The African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) have long been a prestigious platform recognizing excellence in African film and television. The 2025 edition of the awards stood out for two reasons: the rise of indigenous language cinema and the artistic elevation of contemporary urban stories. At the heart of this shift were two very different films—Lisabi: The Uprising and Christmas in Lagos—each carving a distinct path in Nollywood’s evolving landscape.
The AMVCA winners’ reaction to these films highlighted not just personal triumphs but a broader industry milestone. In this article, we’ll explore the significance of their wins, unpack the stories behind the films, and analyze what these moments mean for the future of Nigerian cinema.
Why the 2025 AMVCA Wins Matter
The 2025 AMVCA marked a turning point in Nigerian filmmaking, with winners that challenged norms and celebrated a wider spectrum of Nigerian stories. While historically, the spotlight was often on English-language productions or big-budget urban narratives, these awards revealed a powerful duality: a renewed appreciation for indigenous language films and the rising value of polished, contemporary urban cinema.
The emotional and genuine responses from the winners amplified the impact of these wins. They reflected more than gratitude—they symbolized validation for stories and aesthetics often overlooked by mainstream Nollywood and global platforms. This article dives deep into the stories, the artistry, and the cultural weight of Lisabi: The Uprising and Christmas in Lagos, drawing lessons from their AMVCA victories.
“Lisabi: The Uprising” — A Tapestry of History
The Film: A Resistance Story Rooted in Yoruba Identity
When Lisabi: The Uprising was first announced in early 2024, it caught the attention of Yoruba-speaking audiences but remained relatively under the radar nationally. By its release on Netflix Nigeria in September 2024, the film had become a landmark piece for indigenous-language cinema. At the 2025 AMVCAs, it won three key awards: Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup.
Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, Lisabi tells the story of Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala, a historical Yoruba hero from Abeokuta who led an 18th-century uprising against exploitative local chiefs. The narrative was firmly based on oral histories and cultural archives, providing a rare cinematic depiction of a figure largely absent from mainstream Nigerian film.
The entire film was performed in Yoruba, supported by subtitles to reach wider audiences. Its dialogue was authentic and ceremonial, echoing Yoruba oral traditions and poetry. This cultural authenticity struck a chord among native speakers and cultural enthusiasts, creating an emotional resonance rarely achieved in commercial Nigerian cinema.
Craftsmanship: Art, Makeup, and Set Design as Storytelling
The Best Art Direction award recognized the film’s meticulous reconstruction of precolonial Yoruba life. Set designers recreated traditional compounds and royal insignia with remarkable accuracy. Authenticity extended to costumes, props, and even the architectural details of Abeokuta’s historical layout.
The Best Makeup award highlighted transformative work that visually narrated characters’ journeys. Aging effects, tribal markings, war wounds, and ceremonial body art were executed with precision informed by research from Nigerian museums and input from Ogun State chiefs.
The Emotional Reactions: A Moment of Validation
The AMVCA winners’ reaction was deeply moving. Lead actor Lateef Adedimeji, who portrayed Lisabi, fought back tears as he dedicated the award to storytellers who face marginalization. His wife and co-star, Adebimpe Adedimeji, spoke of their doubts about the film’s reception in a market dominated by English and urban romance.
Their speeches underscored the film’s cultural significance as a mirror for future generations. The moment sparked widespread social media discussions about indigenous film funding, cinema distribution beyond metropolitan centers, and the importance of preserving native languages on screen.
Impact: A Shift in What’s Valued in Nollywood
Lisabi’s success validated indigenous-language films as commercially viable and artistically credible. It offered a blueprint for filmmakers who prioritize cultural specificity over globalized storytelling. Its win was not merely an award but a declaration: indigenous stories have a rightful place in Nigeria’s cinematic future.
