Ethiopian Creative Industry Celebrates Historic Milestone with Major Wins at the 12th AMVCA in Lagos

The Ethiopian creative sector has achieved a significant breakthrough on the continental stage, securing two prestigious trophies at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) held in Lagos, Nigeria. As one of Africa’s most prestigious platforms celebrating excellence in African film and television, the AMVCA provided a global spotlight for Ethiopian storytelling. The event brought together the biggest names in African film, television, and entertainment for a night of celebrating cinematic excellence and storytelling across the continent.

The night’s historic victories were headlined by two standout productions featured on Abol TV, the dedicated Ethiopian content channel on DStv. The anthology series Addis Fikir, directed by Leul Shoaferaw, was honoured with the award for Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa). This recognition highlights the series’ artistic quality and its success in capturing the vibrant, modern spirit of Addis Ababa through its unique storytelling format. In the unscripted category, the documentary series Out N’ About (Harar), produced by Bruk Yibrah, secured the win for Best Series (Unscripted), recognized for its immersive and authentic portrayal of one of Ethiopia’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

Beyond these winners, the series Gizat also earned recognition among the final nominees, contributing to a record-breaking total of three local productions earning six nominations. These nominations showcased the depth of Ethiopian talent across multiple disciplines, including a high-profile nod for Best Writing in a TV Series for Addis Fikir.

These achievements serve as a powerful recognition for the entire Ethiopian creative industry, signaling that local content has reached international standards of excellence. The success of these productions on Abol TV underscores its pivotal role as an industry enabler. By exclusively promoting 100% original, indigenous Ethiopian content, Abol TV has moved the sector beyond foreign adaptations and toward the creation of high-end, home-grown intellectual property. As a dedicated local channel on the DStv platform, Abol TV continues to empower professionals by investing in industry-quality content, providing a vital stage for Ethiopian actors, directors, and technicians to showcase their craft to millions of viewers across Africa.

This milestone is expected to catalyze further growth within the domestic industry, encouraging creators to continue pursuing high-quality, professional productions. The success at the 12th AMVCA has proven that Ethiopian stories, told with authenticity and professional rigor, resonate deeply with audiences far beyond the nation’s borders, marking a new era of pride and potential for the country’s filmmakers and the broader creative ecosystem.