The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) transformed the red carpet at Eko Hotel & Suites into a breathtaking showcase of African couture, where fashion moved beyond glamour and fully embraced wearable art.
This year’s ceremony highlighted the growing technical sophistication of African designers, with dramatic silhouettes, architectural structures, geological textures, and intricate botanical embellishments dominating the carpet. More than just celebrity dressing, the 2026 AMVCA became a masterclass in storytelling through fashion.
Osas Ighodaro was among the evening’s earliest standouts, stepping onto the carpet in two ambitious custom looks by Veekee James. The first, a sculptural red column gown, featured a towering structured collar crafted from horizontal crystal-lined bands that framed her silhouette with dramatic precision. The second look shifted completely in tone a silver ball gown adorned with crystal embellishments and a voluminous skirt constructed from an astonishing 400 metallic sponges, pushing the boundaries of material experimentation in couture.
If one person truly treated the carpet like a gallery installation, it was Nana Akua Addo. Arriving in three elaborate fashion moments styled by NK Style, she delivered some of the evening’s most conceptually daring looks.
Her opening ensemble, designed by Mohammed Abbas Ossu, drew inspiration from the iconic Cologne Cathedral in Germany. The gown expanded into a dome-like structure composed of miniature Gothic spires, arches, and cathedral windows, meticulously hand-painted to resemble aged stone architecture.
Her second appearance, titled “Living Stone,” explored a more geological narrative. Constructed from layered, textured fragments resembling cracked earth and rock formations, the mermaid silhouette blurred the line between garment and sculpture, creating the illusion that the dress itself had emerged from the ground beneath her.
For her final transformation, Nana Akua Addo wore a spiral fish-scale gown from The Unbound Collection by Srushti Patil. The off-shoulder design featured layered curved panels trimmed with crystals, while exaggerated extensions at the shoulders mimicked aquatic fins. Paired with a fish-shaped beaded handbag, the look delivered a fully realized underwater fantasy.
Meanwhile, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman arrived in one of the night’s most enchanting looks, a metallic emerald gown with a reflective liquid-metal finish. The plunging neckline was framed by elaborate clusters of navy, teal, and violet floral appliqués accented with beaded fringe and miniature butterflies.
Perhaps the most striking detail was the branch-like extension rising from one shoulder, carrying blossoms and butterfly motifs upward toward her face, transforming the gown into a living botanical installation. The look perfectly complemented a milestone evening that saw the actress leave with two awards.
See how the ladies showed up to the AMVCA’s below.
Aishat Mohammed
Nelly Mbonu
Mercy Eke
Mimi Yina (MedlinBoss)
Chioma Ikokwu
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