“Christmas in Lagos” — Fashion, Festivity & Flair
The Film: Lagos, Love, and the Holiday Spirit
In contrast, Christmas in Lagos brought vibrancy, style, and urban sensibility to the AMVCA stage. Released on Prime Video in December 2024 and directed by Uduak Isong, the film was a romantic comedy centered on intertwined lives during the holiday season in Lagos. Garnering six AMVCA nominations and winning Best Costume Design, the film proved that contemporary genre films could achieve artistic distinction.
Set in Lagos’s bustling districts like Victoria Island and Lekki, the film painted a stylized yet authentic portrait of the city during Christmas. It explored themes such as diaspora returnee identity, class divides, and societal pressures to appear perfect during the holidays.
Rather than relying on slapstick, the screenplay balanced humor with emotional depth, resonating widely with urban audiences. The city itself became a character, with the film capturing Lagos’s chaotic energy and festive warmth.
Award-Winning Costume Design: More Than Fabric
The Best Costume Design win was about narrative as much as aesthetics. Designer Adedamola Adeyemi used fashion to express character arcs, social status, and personal transformation.
- The fashion editor character Isioma’s wardrobe shifted from structured neutrals to bold reds, mirroring her emotional journey.
- Dotun, a startup founder, evolved from casual, modest clothing to regal agbada, symbolizing self-acceptance.
- Street vendors and background characters wore a blend of thrift and Ankara fabrics, highlighting the city’s socioeconomic diversity.
Adeyemi’s team curated over 300 outfits, collaborating with local designers and tailors to reflect Lagos’s fashion ecosystem accurately.
The Reaction: Celebration with a Point
Adeyemi’s emotional acceptance speech thanked every tailor who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. She emphasized that Lagosians’ clothing choices tell stories beyond mere labels.
The speech and the film’s win went viral on social media, sparking conversations about the importance of authentic representation in urban storytelling. Lead actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington expressed pride in portraying the city’s spirit with dignity and nuance.
Why It Matters
Christmas in Lagos demonstrated that urban romantic comedies could compete for and win prestigious awards when treated with seriousness and attention to detail. It challenged Nollywood’s hierarchies of genre, showing that joy, style, and realism deserve artistic recognition.
Comparative Analysis – Tradition vs. Contemporary
Cultural Roots vs. Urban Expression
Lisabi is anchored in Yoruba tradition, celebrating ancestral identity through a historical epic. Its use of Yoruba language and folklore emphasizes the preservation and elevation of indigenous culture.
Christmas in Lagos captures the pulse of modern Lagos, weaving narratives around contemporary urban life, consumer culture, and cross-class interactions.
Audience and Market
While Lisabi appeals primarily to cultural enthusiasts, academics, and indigenous language advocates, Christmas in Lagos targets mainstream urban viewers seeking relatable, entertaining narratives.
The success of both indicates Nollywood’s broadening demographic and growing sophistication in storytelling.
Production Scale and Distribution
Lisabi had a moderate budget focused on authenticity and cultural accuracy, relying heavily on government cultural grants and community sponsorship.
Christmas in Lagos benefited from international co-production funding and partnerships with streaming platforms, enabling larger marketing campaigns and broader distribution.
What These Wins Mean for Nollywood’s Future
The 2025 AMVCA wins for Lisabi: The Uprising and Christmas in Lagos signal a promising future for Nollywood—a cinema industry that embraces diversity in language, genre, and storytelling approach. Indigenous language films will gain more attention, funding, and distribution avenues, challenging the dominance of English-language content.
Simultaneously, urban contemporary films will continue to evolve in quality and depth, appealing to younger, cosmopolitan audiences while elevating genre films to new artistic heights.
For filmmakers, producers, and investors, these wins emphasize the importance of authenticity, cultural representation, and innovation. For audiences, they guarantee richer, more varied Nigerian cinema experiences.
As Nollywood advances, the intersection of tradition and modernity seen in these AMVCA winners could become the blueprint for storytelling that is truly African in its roots and global in its reach.
