By Deborah Nnamdi
Nollywood stars Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba, alongside 3 Cold Dishes — a film co-produced by Afrobeats icon Burna Boy — shone brightly at the 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), held on Sunday night at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The 21st edition of the prestigious continental awards celebrated Africa’s finest filmmakers, actors, and storytellers, highlighting the growing global impact of African cinema.
3 Cold Dishes was among the night’s biggest winners, clinching Best Nigerian Film and Best Young/Promising Actor for Ruby Akubueze. The multilingual thriller, co-produced by Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro, tells the story of three women from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin who reunite years after surviving human trafficking to take revenge on their abusers.
Lateef Adedimeji won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Lisabi: The Uprising, while veteran actress Tina Mba took home Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in The Serpent Gift.
The five-hour ceremony, organised by the Africa Film Academy (AFA), opened with a vibrant performance by the Ebony Band and featured music by Made Kuti, the Rizyn Band, and DJ Kenchello. A dramatic stage play starring Pete Edochie and Tony Umez added a theatrical flair to the evening.
In his opening remarks, AFA Chief Executive Officer Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe commended African filmmakers for telling authentic stories that continue to shape global perceptions of the continent.
“We salute Nollywood and all creatives whose accomplishments have earned African cinema international recognition,” he said. “Nigeria’s finest contribution comes when it complements the whole through collaboration, not competition.”
South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle won Best Film, alongside awards for Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature Film by director Imran Hamdulay. Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions also impressed, taking home Best Film in an African Language, Screenplay, and Costume Design.
A moving tribute was held in honour of African filmmakers who passed away between January and November 2025.
Prominent guests at the event included Bukky Wright, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Jide Achufusi, Lancelot Imasuen, and former Lagos Commissioner Uzamat Yusuf.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS — 2025 AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS
NFVCB Award for Best Nigerian Film: 3 Cold Dishes
Best Young/Promising Actor: Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Clemento Ashietey – Last Stop
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
Best Debut Feature Film by a Director: The Heart Is a Muscle – Imran Hamdulay
Best Director: Dany Kouyaté – Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions (Burkina Faso)
Best Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – South Africa
Best Film in an African Language: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
Eferé Ozako Award for Best Short Film: The Missing Piece – Kenya
Jubril Malafia Award for Best Animation: Dawn – Cameroon
Best Documentary: The Journey East – Democratic Republic of Congo
Best Diaspora Short: Cartes – USA
Michael Anyiam-Osigwe Award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad: Ancestral Visions of the Future – Lesotho/France/Germany
Achievement in Costume Design: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
Achievement in Sound: Algiers
Best Diaspora Documentary: Rediscovering Fenon – USA/Algeria/Martinique
Best Diaspora Narrative Feature: Romeo N Juliet 4EVA – Jamaica
Achievement in Production Design: 3 Cold Dishes
Achievement in Make-Up: Lisabi: The Uprising
Achievement in Soundtrack: Old Righteous Blues
Achievement in Visual Effects: For Land, For Love, For Power
Achievement in Cinematography: The Heart Is a Muscle
Achievement in Editing: The Heart Is a Muscle
Achievement in Screenplay: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
The 2025 AMAAs reaffirmed Africa’s creative strength, spotlighting stories that connect cultures and amplify the continent’s voice on the global stage.
