Kenya has earned a total of 17 nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2023, the highest number ever for the country. Now in its ninth year and established as arguably Africa’s most prestigious film and TV awards, the AMVCAs are an annual accolade held in Lagos, Nigeria to recognise outstanding achievement in film and television.
These awards have always been a Nigerian affair dominated by Nollywood films and TV shows, with only a few awards or region-specific categories sprinkled to the rest of the continent, and therefore Kenya’s performance at this year’s awards is no small feat.
As far as platforms go, Showmax leads Kenya with four nominations for its Kenyan originals County 49 in the Best TV Series category and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for James Webbo, Single Kiasi for Best TV Series and Baba Twins for Best Movie East Africa. Maisha Magic has earned three nominations with Njoro wa Uba which is up for Best Original Comedy, Salem for Best Original Telenovela and Pete for Best Original Drama. Two MultiChoice Talent Films Stinger and Cheza have also been nominated for Best MultiChoice Talent Factory Films.
Philip Karanja’s second feature Click Click Bang is the most nominated Kenyan title with three nods for Best Movie East Africa, Best Indigenous Language Movie Swahili and Best Sound Editor, while Kenyan-Somali film Gacal follows closely behind with Best Movie East Africa and Best Supporting Actor (Abdisattar Ahmed) nominations.
Other Kenyan nominees include Tanzanian-Kenyan production Married to Work, up for Best Movie East Africa and Best Actress in a Comedy for Grace Wacuka; and Njue Kevin’s family adventure film Safari for Best Indigenous Language Movie Swahili.
Voting is now open. See the full list of AMVCA nominees here.
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