Actress Linda Ejiofor made history on Saturday, May 9, at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), after she became the first actress to win two major acting awards in a single night (Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress).
The AMVCA 12th edition, hosted by Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, brought together some of the continent’s finest talents, filmmakers, creatives, and producers.
Ejiofor won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Herd, while she beat heavy names like Genoveva Umeh and Scarlet Gomez for the Best Lead Actress award for her role in The Serpent’s Gift.
Directed by Kayode Kasum, The Serpent’s Gift is a 2025 Nollywood drama that follows Ijeoma Sylvanus, played by Linda Ejiofor, a widow fighting for her husband’s inheritance with his relatives, a trend common with most families in Southeastern Nigeria. The Herd is a thriller, directed by Daniel Etim Effiong, that follows the kidnapping of a group of people by herdsmen. The movie highlighted themes of national insecurity and the menace of the kidnapping surges in Nigeria.
’I prayed to God that I wanted a role that would challenge me,’ she said during one of her acceptance speeches, while also expressing gratitude to the people who supported her journey, including her fans, directors, and production crews. Her husband, fellow actor Ibrahim Suleiman, was also among those who showed her support on the night.
Linda Ejiofor rose to fame from her role as ‘Bimpe’ in the popular MNet TV series Tinsel and has continued to be a fan favorite. Her double win is definitely a testament to her consistency, talent, and dedication to her craft.
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