Guinness Nigeria Plc made its first appearance as a sponsor of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards on 9 May 2026, activating four locally produced brands across the 12th edition of the ceremony at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, in what the company positioned as its most visible cultural investment to date.
The locally listed company brought Guinness, Malta Guinness, Orijin, and Smirnoff Ice to different segments of the awards week, with each brand assigned a distinct category. Guinness presented Best Director, awarded to Akinola Davies Jr. for My Father’s Shadow. Smirnoff Ice sponsored Best Indigenous Language. Orijin activated at Cultural Night. Malta Guinness extended its Every Side of You campaign through the broader awards experience.
The debut was part of a wider portfolio play by parent company Diageo through its Africa Partner Markets infrastructure. Premium tequila Don Julio took the headline sponsorship slot, anchoring the main awards night and red carpet and presenting Best Movie, won by My Father’s Shadow, and Best Lead Actor, taken by Uzor Arukwe for Colours of Fire. The Singleton joined as a further supporting brand. Johnnie Walker, activated across Black, Blonde, and Blue Label expressions, was among the most active brands across the full awards week.
“These are brands made here, by us, for the people shaping Africa’s creative and cultural future.”
Girish Sharma, Managing Director and CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc
Girish Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria, described the multi-brand presence as a statement about local production and cultural identity. “Our continued collaboration with Diageo allows us to bring an exceptional portfolio of brands to the moments Nigerian consumers care about most,” he said at the event. “Showcasing Guinness, Orijin, and Smirnoff at a stage like the AMVCA matters because these are brands made here, by us, for the people shaping Africa’s creative and cultural future.”
Ramanathan Solayappan, Marketing and Innovations Director at Guinness Nigeria, framed the strategy in consumer terms. “Each of our brands speaks to diverse parts of the Nigerian consumer’s life, and the AMVCA gives us one stage where all of those connections come alive at once,” he said.
The 12th edition ran 32 award categories across 18 jury-decided and 11 audience-voted prizes, alongside special honours. My Father’s Shadow led the night with five awards, including Best Movie, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Score, and Best Sound. Linda Ejiofor made AMVCA history by winning both Best Lead Actress, for The Serpent’s Gift, and Best Supporting Actress, for The Herd. MTN presented financial recognition at Icons Night. The broader sponsor roster included Indomie, Quickteller, Verve, Cadbury Hot Chocolate, and Lush Hair.
For the beverage trade, the Guinness Nigeria showing represents the clearest signal yet that Africa’s biggest entertainment properties are now tier-one commercial territory for locally listed drinks companies. The coordinated portfolio strategy, placing brand activations at every major touchpoint of a single night, gives the industry a replicable model for events across the continent.
Read More
Alcoholic Beverages on Drinkabl.media
Guinness Nigeria Unveils Affordable Orijin PET for Wider Reach
