Africa
- Asaba Massacre — Nigeria
- Chichen Ghetto — Uganda
- The Rhythm of Ancestors — Nigeria
- Ekitibiwa ky’olugbobo — Uganda
OUSMANE SEMBENE AWARD FOR BEST FILM IN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- Iwe Ala — Nigeria
- Mabanda — Cameroon
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
- Ben Made It — South Africa
- Efunroye (The Unicorn) — Nigeria
MICHAEL ANYIAM OSIGWE AWARD FOR BEST FILM BY AN AFRICAN LIVING ABROAD
- Hanami — Switzerland/Portugal/Cape Verde
- A Tribe Called Love — Canada
- The Man Who Never Was
- Boys Wear Pink Too
BEST DIASPORA SHORT
- Till Death — USA
- Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes
- The Things We Carry
- River Mama
- Cross Roads
BEST DIASPORA DOCUMENTARY
- Nashville Soul — USA
- Reclaiming The Past — USA
- Sisters in Destiny: Angela Davis & Getty Archimède — Guadeloupe
- Stolen — USA
BEST DIASPORA NARRATIVE FEATURE
- A Tribe Called Love
- Montmartre
- Heirloom
ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN
- To Adaego With Love — Nigeria
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- The Herd — Nigeria
- Light Out — Nigeria
- Colours of Fire — Nigeria
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
- Cordelia — Nigeria
- The Creek — Nigeria
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
- The Fisherman — Ghana
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
- Iwe Ala — Nigeria
- Idia — Nigeria
- To Adaego With Love — Nigeria
- The Trek — South Africa
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
- Efunroye (The Unicorn) — Nigeria
- Colours of Fire — Nigeria
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- Mabanda — Cameroon
- The Herd — Nigeria
- Suky — Nigeria
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUNDTRACK
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- To Adaego With Love — Nigeria
- Black Burn Fast — Nigeria
- Evi — Nigeria
- Idia — Nigeria
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
- The Creek — Nigeria
- Colours of Fire — Nigeria
- The Fisherman — Ghana
- Suky — Nigeria
- The Herd — Nigeria
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
- The Trek — South Africa
- Suky — Nigeria
- To Adaego With Love — Nigeria
- Colours of Fire — Nigeria
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- Colours of Exile — Côte d’Ivoire
- Black Burn Fast — Nigeria
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
- The Trek — South Africa
- Colours of Exile — Côte d’Ivoire
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- Hanami — Switzerland/Portugal/Cape Verde
- Cordelia — Nigeria
- Ben Made It — South Africa
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
- Colours of Exile — Côte d’Ivoire
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- Ben Made It — South Africa
- The Trek — South Africa
- Suky — Nigeria
- Evi — Nigeria
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY
- To Adaego With Love — Nigeria
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- Colours of Exile — Côte d’Ivoire
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
- Onobiren — Nigeria
- The Herd — Nigeria
- Ben Made It — South Africa
NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) AWARD FOR BEST NIGERIAN FILM
- Iwe Ala — Nigeria
- To Adaego With Love — Nigeria
- Colours of Fire — Nigeria
- Suky — Nigeria
- Efunroye (The Unicorn) — Nigeria
- The Herd — Nigeria
- Cordelia — Nigeria
- The Creek — Nigeria
- Oversabi Aunty — Nigeria
BEST YOUNG/PROMISING ACTOR
- Muntaha Mohammed — A Tribe Called Love (Canada)
- Abdou Aziz Dabak Salis — Colours of Exile (Côte d’Ivoire)
- James Solomon Damilare — Suky (Nigeria)
- Osas Okonyon — Evi (Nigeria)
- Dailma Mendes (Young Nana) — Hanami (Switzerland/Portugal/Cape Verde)
- Leah Lindeque — The Trek (South Africa)
- Onyinye Odokoro — Oblation (Nigeria)
- Ocen Daniel — Slum Bomber (Uganda)
- Azania Thella — Ben Made It (South Africa)
- Gbubemi Ejeye — Idia (Nigeria)
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Amos Leuka — One Woman, One Bra (Kenya)
- Dele Odule — Iwe Ala (Nigeria)
- Samuel Kabugo — Slum Bomber (Uganda)
- Femi Branch — Colours of Fire (Nigeria)
- Bucci Franklin — The Creek (Nigeria)
- Bob-Manuel Udokwu — To Adaego With Love (Nigeria)
- Maurice Carpede — The Trek (South Africa)
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Norng’aruani Kipuker — One Woman, One Bra (Kenya)
- Precious Nana — Mabanda (Cameroon)
- Linda Ejiofor — The Herd (Nigeria)
- Mercy Aigbe — Colours of Fire (Nigeria)
- Zahra Elhawawi — Colours of Exile (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Omowunmi Dada — Evi (Nigeria)
- Phumzile Kubheka — Ben Made It (South Africa)
- Patience Ozokwor — Onobiren (Nigeria)
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
- Maurice Carpede — The Trek (South Africa)
- Wale Ojo — Light Out (Nigeria)
- Daniel Etim-Effiong — The Herd (Nigeria)
- Ricky Adelayitar — The Fisherman (Ghana)
- Uzor Arukwe — Colours of Fire (Nigeria)
- Marcus Mabusela — Ben Made It (South Africa)
- Abdoulaziz Sall — Colours of Exile (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Kang Quintus — Mabanda (Cameroon)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
- Chisom Agoawuike — To Adaego With Love (Nigeria)
- Sarah Karel — One Woman, One Bra (Kenya)
- Deborah Kabongo — Rusambo (Zimbabwe)
- Faithia Balogun — Efunroye (The Unicorn) (Nigeria)
- Jackline Nafula — Slum Bomber (Uganda)
- Osas Ighodaro — Colours of Fire (Nigeria)
- Naku Sy Savane — Colours of Exile (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Toyin Abraham — Oversabi Aunty (Nigeria)
BEST DEBUT FEATURE FILM BY A DIRECTOR
- Daniel Etim-Effiong — The Herd (Nigeria)
- Maureen Jolly Nankya — Slum Bomber (Uganda)
- Vincho Nchogu — One Woman, One Bra (Kenya)
- Meekaaeel Adam — The Trek (South Africa)
- Zoey Martinson — The Fisherman (Ghana)
- Angela Zivo Gapa — Rusambo (Zimbabwe)
- Pheello Makosholo — Ben Made It (South Africa)
- Nwamaka Chikezie — To Adaego With Love (Nigeria)
- Mohamed Ahmed — A Tribe Called Love (Canada)
- Chinazaekpere Chukwu — Her Daughters’ Mother (Nigeria)
BEST DIRECTOR
- Meekaaeel Adam — The Trek (South Africa)
- Nwamaka Chikezie — To Adaego With Love (Nigeria)
- Azlorabe Alaoui — Colours of Exile (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Maureen Nankya — Slum Bomber (Uganda)
- Vincho Nchogu — One Woman, One Bra (Kenya)
- Daniel Etim-Effiong — The Herd (Nigeria)
- Pheello Makosholo — Ben Made It (South Africa)
- Kang Quintus — Mabanda (Cameroon)
- Zoey Martinson — The Fisherman (Ghana)
BEST FILM
- The Trek — South Africa
- To Adaego With Love — Nigeria
- The Fisherman — Ghana
- Colours of Exile — Côte d’Ivoire
- Slum Bomber — Uganda
- One Woman, One Bra — Kenya
- The Herd — Nigeria
- Ben Made It — South Africa
- Mabanda — Cameroon