One of Nollywood’s most respected filmmakers, Mildred Okwo, has cast a dark shadow over the future of Africa’s most prestigious film and television awards, suggesting that the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards could be its final outing. 

In a post on X on Monday, Okwo wrote that she would be very surprised if the current edition is not the farewell edition, sparking widespread conversation across Nigeria’s creative industry about the long-term sustainability of the beloved ceremony.

Okwo’s concern centres on the commercial realities facing MultiChoice, the media giant behind Africa Magic and the AMVCA, following recent ownership changes that have reshaped the company’s content and investment priorities. She argued that the incoming ownership structure is unlikely to continue funding a high-cost production like the AMVCA if it does not deliver a significant return on investment within its early years.

“It costs a lot of money to produce that show,” she noted, suggesting the economics may simply not add up under new management focused on profitability rather than prestige.

The remarks arrive as the 12th edition of the awards, known as AMVCA12, gears up for its main ceremony on May 9 in Lagos. Voting has already closed, with organisers confirming that 32 categories will be contested on the night, including 18 jury-decided awards, 11 audience-voted categories, and three special honours among them Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer awards. Veteran actress Joke Silva is serving as Head Judge for this edition, succeeding Femi Odugbemi, and two new categories have been introduced to broaden the awards’ continental reach: Best Indigenous Language Film for North Africa and Best Indigenous Language Film for Central Africa.

This year’s nominations are led by Nollywood productions Gingerrr and The Herd, each picking up nine nominations apiece, while critically acclaimed films such as My Father’s Shadow have also earned significant recognition. The ceremony will be broadcast live across Africa Magic channels, with the red carpet kicking off at 4:00 p.m. WAT and the main show at 7:00 p.m.

Yet despite the fanfare surrounding this edition, Okwo’s comments have shifted part of the conversation from who will win on the night to whether there will be a night to celebrate at all in 2027.

Her intervention carries weight precisely because of who she is. A former California litigation lawyer turned filmmaker, Okwo is among the pioneers who helped set the quality benchmark for modern Nollywood with films like The Meeting and La Femme Anjola. She is a founding member of the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee and has been named one of the 50 Women Shaping Africa by Elle Magazine.

When a figure of that standing raises alarm about one of Nollywood’s most visible institutions, the industry listens and right now, what it is hearing is not entirely reassuring.