The 21st edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) highlighted outstanding achievements in African filmmaking on Sunday, with Burna Boy’s co-produced feature 3 Cold Dishes and South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle emerging among the night’s biggest winners. The ceremony took place at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, bringing together filmmakers, actors, cultural leaders, and entertainment executives from across the continent.
Produced by the Africa Film Academy, this year’s event celebrated excellence in storytelling and cinematic craftsmanship, continuing AMAA’s legacy of uplifting African voices in global cinema.
Burna Boy’s 3 Cold Dishes Wins Two Major Awards
3 Cold Dishes, co-produced by Grammy-winning Afrobeats star Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro, secured Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze.
The multilingual thriller follows three women from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin who reconnect years after surviving human trafficking, joining forces to take revenge on those who exploited them. The film has been praised for its emotional intensity, cross-cultural narrative, and strong female-led performances.
Acting Honors for Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba
Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of the historical figure in Lisabi: The Uprising.
Veteran actress Tina Mba received Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in The Serpent Gift, further cementing her reputation as one of Nollywood’s most respected character performers.
South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle Takes Top Prize
The night’s highest honor, Best Film, went to South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle. The film also won Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature for director Imran Hamdulay — marking a standout continental achievement.
Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions also made a strong showing, winning Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.
Ceremony Highlights
The five-hour ceremony opened with a performance by the Ebony Band and later featured musical sets by Made Kuti, Rizyn Band, and DJ Kenchello. Made Kuti’s soulful performance of Palava, originally by his grandfather Fela Anikulapo Kuti, was a major highlight of the evening.
A short theatrical presentation starring Pete Edochie and Tony Umez added a dramatic interlude, exploring themes of fate, identity, and ancestral memory.
In his address, AFA Chief Executive Officer, Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, acknowledged the growth of African cinema on the global stage, praising collaboration as a driving force in the industry’s progress.
“We salute Nollywood and all creatives whose accomplishments have earned African cinema international recognition. Nigeria’s strength lies in collaboration, not competition,” he said.
A tribute segment honored industry practitioners who passed away between January and November 2025.
Notable Guests
The ceremony was attended by notable industry figures, including Bukky Wright, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Lancelot Imasuen, Jide Achufusi, and former Lagos Commissioner Uzamat Yusuf.
Selected Winners — AMAA 2025
| Category | Winner |
| Best Nigerian Film | 3 Cold Dishes |
| Best Young/Promising Actor | Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes |
| Best Actor (Lead) | Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising |
| Best Actress (Lead) | Florence Mariserena – Small Gods |
| Best Actress (Supporting) | Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift |
| Best Film | The Heart Is a Muscle (South Africa) |
| Best Film in an African Language | Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions (Burkina Faso) |
| Best Director | Dany Kouyaté – Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions |
| Best Debut Feature | The Heart Is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay |
| Best Short Film | The Missing Piece – Kenya |
| Best Animation | Dawn – Cameroon |
(Additional categories follow as listed in the official awards release.)
