Nollywood icon Ramsey Nouah has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian entertainment industry after opening up on the surprising reason why he has never won an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) despite his decades-long stellar career.
Speaking during a recent interview, the veteran actor and director revealed that despite his critical acclaim—including his nominated performance in the hit movie ’76—he lost out primarily because of the award ceremony’s previous voting structure. According to Nouah, the earlier editions relied almost entirely on public fan voting rather than professional jury assessments, which placed seasoned actors without huge digital followings at a distinct disadvantage.
“I never won an AMVCA. I was nominated for Best Actor in ’76, and I lost,” Nouah explained. “At that time, it was predominantly a viewers’ choice award. The guy who was stronger on social media got it over us. And the nominees were myself, RMD, Uncle Olu Jacobs, and the guy won every one of us because we weren’t strong on social media back then.”
The “Lover Boy” turned blockbuster filmmaker noted that he was pleased to see how the award body has evolved its criteria over time to balance public votes with expert jury evaluations. Nouah also emphasized his preference for keeping a low profile off-camera, preferring to let his directing and producing work speak for itself rather than chasing online popularity.
His candid confession has sparked intense debate among movie enthusiasts, with fans celebrating his legacy regardless of individual award tallies.
Does an award plaque define a legendary acting career, or is fan love enough? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
