Lilian Afegbai Reacts to AMVCA Nominee Omission After Viral Role in To Kill a Monkey

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Summary: Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai, popularly known as Lily Afe, reacted to her exclusion from the Best Supporting Actress category at the 12th AMVCA, noting that her performance as Idia in the Netflix series To Kill a Monkey speaks for itself and does not need award validation.

Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai, popularly known as Lily Afe, has reacted to her exclusion from the Best Supporting Actress category at the upcoming Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA). She spoke out shortly after the nomination list for the 12th edition was unveiled on March 29, 2026.

The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) is a premier annual event presented by MultiChoice, honouring outstanding achievements in African film and television. Established in 2013, the awards cover various categories including acting, directing, cinematography and indigenous language films across Africa.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on March 30, 2026, Lily wrote, “Amvca SMH,” before further addressing the snub and insisting that her work does not depend on awards for validation.

“I always choose to believe everything happens for a reason. I don’t need a nomination for validation,” she stated.

Lily, who played the role of Idia in To Kill a Monkey, directed by Kemi Adetiba, maintained that her performance speaks for itself. Her portrayal of the bold and sassy character in the Netflix series drew praises and sparked conversations online, particularly for her use of pidgin English and bini delivery, with many fans highlighting her scenes as some of the most memorable.

“The truth is clear: nobody trended like IDIA from TKAM last year. Her acting was 100%,” she added, 

The Best Supporting Actress category includes nominees such as Linda Ejiofor (The Herd), Bisola Aiyeola (Gingerrr), Sola Sobowale (The Covenant), and Funke Akindele (Behind The Scenes), among others.

Organisers of the AMVCA had earlier announced nominees for the 12th edition ahead of the ceremony scheduled for May 9, 2026. The awards recognise achievements in African film and television and will feature 32 categories, including jury-voted, audience-voted, and special recognition awards.