# Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

The Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role is an award presented annually by the Africa Film Academy. It has been awarded since the 1st Africa Movie Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film.
The Best Actor in a Leading Role award has been presented 21 times, to 21 actors. The first winner was Richard Mofe-Damijo for his roles in The Mayors (2004). The most recent winner is Zolisa Xaluva for The Queenstown Kings (2024). The record for most wins is two, held by Richard Mofe-Damijo. The record for most nominations is two, also held by Damijo.

## Winners and nominees

| Year | Actor | Film | Ref. |
| 2005 (1st) | Richard Mofe Damijo | The Mayors | |
| 2006 (2nd) | Kanayo O. Kanayo | Family Battle | |
| 2006 (2nd) | Osita Iheme/Chinedu Ikedieze | Secret adventure | |
| 2006 (2nd) | Bil Aka | Sofia | |
| 2006 (2nd) | Nosa Ehinwen | Anini | |
| 2006 (2nd) | Modu Cessay | Arrou (Prevention) | |
| 2007 (3rd) | Olu Jacobs | Dancing Heart | |
| 2007 (3rd) | Ganiu Nofiu | Apesin | |
| 2007 (3rd) | Kunle Abogunloko | Covenant Church | |
| 2007 (3rd) | Ayo Lijadu | Maroko | |
| 2008 (4th) | Nkem Owoh | Stronger Than Pain | |
| 2008 (4th) | Van Vicker | Return Of Beyonce/Princess Tyra | |
| 2008 (4th) | Kanayo O. Kanayo | Across the Niger | |
| 2008 (4th) | OC Ukeje | Check Point | |
| 2008 (4th) | Peter Badejo | White Waters | |
| 2009 (5th) | Farouk Al-Fichawi | Seventh Heaven | |
| 2009 (5th) | Godfrey Odhiamba | From a Whisper | |
| 2009 (5th) | Mike Ezuruonye | The Assassin | |
| 2009 (5th) | Majid Michel | Agony of the Christ | |
| 2009 (5th) | Peter Badejo | Arugba | |
| 2010 (6th) | Ramsey Nouah | The Figurine | ref |
| 2010 (6th) | Lucky Ejim | The Tenant | ref |
| 2010 (6th) | Majid Michel | Sin of a Soul | ref |
| 2010 (6th) | Sadiq Abu | Soul Diaspora | ref |
| 2010 (6th) | John Osie Tutu Agyeman | I Sing of a Well |
| 2011 (7th) | Themba Ndaba | Hopeville | ref |
| 2011 (7th) | Patsha Bay | Viva Riva! | ref |
| 2011 (7th) | Jimmy Jean-Louis | Sinking Sands | ref |
| 2011 (7th) | Ekon Blankson | Checkmate | ref |
| 2011 (7th) | Antar Laniyan | Yemoja | ref |
| 2011 (7th) | Majid Michel | Pool Party | ref |
| 2012 (8th) | Majid Michel | Somewhere in Africa | ref |
| 2012 (8th) | Menzi Ngubane | How to Steal 2 Million | ref |
| 2012 (8th) | Chet Anekwe | Unwanted Guest | ref |
| 2012 (8th) | Jafta Mamabolo | Otelo Burning | ref |
| 2012 (8th) | Karabo Lance | 48 | ref |
| 2012 (8th) | Wale Ojo | Phone Swap | ref |
| 2012 (8th) | Hakeem Kae-Kazim | Man on Ground | ref |
| 2013 (9th) | Justus Esiri | Assassins Practice | ref |
| 2013 (9th) | OC Ukeje | Alan Poza | ref |
| 2013 (9th) | Bimbo Manuel | Heroes and Zeros | ref |
| 2013 (9th) | Lindani Nkosi | Zama Zama | ref |
| 2013 (9th) | Hlomla Dandala | Contract | ref |
| 2013 (9th) | Femi Jacobs | The Meeting | ref |
| 2013 (9th) | Amurin Wumnembom | Ninah’s Dowry | ref |
| 2014 (10th) | Mothusi Magano | Of Good Report | ref |
| 2014 (10th) | Zengo Ngqobe | Forgotten Kingdom | ref |
| 2014 (10th) | Kanayo O. Kanayo | Apaye | ref |
| 2014 (10th) | Joseph Benjamin | Murder at Prime Suites | ref |
| 2014 (10th) | Adjetey Anang | Potomanto | ref |
| 2014 (10th) | Majid Michel | Brother's Keeper | ref |
| 2015 (11th) | Sadiq Daba | October 1 | ref |
| 2015 (11th) | Tony Kroroge | Cold Harbour | ref |
| 2015 (11th) | Sdumo Matshali | iNumber Number | ref |
| 2015 (11th) | Abdoul Kareem Konate | Run | ref |
| 2015 (11th) | Gerard Essomba | Le President | ref |
| 2016 (12th) | Daniel K Daniel | Soldier's Story | ref |
| 2016 (12th) | Oris Erhuero | The Cursed Ones | ref |
| 2016 (12th) | OC Ukeje | Ayanda | ref |
| 2016 (12th) | Fragrass Assande | Eye of the Storm | ref |
| 2016 (12th) | Maps Maponyane | Tell Me Sweet Something | ref |
