AMAA 2026 Nominations: Ghana’s The Fisherman Chases Best Film as East Africa Dominates the Leaderboard
Uganda’s Slum Bomber and Kenya’s One Woman, One Bra lead with 14 nominations, while Zoey Martinson’s The Fisherman carries Ghana’s high hopes into the 22nd Africa Movie Academy Awards
The continent’s premier cinematic celebration is officially back, and the buzz across African film circles is electric. The unveiling of the official AMAA 2026 Nominations sent waves through the industry on Saturday, October 17, 2026, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most competitive editions in the history of the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Streamed live on AMAA’s official YouTube channel, the announcement delivered major talking points: East Africa leading with powerhouse double-digit entries, Nollywood asserting its sheer industry scale, and Ghana’s The Fisherman chasing Best Film glory in a crowded field of continental masterpieces.
At a Glance: AMAA 2026 Fast Facts
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Event: 22nd Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA 2026)
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Nominations Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 (via live stream)
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Grand Finale Ceremony: Sunday, November 15, 2026
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Venue: Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
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Overall Leaderboard Kings: Slum Bomber (Uganda) & One Woman, One Bra (Kenya) — 14 nominations each
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Top Nollywood Contender: To Adaego With Love — 11 nominations
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Ghana’s Flagbearer: The Fisherman (Directed by Zoey Martinson)
East Africa Makes a Bold Statement: Uganda and Kenya Lead the Pack
If there was ever any doubt about the rapid artistic expansion of East African cinema, the 2026 nominations put those questions to rest.
Uganda’s gripping feature Slum Bomber and Kenya’s thought-provoking One Woman, One Bra dominated the announcements, racking up 14 nominations each. Both projects secured prime real estate across major headline categories, including Best Film and Best Director.
Following closely behind the East African trail:
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Nigeria: To Adaego With Love (11 nominations) & The Herd (10 nominations)
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South Africa: The Trek (10 nominations) & Ben Made It (10 nominations)
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Côte d’Ivoire: Colours of Exile (10 nominations)
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Nigeria: Colours of Fire (9 nominations)
Ghana’s High Hopes: The Fisherman Flies the Black Star Flag
For Ghanaian cinema lovers, all eyes and hopes are firmly locked on The Fisherman.
Directed by the talented Zoey Martinson, The Fisherman has captured the hearts of the AMAA jury, scoring a coveted slot in the marquee Best Film category. Martinson herself pulled off an impressive personal double feat, earning nominations in both Best Director and Best First Feature Film by a Director.
Lead actor Ricky Adelayitar delivers a powerhouse performance that earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role, while the production picked up technical acclaim for Costume Design and Visual Effects.
Ghanaian representation extends across other key categories as well:
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Best Animation: Ananse and The Divine Journey (Ghana / USA collaboration)
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Best Short Film: Ashes of Accra
9 Films Battle for the Ultimate Crown: Best Film Category
The marquee category features 9 films representing seven distinct nations: South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Kenya, and Cameroon.
| Nominated Film | Country of Origin | Key Highlights |
| The Fisherman | Ghana | Directed by Zoey Martinson; 5 major nods |
| Slum Bomber | Uganda | Tied for most nominated (14 nods) |
| One Woman, One Bra | Kenya | Tied for most nominated (14 nods) |
| To Adaego With Love | Nigeria | Top Nollywood film (11 nods) |
| The Herd | Nigeria | Directed by Daniel Etim-Effiong |
| The Trek | South Africa | Top Southern African entry (10 nods) |
| Ben Made It | South Africa | 10 nominations |
| Colours of Exile | Côte d’Ivoire | Francophone flagship entry (10 nods) |
| Mabanda | Cameroon | Central African representation |
Nollywood Heavyweights Show Their Might
Nollywood continues to demonstrate its industrial strength, securing two out of nine spots in the main Best Film race with To Adaego With Love (directed by Nwamaka Chikezie) and The Herd (directed by Daniel Etim-Effiong).
Daniel Etim-Effiong stands out as one of the night’s individual stars, earning a double nomination for directing The Herd while simultaneously contending for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his captivating on-screen performance in the same film.
Star-Studded Acting Battles
The acting categories are packed with fan favorites:
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Best Actress in a Leading Role: Chisom Agoawuike (To Adaego With Love), Osas Ighodaro (Colours of Fire), Faithia Balogun (Efunroye), and Toyin Abraham (Oversabi Aunty).
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Best Actor in a Leading Role: Wale Ojo (Light Out), Uzor Arukwe (Colours of Fire), Daniel Etim-Effiong (The Herd), and Ghana’s Ricky Adelayitar (The Fisherman).
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Supporting Stars: Veteran and modern actors including Dele Odule, Femi Branch, Bucci Franklin, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Linda Ejiofor, Mercy Aigbe, Omowunmi Dada, and Patience Ozokwor all secured nods.
“African Stories Are Global Stories”
Speaking during the announcement live stream, AMAA Chief Executive Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe reiterated the core mission of the awards:
“African stories are global stories. The quality and diversity of entries this year demonstrate that our filmmakers are not just competing locally; you have raised the bar for African cinema on the global stage.”
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of Nigeria’s National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) speaking on behalf of the jury, assured fans and filmmakers that the rigorous voting process reflects the absolute peak of contemporary African artistic expression.
The Countdown to November 15 in Lagos
With the nominees announced, the spotlight turns to the gala night at the Lagos Marriott Hotel on November 15, 2026. Will East Africa turn its 14-nomination leads into a historic sweep? Can Nollywood defend its home turf? Or will Ghana’s The Fisherman sail home with the continent’s biggest cinematic prize?
