Will Showmax Steal the Spotlight Again at AMVCA 10?

Vanessa Obioha

On Saturday, May 11, Africa’s most glamorous and innovative creative talents will convene in Lagos for the 10th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), a remarkable milestone in the history of the award.

The stakes are high this year as the organisers, Africa Magic and MultiChoice Nigeria, made significant adjustments to reflect its mission to recognise and reward genuine talents on the continent. From moving the Best Lead and Supporting Actors/Actresses categories to non-voting categories to reducing the award categories from 33 to 27, AMVCA 10 is undoubtedly aligning itself with global trends and benchmarks.

At the 2023 edition, Showmax, which takes pride in telling and representing authentic African stories, fetched 22 nominations for its originals. The nominated Nigerian originals include ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos,’ ‘Crime and Justice Lagos,’ ‘Diiche,’ ‘Flawsome,’ and ‘Wura’ out of which ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos,’ ‘Crime and Justice Lagos,’ emerged as winners in Best Costume Designer (Movie/TV Series), Best Picture Editor (Movie and TV Series) and Best TV Series respectively.

Despite these changes, Showmax, Africa’s most beloved video-on-demand service is poised to steal the spotlight again as it did last year. Although fan favourites, ‘Cheta M’ and ‘Flawsome S2’ did not meet the eligibility window for this edition, the streaming platform still earned three nominations for Nigerian originals ‘Wura’ and ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos.’ It is the second time both shows are fetching nominations at the awards. ‘Wura,’ Showmax Nigeria’s first original telenovela series, for its second season received two nominations in Best Writing TV Series and Best Scripted Series categories, while the second season of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ was nominated in the Best Unscripted Series category.

Both shows, known for record-breaking premieres and devoted fan bases, promise to uphold Showmax’s reputation for delivering compelling narratives.

Set in Osun, ‘Wura’ is a compelling adaptation of the 2018 South Africa’s telenovela ‘The River,’ an original M-Net production that spanned six gripping seasons, and is set against the backdrop of the South African mining industry. Like the original, ‘Wura’ is set in Iperindo, a mining community in the South-west state. It revolves around the ambitious CEO of a gold mining company who would stop at nothing to keep her company afloat, including getting her hands stained with love.

Prolific filmmaker Rogers Ofime served as the executive producer of ‘Wura’s’ first season, curating a talented cast led by Scarlet Gomez in the titular role. Leveraging the innovative RED camera, Ofime ensured visually stunning cinematography, capturing the essence of Nigeria’s unique charm. From authentic settings to meticulously crafted wardrobes, ‘Wura’ embodies Nigerian culture at its core. The captivating storyline, woven by a diverse group of writers including Musa Jeffrey David, Isaac Ayodeji, Esther Kokori, Olumide Kuti, Lois Truly, and Uchenna Ugwu, has cultivated a devoted following since its premiere in 2023. From households to business establishments and campuses, the ‘Wura’ fever continues to captivate audiences across the nation.

Similarly, the second season of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ set Twitter on fire with the unending drama of the housewives, dominating trends for 12 weeks. Produced by Livespot 360, ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ has been a must-watch with the addition of two new housewives, Faith Morey and Tania Omotayo.

But ‘Wura’ and ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ are just a few original titles on the Showmax expansive slate. So far, the streaming platform has released both scripted and unscripted titles such as trh acquired series ‘Dead Serious,’ ‘Cheta M’ and ‘Free Men.’

Apart from Nigerian originals, other nominated titles streaming on Showmax include ‘GH Queens’ (Best Unscripted Series), ‘Slum King’ (Best Writing TV Series, Best Scripted M-Net Original), ‘Itura’ (Best Scripted M-Net Original), ‘The Irabors’ Forever Ever’ (Best Unscripted M-Net Original), and ‘Masquerades of Aniedo’ (Best Writing TV Series) among others.

As the AMVCA D-day approaches, Showmax is poised to steal the spotlight with its riveting titles. Although the categories boast of worthy contenders, the compelling storyline and high production quality of ‘Wura’ and ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’ set Showmax apart. With such standout offerings, the streaming platform may likely repeat its feat from last year, or perhaps even sweep the awards in every category it is nominated in, showcasing the best of African storytelling on a grand stage.