Nollywood Actress Lilian Afegbai Rejects AMVCA Snub, Insists "Idia" Performance in ‘To Kill a Monkey’ Transcends Award Validation

Nollywood star Lilian Afegbai slams AMVCA organizers after being snubbed for her role in ‘To Kill a Monkey,’ telling them to "eat their award."

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 11:31 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Vanguard News

Public Outcry Over Award Exclusion

Lilian Afegbai has sparked a heated debate within the Nollywood community after being omitted from the 2026 AMVCA nomination list. Shortly after the announcements on Tuesday, March 31, the actress expressed her disbelief on X (formerly Twitter) with a succinct "Amvca SMH." The reaction quickly escalated as fans and industry observers noted the absence of her name in the Best Supporting Actress category, despite the widespread critical acclaim and social media "trending" status of her character, Idia, in the hit series To Kill a Monkey.

A Stance Against External Validation

Addressing the snub more formally, Lily Afe clarified that while she is disappointed, her sense of professional worth is not tied to institutional recognition. She maintained that everything happens for a reason and that a lack of a nomination does not invalidate the hard work she poured into her craft. "I don’t need a nomination for validation," she wrote, doubling down on the fact that her performance was a standout of the previous year. She argued that the impact of a role is measured by how much it resonates with the audience, rather than the approval of a voting committee.

The Impact of "Idia" in ‘To Kill a Monkey’

Afegbai’s portrayal of Idia in the Kemi Adetiba-directed project was a transformative experience that the actress previously described as a "deeply personal journey." The character’s blend of strength and vulnerability made her a fan favorite, leading Afegbai to claim that "nobody trended like IDIA" last year. Ironically, To Kill a Monkey itself is a frontrunner for the 2026 awards, leading the pack with nine nominations alongside the film Gingerrr. This disconnect—where the project is celebrated but a key performer is overlooked—is at the heart of the actress's "eat your award" retort.