Talented Afrobeat singer and multi instrumentalist, Omorinmade Kuti aka Made Kuti is billed to thrill as over 500 African film practitioners across the African continent and diaspora have confirmed their attendance for the 21st edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at the Balmoral Convention Centre, inside Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The Chief Operating Officer of AMAA, Mr Tony Anih, made this known recently at the AMAA secretariat situated in Ikeja, GRA, Lagos.

Anih informed that the 21st edition of AMAA will be spiced up with musical performances from some of the biggest and best music stars in continental genres.

Reacting to the expectations about the night, AMAA’s technical director, Mr Kingsley James expressed that it will be a night to remember as all hands are on deck to make the 21st edition not only special but memorable like the previous editions.

James also noted that the music artists performing have been carefully selected from Africa knowing fully well their dexterity and brilliance in African genre of music.

“We have an impeccable and African line up that would wow all attendees. For musical performances, the cast will be led by Made Kuti, the hugely talented multi-instrumentalist and grandson of Afrobeat progenitor, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Also billed to perform at 2024 AMAA are DJ Kenchello and the Ebony band will also be on the band stand to thrill attendees to a memorable night,” said James.

Also expected to grace the occasion include Nollywood stars and dignitaries from different walks of life.

On Friday, November 7, the Africa Film Academy, AFA, the producers of AMAA, will hold the Africa Fashion show in Lagos. The event heralded the Fashion weekend in Lagos, Nigeria.

“The 21st edition of the AMAA is a big deal like other editions and the board of AFA, owners of the continental film awards have concluded to roll out drums and make this edition memorable to all African filmmakers, creatives, nominees, and everyone who had ever been on the AMAA stage.

“We are not just going to be rolling out in a big way, we are intentional about making the 2025 edition one of the best AMAAs that Africans will celebrate the gathering of several African film practitioners and creatives. This has always been what our late sister and founder, Peace Maria Ogechi Anyiam-Osigwe had been planning and wished for before her death and we will actualize the dream to the glory of God, legacy of PMO and lofty strides of the African film sector,” Dr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe said.

• Awards, Guiness World Attempt Can Only Happen In Lagos – Commissioner, Toke Benson

 

The highly anticipated Nominee List for the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards 2025 was officially unveiled today, setting the stage for one of Nigeria’s most prestigious annual film events. The announcement, held at Mayami Lagos, defined the Nigerian movie industry over the past year.

The unveiling ceremony confirmed the fierce competition across 25 different categories, including the addition of the “Best Series” category, highlighting the growing significance of episodic content in Nollywood.

From major accolades like Movie of the Year and Best Director to unique, fan-favorite honors such as Best Kiss in a Movie and Best Use of Food in a Movie, the categories showcase the sheer depth and diversity of Nigerian filmmaking.

This year, the nomination list reveals a fierce competition at the top, dominated by two standout titles with nine and eight nominations respectively: ‘Seven Doors’ and ‘Abanisete’. These films have emerged as the leading contenders, securing nods across multiple major categories including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Movie of the Year, Best Production Design, and Best Special Effect.

They are closely trailed by ‘Farmer’s Bride’ and ‘My Mother Is a Witch’, which also boast strong showings in the coveted acting and creative categories.

Beyond the major titles, the nominations list shines a spotlight on impressive individual achievements and the industry’s technical finesse. Key acting nominees include Ibrahim Yekini, Femi Adebayo, and Tobi Bakre vying for Best Actor, while Folu Storms, Gbubemi Ejeye, and Chioma Chukwuka compete for Best Actress.

For Best Director, the competition is intense with multiple nominations for renowned filmmakers like Adebayo Tijani (nominated across multiple films) and Niyi Akinmolayan (My mother is a witch).

The top prize, Movie of the Year, will be contested by films that resonated most with audiences and critics alike, including Abanisete, My mother is a witch, and Farmer’s Bride.

Speaking at the unveiling, Hon. Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka explained that she knows that many are expectant seeing the awards return to Lagos this year. “Lagos is the home of excellence, the statee of aquatic splendour, so I know people are expectant.”

Speaking on the organisers’ Guiness World Record Attempt for Longest Red Carpet, Hon. Benson-Awoyinka stated that the plan to hold it on the new Coastal Road was only possible in Lagos, a state led by the visionary Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “It’s because it is Lagos, that is the only reason you can have a runway on a highway,” she added.

For Mr Yinka Adebayo, Group Executive Director, West & Central Africa. Omnicom Media Group, who unveiled the nominees list alongside the commissioner, BON Awards returning to Lagos was a fantastic idea. “Doing this consistently for 17 years is something we must commend Seun Oloketuyi and his team for,” he explained.

The main BON Awards 2025 ceremony is scheduled to take place with Lagos as the host state come December 14, with a Guiness World Record Attempt for the Longest Red Carpet. It promises to be an even grander celebration of Nigerian cinema.

BON AWARDS 2025

Full List of Nominees

BEST ACTOR

1) Ibrahim Yekini – Abanisete

2) Gideon Okeke – Blackout

3) Femi Adebayo – Seven Doors

4) Razaq Adoti – Son of the Soil

5) Tobi Bakre – Farmer’s Bride

6) Jide Awobona – Inspector Jero

BEST ACTRESS

1) Folu Storms – Red Circle

2) Gbubemi Ejeye – Farmer’s Bride

3) Padita Agu – Blackout

4) Efe Irele – My Mother Is a Witch

5) Chioma Chukwuka – Seven Doors

6) Florence Nwachukwu – Fury

BEST KISS

1) Tobi Bakre & Gbubemi Ejeye – Farmer’s Bride

2) Timini Egbuson & TJ Omusuku – Reel Love

3) Kunle Remi & Tope Olowoniyan – The Party

4) Padita Agu & Demola Adedoyin – Planning Forever

5) Tobi Bakre & Folu Storms – Red Circle

BEST DIRECTOR

1) Niyi Akinmolayan – My Mother Is a Witch

2) Adebayo Tijani & Tope Adebayo – Abanisete

3) Adebayo Tijani & Jack’enneth Opukeme – Farmer’s Bride

4) Tope Adebayo & Adebayo Tijani – Her Excellency

5) Toka McBaror – The Waiter

6) Adebayo Tijani, Tope Adebayo & Femi Adebayo – Seven Doors

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

1) Abanisete

2) My mother Is a Witch

3) Farmer’s Bride

4) The Waiter

5) Her Excellency

6) The Serpent’s Gift

BEST SERIES

1.) The Party

2.) Seven Doors

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1) Stan Nze – Serpent’s Gift

