"Eat Your Award": Lilian Afegbai Fires Back After AMVCA Loss

Lilian Afegbai (Nigerian actress and film producer)

Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai, also known as Lily Afe, has voiced her frustration after being left out of the Best Supporting Actress category for the upcoming Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).

Immediately following the announcement of the nominees, she posted a brief but telling message on her X account: “Amvca SMH.” She later followed up by making it clear that while she was overlooked, she doesn't need an award to validate her talent or the quality of her work.

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

Lilian Afegbai, known as Lily Afe, asserted that her portrayal of Idia in Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill a Monkey is strong enough to stand on its own, regardless of award recognition. She maintained that the quality of her performance in the series is self-evident and serves as its own validation.

“The truth is clear: nobody trended like IDIA from TKAM last year. Her acting was 100%,” she added, before ending with a sharp remark: “You guys can eat your award.”

Lily Afe emphasized that the massive buzz and fan support surrounding her character prove the success of her performance. She noted that the audience's strong emotional connection to the role is more telling than any nomination.

This connection stems from the intense effort she poured into the project; back in July, she described playing Idia as a deeply personal journey that required her total emotional commitment.

“Playing Idia was more than just a role. It was a journey of becoming one with a character whose strength, vulnerability, and spirit I poured my soul into,” she said.

 Lily Afe also shared her gratitude for the overwhelming response from fans and fellow actors after the film premiered, describing the wave of kindness as a "whirlwind of love and support."

“I gave everything to bring her to life, and seeing your kind words, messages, and encouragement means the world to me and makes it all worth it,” she added.

To Kill A Monkey and Gingerr lead the nominations at AMVCA with nine nominations.