| 2016 (12th) | Buiferi Yakoubi | La Pagne | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | Jahwar Soudani | The Last of Us | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | Sambasa Nzeribe | Slow Country (film) | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | Ibrahim Koma | Wùlu | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | Richard Mofe Damijo | Oloibiri | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | Amine Ennaji | A Mile in My Shoes (film) | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | David Oyelowo | Queen of Katwe | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | Dann-Jacques Mouton | Call Me Thief | ref |
| 2017 (13th) | Ramsey Nouah | '76 (film) | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | Richard Mofe Damijo | Cross Roads | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | Vuyo Dabula | Five Fingers for Marseilles | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | Sam Dede | In My Country | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | Sani Bouajla | The Blessed Vost | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | OC Ukeje | Potato Potahto | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | Chris Attoh | Esohe | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | Oros Mampofu | Lucky Specials | ref |
| 2018 (14th) | Frank Donga | Hakkunde | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Marc Zinga | The Mercy of the Jungle | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Gabriel Afolayan | Gold Statue | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Joseph Otsiman | The Burial of Kojo | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Chinedu Ikedieze | Lara and the Beat | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Jimmy Jean-Louis | Rattlesnakes | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Gil Alexandre | Redemption | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Ezra Mabengeza | Sew the Winter to My Skin | ref |
| 2019 (15th) | Ayoub Bombwe | Fatuma | ref |
| 2020 (16th) | Jimmy Jean-Louis | Desrances | |
| 2020 (16th) | Gabriel Afolayan | Coming From Insanity | |
| 2020 (16th) | Kang Quintus | The Fisherman's Diary | |
| 2020 (16th) | Bongile Mantsai | Knuckle City | |
| 2020 (16th) | Alphonse Menyo | Gold Coast Lounge | |
| 2020 (16th) | Enyinna Nwigwe | Badamasi | |
| 2020 (16th) | Robert Agengo/Mwaura Bilal/Andreo Kamau/ Xavier Ywawa | 40 Sticks | |
| 2020 (16th) | Darrin Dewitt Henson | Zulu Wedding | |
| 2021 (17th) | Omar Abdi | The Gravedigger's Wife | |
| 2021 (17th) | Gary Green | Fried Barry | |
| 2021 (17th) | Lateef Adedimeji | Ayinla | |
| 2021 (17th) | Melvin Alusa | Mission To Rescue | |
| 2021 (17th) | Jude Akuwudike | Eyimofe | |
| 2021 (17th) | David Njavera | Hairareb | |
| 2021 (17th) | Nonso Bassey | La Femme Anjola | |
| 2022 (18th) | Eugene Boateng | Borga | |
| 2022 (18th) | Patrick Nkakalukanyi | Tembele | |
| 2022 (18th) | Daniel Etim Effiong | Jolly Roger | |
| 2022 (18th) | Gudrun Colombus Mwanyika | Tug of War | |
| 2022 (18th) | Botlhale Mahlangu | Surviving Gaza | |
| 2022 (18th) | Deyemi Okanlawon | Swallow | |
| 2022 (18th) | Akah Nnani | Man of God | |
| 2022 (18th) | Aaron Adatsi | Road to My Father's Compound | |
| 2023 (19th) | Tobi Bakre | Brotherhood | |
| 2023 (19th) | Richard Mofe-Damijo | 4-4-44 | |
| 2023 (19th) | Marc Zinga | Omen | |
| 2023 (19th) | Fernando Kamugisha | The Fallen Advocate | |
| 2023 (19th) | Justin Mirichii | Shimoni | |
| 2023 (19th) | Mike Danon | Sira | |
| 2024 (20th) | Zolisa Xaluva | The Queenstown Kings | |
| 2024 (20th) | Gabriel Afolayan | This Is Lagos | |
| 2024 (20th) | Duncan Murunyu Mungai | Boda Love | |
| 2024 (20th) | Nenesenor Abloso | Letters to Goddo | |
| 2024 (20th) | Bucci Franklin | The Weekend | |
| 2024 (20th) | Femi Jacobs | Anjola | |
| 2024 (20th) | Chidi Mokeme | Out of Breath | |