Kenya flew its flag high at the 11th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) held this past weekend, clinching two major wins cementing the country’s growing influence in African film and television.
The glamorous event in Lagos, Nigeria, brought together the crème de la crème of African entertainment to celebrate storytelling, creativity, and cultural excellence.
Among the standout moments of the night was the announcement of Abel Mutua as the winner of Best Writing in a TV Series for ‘Untying Kantai’, which is currently streaming on Showmax. The gripping drama follows Kantai, a man living with dissociative identity disorder, and explores how trauma, secrets, and identity shape his reality and relationships. With a compelling narrative and multidimensional characters, the show has resonated strongly with audiences across East Africa.
Kenya’s second win of the night came in the Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa) category, awarded to ‘Makosa ni Yangu’, another standout production from Philit. The Swahili-language drama dives into the devastating ripple effects of sexual assault within a community, centering on a family’s journey through denial, guilt, and ultimately healing. Its honest portrayal and emotional depth struck a chord with both viewers and the AMVCA jury.
Following their 2025 wins, Abel and Philip shared a joint Instagram post, writing: “Four years ago, thanks to your unwavering support, we started this film journey. These right here are the fruits of your labour. A true depiction of The Wakurugenzi Effect. 2 nominations both converted into wins. Our region’s flag is up high. Thank you very much @africamagic. Through you, Africa gets to know that The East has something to offer.”
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Though Kenya had 11 nominations this year, these two wins were particularly significant — both productions stemmed from Philit, the powerhouse founded by Phil Karanja and Abel Mutua. The duo has steadily risen in East Africa’s entertainment scene since making waves with their 2017 hit Sue na Jonnie. At the 2023 AMVCAs, their feature film Click Click Bang took home Best Movie (East Africa) and Best Indigenous Language Film (Swahili) — marking a consistent streak of excellence.