Nollywood actress and producer, Toyin Abraham, has lauded the organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCA, for the success of this year’s edition.

The event took place at the Eko Hotel & Suites and was hosted by IK Osakioduwa for the tenth time consecutive year. Toke Makinwa, Uti Nwachukwu, and Adams Ibrahim, aka VJ Adams also returned as red carpet hosts.

Breath of Life, a 2023 Nigerian drama film executively produced by BB Sasore and Derin Adeyokunnu, won the best Movie award at the African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA).

The film was written and directed by BB Sasore and produced by Eku Edewor.

The movie defeated others such as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Over The Bridge, Blood Vessel, A Tribe Called Judah, The Black Book and Mami Wata to emerge winner.

Genoveva Umeh (Breath of Life) won the Best Supporting Actress. She defeated Joke Silva (Over the Bridge), Fathia Williams (Jagun Jagun – The Warrior), Bimbo Akintola (The Black Book), Eliane Umuhire (Omen), Tana Adelana (Ijogbon – Chaos) and Ejiro Onojaife (The Origin: Madam Koi Koi) to scoop the award.

Wale Ojo another actor in the Breath of Life movie won the Best Lead Actor award. Ojo beat Stan Nze (Afamefuna), Marc Zinga (Omen), Gideon Okeke (Egun), David Ezekiel (Blood Vessel), Richard Mofe Damijo (The Black Book), Adedimeji Lateef (Jagun Jagun – The Warrior) and Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos) to win the award.

Additional accolades bestowed upon the movie include Best Supporting Actor (Demola Adedoyin), and Best Director (BB Sasore).

The 10th edition of the event has, however, been trailed by criticisms after Funke Akindele’s record-breaking film, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ was snubbed.

‘A Tribe Called Judah’ lost all five nominations despite becoming the first Nigerian movie to gross over N1 billion in cinemas last December.

However, her rival Toyin Abraham described the edition as the “best and realest ever.”

On her Instagram page, Abraham wrote: “Best and realest AMVCA ever. Well done, @busola.tejumola. You did well and yes, we love you. @africamagic, well done. ”

This is coming barely two weeks after Abraham extended an olive branch to her colleague, Funke Akindele, saying they they became “competitors and persona non grata” due to gossips.

She recalled that their rivalry began in the Yoruba movie industry and they carried it over to the Nigerian-English cinema when they crossed over to Nollywood.

Abraham, however, said age and wisdom have made her realised that they can compete without being negatively competitive.