South African actress, producer and human rights activist Nomzamo Mbatha stepped onto one of Africa’s biggest entertainment stages as she co-hosted the highly anticipated Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2026.
This year’s edition was hosted by none other than Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha, two powerhouses in media whose impact across film and business continues to shape the industry. The awards took place on Saturday, 9 May 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria.
While the awards celebrated African film and television excellence, Nomzamo also turned heads with her unforgettable fashion moments throughout the night. The actress wore five different iconic dresses, each carrying its own unique story and artistic meaning. Her first look was designed by award-winning fashion designer Veekee James.
She then changed into a second dress designed by House of Dova. The fashion house described the futuristic design by writing, “House of Dova presents SUSTAINABLE COUTURE for the host @nomzamo_m In a world of advanced technology, where the line between real life and Al grows thinner, this dress is an ode to technology of new and old as seen in details; fused with hand-beaded structures, capacitors, panels, wiring, and circuit boards…”
Nomzamo’s third look was designed by TUBO. Showing off the butterfly-inspired design and detailed beadwork, the brand wrote, “It is our honour to dress Nomzamo Mbatha (@nomzamo_m ) in TUBO Bespoke as she hosts the 2026 AMVCA Awards Nomzamo’s custom look was designed and embellished by hand in our studio, and finished with a mechanised butterfly detailing. For the woman who is always in motion.”
Clearly touched by the craftsmanship behind the gown, Nomzamo responded in the comments section, “My well of gratitude will never run dry! Every bead, hand-stitched to the finest detail with little to no sleep… and then the butterflies in constant motion… my word woman!”
For her fourth dress, Nomzamo Mbatha was styled by Emagine by Bukola. The designer shared behind-the-scenes moments of creating the gown and revealed the emotional inspiration behind it. In the caption, they wrote, “The first thing Nomzamo said when she first saw the piece was: “Heart.” And somehow, that became the entire story. What began as an exploration of anatomy through thread, paint and texture has become a reflection of something deeper: the intricacy of creation itself. For “You knit me together in my mother’s womb… I am fearfully and wonderfully made.””
For her fifth and final look, Nomzamo wore a custom creation by House of Marvee. The brand also explained the inspiration behind the dramatic couture piece, writing, “For the AMVCA 2026, @nomzamo_m wore a custom House of Marvee creation that explored the tension between instinct, survival and transformation through couture. We drew inspiration from the thermal imprint of the human body as seen through the eyes of a serpent an abstract heat signature traced across the silhouette in molten tones of ember, sapphire and gold. Encasing it are iridescent scale formations, crafted to feel almost preserved, as though nature itself had been reimagined into ornament. The result is a striking visual dialogue between predator and prey, strength and vulnerability, man and nature.”
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