The release of nominations for the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 was expected to set the tone for another celebratory season in Nollywood, spotlighting standout performances across film and television. But beyond the excitement that followed the announcement, attention quickly shifted to those left off the list including Lilian Afegbai. The omission of her name has sparked debate among fans and netizens alike.
Afegbai, who had generated buzz for her recent role, did not hold back in reacting to the snub. In a strongly worded response that has since circulated widely online, the actress dismissed the significance of the awards and told organisers they could “eat your award,”. This remark has further fuelled conversations about recognition, credibility, and the place of awards in Nollywood’s evolving landscape.
AMVCA 2026 Nominations: The Big Picture
This year’s list is led by Gingerrr and The Herd, which secured nine nominations each, underscoring their dominance across major categories. Close behind is To Kill a Monkey with eight nominations, while My Father’s Shadow follows with seven, reflecting a strong showing from both mainstream and critically acclaimed productions.
Across key categories, several of Nollywood’s most recognisable names earned nods. In the acting categories, performers such as Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Akintola, Genoveva Umeh and Sola Sobowale were among those recognised, while directing nominations highlighted filmmakers including Tunde Kelani and Akinola Davies Jr..
The awards, scheduled for May 9, 2026, in Lagos, will feature a total of 32 categories, with a mix of jury-decided and publicly voted awards. Veteran actress Joke Silva will serve as head judge, overseeing a panel tasked with determining winners in key categories.
Organisers have also introduced new categories aimed at expanding regional representation, particularly for indigenous language content, as the AMVCA continues to position itself as a leading platform for recognising diverse African storytelling.
The Snub: Where Is Lilian Afegbai?
For many observers, the omission of Lilian Afegbai from the 2026 AMVCA nominations stood out. It wasn’t necessarily because she dominated headlines throughout last year, but because of the quiet momentum surrounding her performance in To Kill a Monkey.
In the crime thriller series created by Kemi Adetiba, Afegbai played Idia, the wife of Oboz, portrayed by Bucci Franklin. The Netflix series, released in July 2025, follows a web of cybercrime, betrayal and survival in Lagos, and quickly became one of the year’s most talked-about projects.
While To Kill a Monkey itself secured multiple nominations at the 2026 AMVCA, Afegbai’s absence from the acting categories drew particular attention given the reception of her role. Her portrayal of Idia, which was marked by distinct mannerisms, culturally rooted expression, and sharp on-screen presence generated significant audience buzz, especially online, where viewers praised the authenticity she brought to the character.
Beyond the quirks that made the character memorable, Afegbai has said she approached the role with deliberate preparation, describing it as “a case of preparation meeting opportunity,” while emphasising the effort invested in building believable chemistry with her co-star.
That combination of preparation, audience reception and the project’s overall recognition formed the basis of expectations among fans who believed her performance merited a nomination. Against that backdrop, her exclusion from the final list has been interpreted by some as one of the more notable snubs of this year’s awards cycle.
Who Is Lilian Afegbai & What Did She Say
Lilian Afegbai was born November 11, 1991. She is a Nigerian actress, award-winning film producer, and entrepreneur from Edo State who is popularly known as Lily Afe. She first gained national attention as a contestant on Big Brother Africa: Hotshots in 2014. The platform launched her into Nollywood where she has since become a recognized and consistent screen presence. She holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from Benson Idahosa University and further honed her craft with acting training at the New York Film Academy.
Beyond acting, she has built a strong reputation behind the scenes as a producer through her company, EEP Entertainment, earning major industry recognition when she won the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for Best Indigenous Movie (Igbo) in 2018 with her debut production, Bound.
Her entrepreneurial drive extends into fashion and lifestyle, as the founder and CEO of Lilly’s Secret, a brand she launched in 2019 specializing in luxury swimwear, gym wear, and lingerie. She also maintains a digital media presence through her YouTube platform, where she shares lifestyle and entertainment content, further expanding her influence beyond film.
Reacting to her omission by the AMVCA, Lilian Afegbai took to X (formerly Twitter) with a message that blended restraint with defiance, pushing back against the idea that awards determine artistic worth.
“I always choose to believe everything happens for a reason. I don’t need a nomination for validation,” she wrote, before pointing to the cultural impact of her role as Idia in To Kill a Monkey. “The truth is clear, nobody trended like IDIA from TKAM last year. Her acting was 💯💯.”
She ended the post with the line that has since dominated conversations around the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 nominations: “You guys can eat your award.”
The remark quickly gained traction online, amplifying an already simmering debate about recognition and perceived snubs. While some supporters echoed her position, citing the visibility and reception of her performance, others argued that awards remain subjective, shaped by criteria that may not always align with public sentiment.
Conclusion
In the end, Lilian Afegbai’s reaction captures a familiar tension within Nollywood, between industry recognition and public validation. While the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026 remains one of the continent’s most influential platforms for celebrating film and television, moments like this underscore the conversations that continue to trail its choices.
For Afegbai, the message is clear: acclaim from audiences can carry as much weight as any nomination. Whether her remarks fade with the awards season or add to ongoing scrutiny of the process, they have already ensured that her absence from this year’s list is as talked about as the nominees themselves.