2) Femi Branch – Owambe Thieves

3) Adedimeji Lateef – Red Circle

4) Buchi Franklin – The Waiter

5) Taye Arimoro – Son Of the Soil

6) Neo Akpofure – My Mother Is a Witch

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1) Mercy Aigbe -My Mother Is a Witch

2) Bolaji Ogunmola – Longing

3) Tina Mba – The Serpent’s Gift

4) Mercy Aigbe – Farmer’s Bride

5) Susan Jimah – Take My Breath Away

6) Kehinde Bankole – Iyalode

BEST SOCAL MESSAGE

Out in the Darkness

My Mother Is a Witch

Fury

Longing

Mayomi

Blackout

Single Mother

BEST COSTUME

1) Owambe Thieves

2) Abanisete

3) Iyalode

4) Labake Olododo

5) Seven Doors

6) Olomi

7) The Serpent’s Gift

BEST SOUND

1) Red Circle

2) Agemo

3) Anjola

4) Fury

5) Reel Love

6) Ewu Ife

BEST SOUNDTRACK

1) My Mother Is a Witch

2) Take My Breath Away

3) Olomi

4)Durotimi

5)The Serpent’s Gift

BEST USE OF FOOD

1) Owambe Thieves

2) Longing

3) Alakada: Bad and Boujee

4) 07.03 (The 7th of the 3rd)

5) Farmer’s Bride

6) Owambe Thieves

BEST CHILD ACTOR

1) Ahmad Isa – Finding Nina

2) Yoma Davidson – Den Of Safety

3) Royal Aziomaku – Seven Doors

4) Adeshina Daniel – Telephone

BEST CHILD ACTRESS

1) Ijelu Folajimi – Son of the Soil

2) Darasimi Nadi – Agemo

3) Diva Owoniyi – Den of Safety

4) Kamdi Ugochkwu – A Ride with Forever

5) Angel Unigwe – In My Circle

MOST PROMISING ACTOR

1) Razaaq Adoti – Son of the Soil

2) Yomi Orimadegun – The Boy from the Window

3) Korede Lawal – On Our Skin

4) Abduazeem M. Ibrahim – Finding Nina

MOST PROMISING ACTRESS

1) Dolapo Oyebamiji- Olomi

2) Lila Idoko – I am Anis

3) Sylvia Ebere – Flipside

4) Sunshine Rosman- Son of the Soil

5) Temitope Luqman – Durotimi

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

1) Seven Doors

2) Labake Olododo

3) Abanisete

4) Iyalode

5) Farmer’s Bride

BEST SCREENPLAY

1) Thinline

2) Ewu Ife

3) Owambe Thieves

4) Fixing Others

5) The Serpent’s Gift

6) Blackout

7) Agemo

BEST SPECIAL EFFECT

1) Seven Doors

2) Labake Olododo

3) Son Of The Soil

4) Red Circle

5) The Waiter

6) Abanisete

7) Iyalode

BEST DOCUMENTARY

1) Beyond Olympic Glory

2) Nigeria Laughs

3) Not Addressing This Anymore

BEST EDITING

1) Son Of the Soil

2) The Waiter

3) Reel Love

4) Red Circle

5) Between Silence & Truth

6) Olomi

7) Agemo

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1) 07.03 (7th of The 3rd)

2) My mother Is a Witch

3) Abanisete

4) Agemo

5) Seven Doors

6) The Serpent’s Gift

7) Finding Nina

BEST INDIGENOUS

MOVIE

1) Abanisete

2) Brotherly Love

3) Iyalode

4) The Serpent’s Gift

5) Agemo

6) My mother Is a Witch

6) Olomi

BEST MAKE UP

1) The Waiter

2) Seven Doors

3) Iyalode

4) Abanisete

5) Labake Olododo

6) Iyalode

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The eagerly anticipated Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards is set to ramp up its 2025 edition with the official announcement of its nominees list on Monday, November 3. The glamorous unveiling ceremony will be led by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, and renowned media and advertising guru, Mr. Yinka Adebayo, MD Media Reach.

According to Seun Oloketuyi, founder, Best of Nollywood Awards, the 2025 edition saw an overwhelming response from filmmakers, with over 100 films submitted across 39 competitive categories, reflecting the robust growth and creative depth of the Nigerian film industry.

The grand finale of the BON Awards 2025 is scheduled to hold in Lagos, the epicenter of Nigeria’s creative economy, come Sunday, December 14, with organisers promising an event of unparalleled excellence.

“The sheer volume and quality of submissions this year is a testament to the fact that Nollywood is consistently pushing its boundaries. We had to work harder than ever to arrive at this final list. Our return to Lagos is also symbolic—it’s where the dream began, and this year, we will ensure the event is exceptionally excellent, just like Lagos itself. Filmmakers, fans, and stakeholders should prepare for an edition that will set a new benchmark for film awards in Africa, especially with our Guinness World Record Attempt for the Longest Red Carpet in the world.”