The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards has long been celebrated as Nollywood’s biggest night, but in recent years, the men on that red carpet have been quietly, and then very loudly, demanding their share of the fashion conversation. The 12th edition of the AMVCA, held on May 9, 2026, at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, made one thing abundantly clear: the era of men simply “showing up” in a suit is well and truly over. Under the theme “Honouring Craft, Celebrating Culture,” the gentlemen of Nollywood and Nigerian entertainment arrived with concepts, stories, and a level of sartorial intentionality that rivaled anything on the women’s side of the carpet.
From hand-embroidered velvet jackets requiring hundreds of hours of labor to Dark Samurai-inspired ensembles complete with katanas, this was not a night for the faint of fashion. These men arrived with a clear focus on craftsmanship, identity, and visual impact. What follows is the definitive roundup of the best-dressed men at the 2026 AMVCA, a list that reflects not just who looked good, but who showed up with something to say.
Here are the best-dressed men who live up to the theme at the 2026 AMVCA…
#1. Eme Kanaga in Rogue: 300 Hours of Devotion
If there is one look from the entire evening that deserves to be studied, framed, and archived, it is this one. AMVCA 12 ‘Digital Creator of the Year’ winner Eme Kanaga arrived in a custom black velvet ringmaster jacket and wide-leg pants by Rogue, explicitly inspired by Michael Jackson, and the execution was nothing short of extraordinary. The jacket and trousers were embroidered entirely by hand with over 20,000 glass beads and crystal stones, representing a cumulative 300-plus hours of craftsmanship. Paired with a white bishop collar shirt, the look balanced theatricality with elegance in a way that felt genuinely iconic. The look balanced performance-inspired theatrics with meticulous craftsmanship and strong visual storytelling
#2. Tobi Bakre in Deji and Kola: Yoruba Cool, Fully Realized
Tobi Bakre walked into the AMVCA 12 as a fully considered vision, every detail aligned, every element speaking the same language. The agbada by Deji and Kola, the custom mules, the brass bell and jewels by Frontiers Brand, the creative direction, nothing was accidental, nothing was left to chance. The result was a look that could only be described as deliberate Yoruba cool: rooted in culture, refined by intention, and executed without a single wasted detail.
#3. Deyemi Okanlawon in Deji and Kola: The Dark Samurai Has Arrived
Deyemi Okanlawon did not come to attend the AMVCAs, he arrived with one of the evening’s most ambitious fashion concepts. His “Dark Samurai” ensemble featured a heavily beaded black and crimson tunic that fused Nigerian craftsmanship with Japanese warrior aesthetics, and he carried a katana as his statement accessory. It is the kind of risk that could easily go wrong and instead went completely, spectacularly right. The energy was unmatched, the execution was precise, and the overall effect was one of the most memorable red carpet appearances of the night.
#4. Stan Nze in AmDiddy Empire: The Igbo Odogwu Tradition Continues
Stan Nze tapped into the growing Igbo Odogwu fashion movement with a form-fitted beaded jacket paired with a skirt, a look that was bold, culturally grounded, and entirely his own. Designed by AmDiddy Empire, the all-black ensemble demonstrated that traditional inspiration and contemporary tailoring are not in conflict. When worn with this much confidence, they are one and the same thing.
#5. Akin Faminu in Deji and Kola: Consistently, Undeniably Regal
Akin Faminu has built a reputation as one of the best-dressed men in Nigeria, and his AMVCA 2026 appearance did nothing to challenge that standing, it only reinforced it. Dressed in an intricately detailed suit by Deji and Kola, he arrived looking regal in that effortless way that suggests he never had to try too hard. Faminu once again demonstrated the polished consistency that has made him a standout in Nigerian menswear.
#6. Shaun Okojie in Rogue: Botanical Opulence
Shaun Okojie delivered what may be the most technically accomplished styling of the evening. His collarless, open-front jacket by Rogue featured intricate gold and bronze beadwork in a striking botanical motif, grounded by a chocolate-brown satin dress shirt and high-waisted wide-leg black trousers. The accessories, a gold watch, a collar bar, minimalist jewelry, were chosen with the precision of someone who understands that restraint and opulence are not opposites. The result was a look that was both luxurious and impeccably tailored.
#7. Prince Nelson Enwerem in House of Vieve: The Standard-Bearer Returns
Big Brother alumni Prince Nelson Enwerem has developed a consistent reputation for delivering consistently memorable red-carpet appearances, at major Nigerian events, and the 12th AMVCA was no exception. Dressed in a suit by House of Vieve, he carried himself with the ease of a man who knows exactly what he is doing in front of a camera. Quietly, reliably, and brilliantly well-dressed.
