FULL LIST: Burna Boy, Lateef Adedimeji, Tina Mba Shine at 2025 AMAA Awards

• Burna Boy, Nollywood stars Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba, and the film 3 Cold Dishes dominated the 2025 Africa Movie Academy Awards, celebrating excellence in African cinema at Lagos’ Balmoral Convention Centre.

The 21st edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) took place on Sunday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, honouring Africa’s finest filmmakers, actors, and creative talents.

Nollywood stars Lateef Adedimeji and Tina Mba, alongside 3 Cold Dishes, co-produced by Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy and actress Osas Ighodaro, were among the biggest winners.

3 Cold Dishes won 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 reunite years after surviving human trafficking to seek revenge on their abusers.

Lateef Adedimeji clinched Best Actor in a Leading Role for Lisabi: The Uprising, while Tina Mba took home Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Serpent Gift.

The five-hour ceremony, organised by the Africa Film Academy, opened with a lively performance by the Ebony Band. CEO Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe praised African filmmakers for elevating the continent’s storytelling to global prominence.

“We salute Nollywood and all creatives whose accomplishments have earned African cinema international recognition. Nigeria’s strength lies in collaboration, not competition,” he said.

The six-member AMAA jury presented 26 awards across acting, directing, cinematography, and technical categories. South Africa’s The Heart Is a Muscle won Best Film, Cinematography, Editing, and Best Debut Feature for director Imran Hamdulay. Burkina Faso’s Katanga: Dance of the Scorpions secured Best Film in an African Language, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.

The event featured a short stage play starring veteran actor Pete Edochie and Tony Umez, while musical performances by Made Kuti, Rizyn Band, and DJ Kenchello energized the evening. A special tribute also honoured African film practitioners who passed away between January and November 2025.

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Selected Winners:

• Best Nigerian Film: 3 Cold Dishes
• Best Young/Promising Actor: Ruby Akubueze – 3 Cold Dishes
• Best Actor in a Leading Role: Lateef Adedimeji – Lisabi: The Uprising
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Tina Mba – The Serpent Gift
• Best Actress in a Leading Role: Florence Mariserena – Small Gods
• Best Director: Dany Kouyaté – Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions
• Best Film: The Heart Is a Muscle – South Africa
• Best Film in an African Language: Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions – Burkina Faso
• Achievement in Cinematography, Editing, Screenplay: The Heart Is a Muscle, Katanga: Dance of The Scorpions

Other awards recognised outstanding achievements in sound, makeup, visual effects, production design, animation, and diaspora cinema, highlighting the diversity and richness of African storytelling.