Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai, widely known as Lily Afe, has voiced her disappointment after she did not make the shortlist for the Best Supporting Actress category at the upcoming Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
The actress, who gained major attention for her role as Idia in To Kill a Monkey, took to X shortly after the nominees were announced to share her reaction. Her performance in the series, directed by Kemi Adetiba, had drawn strong praise from fans and critics, especially for her delivery and command of pidgin English.
In her post, Lily maintained a calm but firm tone, insisting she does not rely on awards for validation. She wrote that she chooses to believe everything happens for a reason, stressing that recognition does not define her worth as an actress.
Still, she did not hide her frustration. She pointed out that her character, Idia, stood out significantly in the past year, claiming that no other role generated as much buzz. According to her, the impact of the character and the strength of her performance spoke for themselves.
Her reaction ended on a more blunt note, as she took a direct swipe at the organisers of the awards, expressing dissatisfaction with her omission.
Despite her absence from the category, the Best Supporting Actress list features notable names such as Linda Ejiofor (The Herd), Bisola Aiyeola (Gingerrr), Sola Sobowale (The Covenant), and Funke Akindele (Behind The Scenes), among others.
The AMVCA, one of Africa’s biggest platforms for celebrating excellence in film and television, will return with its 12th edition on May 9. This year’s awards will feature multiple categories spanning acting, directing, production, and technical achievements, alongside special recognition honours.
Lily’s reaction has since sparked conversations online, with many fans debating whether her performance deserved a nomination and questioning the selection process behind one of the continent’s most prestigious entertainment awards.