#8. Chimezie Imo in Fai World: Cobalt Blue Royalty
Chimezie Imo’s deep cobalt blue velvet double-breasted tuxedo by Fai World was an exercise in monochrome mastery. The plush velvet played beautifully against oversized lustrous satin shawl lapels and a matching silk dress shirt, creating a sophisticated dialogue between light and texture within a single hue. A bold sculptural gold brooch at the neck provided just the right warm counterpoint to the cool blues, while the relaxed wide-leg trousers kept the silhouette grounded and contemporary. It was confident, considered, and quietly magnificent.
#9. Larry Hector in Ayo and Styles: Futuristic Formalism
Larry Hector brought an architectural sensibility to the red carpet in a structured white jacket with a high neckline and honeycomb texture by Ayo and Styles. Pearl trim traced the edges of the garment, flowing into floor-sweeping flared trousers that gave the entire look a commanding, almost celestial presence. Paired with a crisp white tuxedo shirt and bow tie, this was classical formalwear pushed into futuristic territory; elegant, dramatic, and entirely unforgettable.
#10. Dike Miracle Chidi in Fai World: Where Tailoring Meets Nature
Dike Miracle Chidi arrived in a cream mandarin-collar suit adorned with exquisite bronze floral embroidery that cascaded down the neckline and up the forearms in a vine-like symmetry. The needlework was the undeniable centrepiece, but the structured shoulders and clean wide-leg trousers ensured the tailoring held its own. Finished with dark mahogany leather loafers, the look achieved a rare harmony between softness and structure, between craft and restraint.
#11. Samuel Chibuikem Osuji in Deji and Kola: Dandy With a Point of View
Samuel Chibuikem Osuji’s dove-grey cropped suit with oversized peak lapels and a contrasting black collar was already a strong look, then came the magenta-jeweled bolo tie, the polka dot shirt, the silver waist chain, and the translucent eyewear. This was retro-modern dandyism with an unmistakable point of view, and Deji and Kola delivered every eccentricity with precision. It walked the line between audacious and refined without ever tipping too far in either direction.
#12. Samuel Banks in OJ Clothing: Asymmetric Masterwork
Samuel Banks wore a deep navy velvet tunic by OJ Clothing that transformed its left side into a canvas of intricate silver and crystal beadwork depicting cascading floral vines. The asymmetry was striking without being chaotic, and the cream boots against midnight velvet provided a sharp, modern contrast that elevated the entire silhouette. Aviator sunglasses and a statement silver ring completed a look that felt regal, contemporary, and entirely singular.
#13. Etim Effiong in Deji and Kola: Victorian Edge Meets Modern Menswear
Etim Effiong brought high drama to the carpet in a pitch-black tuxedo with razor-sharp peak lapels, a cutaway hem, a tonal black high-neck blouse, and an oversized silk cravat pinned with a large ornate silver brooch. The Victorian references were unmistakable, but the wide-leg trousers and white-tipped dress shoes kept the look from feeling like a costume. It felt, instead, like a designer brief that said “historic and avant-garde,” and then delivered on both.
#14. Michael Dappa in P.ARIES: Controlled Chaos
Michael Dappa’s black textured blazer by P.ARIES featured aggressive silver and white paint-splatter effects across the shoulders and chest, ruby-red accents mimicking dripping liquid, and a pearl-traced asymmetric hem. It was punk-inspired, it was rebellious, and it was crucially, meticulously crafted. Dark circular shades and pointed-toe Chelsea boots finished a look that proved chaos, when handled by the right hands, is its own kind of elegance.
#15. Kola Omotoso in A Modern Africa: The Sculpture of a Classic
Kola Omotoso closed out this list in considered, cinematic style. His double-breasted jacket by A Modern Africa featured an oversized wrap-around shawl lapel that gave the silhouette a sculptural, layered dimension. A silver floral brooch, crisp pocket square, and thick-framed sunglasses added personality without disrupting the clean lines of what was, at its core, a reimagined classic. Sometimes, the most powerful fashion statement is knowing exactly how far to push a familiar form, and then stopping there.
The Men at the 2026 AMVCA Had A Lot to Offer
From Eme Kanaga’s 300-hour beaded masterpiece to Kola Omotoso’s architectural tuxedo, the best-dressed men at the 2026 AMVCA proved, collectively and individually, that Nigerian menswear is having its most exciting moment yet. The craft is sharper, the concepts are bolder, and the confidence is absolute. The conversation has shifted, and these men led it.
—Read Also
