Kenya has once again made a strong mark on the African film and television stage after Shuga Mashariki claimed the Best Writing TV Series award at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards held in Lagos. This win continues a remarkable streak, making it the third consecutive year that a Kenyan production has taken home the writing category. The series stood out among strong contenders from across the continent, including Nigeria and Ethiopia, in a highly competitive field. The achievement highlights Kenya’s growing influence in scripted television and its ability to tell stories that connect with audiences across Africa. It also reinforces the strength of creative writing teams working behind Kenyan productions.
Shuga Mashariki won the award after competing against titles such as Nigeria’s The Wives, Our Husband, Baba Oh and The Party, as well as Ethiopia’s Addis Fikir and Gizat. The series, previously known as MTV Shuga Mashariki, has continued to evolve while maintaining its focus on youth-driven storytelling. The recognition at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards further cements its reputation as a leading voice in African television drama. Kenya’s performance at the 2026 awards was particularly notable because the country received 12 nominations across different categories but only secured one win. Despite that, the writing award stood out as a major achievement in a highly competitive edition of the event.
The AMVCA 2026 nominations reflected Kenya’s strong presence across multiple categories, showing consistent growth in film and television production. Nominations included Best Supporting Actress for Shuga Mashariki star Julie Brenda Nyambura, Best Score for Shuga Mashariki, and Best Scripted Series nods for The Chocolate Empire and Kash Money. Other Kenyan entries included Best Documentary for The People Shall, Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa) for Sayari and Inside Job, and Best Writing in a Movie for Cards on the Table. Additionally, Adam to Eve and Bobo were nominated under Best Scripted M-Net Original, reflecting the diversity of Kenyan storytelling across genres. Even though only one award was secured, the spread of nominations showed clear industry recognition.
The Shuga franchise has a long history in African television storytelling, first launching in Kenya in 2009 before expanding into multiple countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and India. Its return to Kenya in 2025 as MTV Shuga Mashariki marked a renewed focus on East African narratives. The recent rebranding to Shuga Mashariki followed structural changes within its parent organisation after the Shuga Global platform moved away from its previous partnership branding. This transition allowed the series to maintain its identity while continuing to develop socially relevant stories for young audiences. The evolution of the franchise has played a major role in sustaining its relevance over more than a decade.
Speaking after receiving the award in Lagos, producer Kevin Njue highlighted the dedication of the writing team behind the project. He noted that the success reflected the hard work invested across multiple seasons and the commitment to telling authentic stories that resonate with young people. He also emphasised that the recognition from such a major continental platform validated the creative effort behind the production. According to him, the award showed that Kenyan writers are capable of producing content that competes at the highest level in Africa. His remarks reflected pride in the team’s ability to balance entertainment with meaningful storytelling.
In previous years, the Best Writing TV Series award has also recognised other notable African productions. In 2024, Volume by Tosh Gitonga won the category, with writing credited to Mona Ombogo, while in 2025 the award went to Untying Kantai by Philit Productions, written by Abel Mutua. The consistency of different productions winning in this category highlights the competitive nature of African television storytelling. It also shows how writing quality continues to be a defining factor in award recognition. Shuga Mashariki’s 2026 win adds Kenya’s name again to this growing list of impactful storytellers.
The full AMVCA 2026 awards list reflected a wide range of winners across film, television and digital content. My Father’s Shadow won Best Overall Movie, while Akinola Davies Jr took Best Director for the same film. Acting awards went to Uzor Arukwe and Linda Ejiofor in key categories, while To Kill A Monkey and Colours of Fire also secured multiple technical wins. Other major winners included Nigerian Idol Season 10 for unscripted content and Inimba for scripted M-Net original series. The diversity of winners across regions and genres showed the depth of African entertainment production.
Kenya’s victory through Shuga Mashariki stands as a strong reminder of the country’s growing influence in African storytelling. Even with only one win from multiple nominations, the Best Writing award carries significant weight in highlighting creative excellence. The success reinforces the importance of investing in strong writing teams and authentic narratives that reflect real social experiences. It also positions Kenya as a consistent contributor to high-quality African television content. As the industry continues to expand, Shuga Mashariki’s achievement signals a future where Kenyan productions remain competitive on the continental stage.
