Award ceremonies usually give us glamour: dresses, speeches, and thank-yous. But every so often, a moment cuts through all of that and lands somewhere real.
Last night at the 12th AMVCA, Bucci Franklin gave the room one of those moments; nobody was quite prepared for it. When his name was called for Best Supporting Actor, the applause was loud. He won for his role in ‘To Kill A Monkey’, but what followed the applause was louder. Bucci Franklin walked to the stage and broke down. 
Then he spoke. And the room understood why.
Seven Days Before
‘To Kill A Monkey’ was one of the most anticipated Nigerian productions of 2025. The Kemi Adetiba-directed series held the number one spot on Netflix right after its release. It follows Efemini, a brilliant tech graduate drawn into a cybercrime syndicate. It became one of the most talked-about Nigerian projects of the year.
Bucci Franklin played a key figure in that criminal world. His character made wrong choices feel entirely reasonable. The role earned him widespread praise. It also pushed him into much wider industry conversations.
But Netflix viewers did not know what was happening off camera. Seven days before ‘To Kill A Monkey’ came out, Bucci Franklin lost his mother.
He showed up anyway. He did the press rounds. He watched the film go number one. He carried the grief quietly. Then last night, an AMVCA trophy and a microphone gave him somewhere to put it all.
What He Said
Standing on that stage, visibly overwhelmed, Bucci dedicated the award to the women in his life. His mother. His woman. His sisters.
“I know my mum is throwing a party right now,” he said.
Ten words. The room felt every single one of them.
What made the moment even more striking was who stood beside him. Shine Rosman was there immediately, stepping in to wipe his tears as he faced the media for a statement. A quiet, steady presence. No microphone needed.
The Career Behind the Moment
This win did not come from nowhere. Bucci Franklin has been building his Nollywood career for years. He appeared in ‘Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story’, ‘The Weekend’, ‘Breaking Ranks’, and now ‘To Kill A Monkey’.
He was previously nominated at the AMVCA for Best Supporting Actor in 2022 for ‘Rattlesnake’. He was also nominated for Best Actor in 2025 for ‘The Weekend’. Heading into last night, fans and critics considered him the frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor. The jury agreed.
But none of that context matters now. Not the Netflix number one. Not the critical praise. Not the years of work.
People will remember one thing from last night. They will remember: “I know my mum is throwing a party right now.”
SEE ALSO: ‘My Father’s Shadow’ Wins Overall Best Movie at AMVCA 12 – See Winners (Full List)
The Bottom Line
A man lost his mother one week before his biggest professional moment. He showed up anyway. He won anyway. Then he stood on the biggest stage in African film and turned his grief into a dedication.
She did not get to see the number one on Netflix. She did not get to see the nomination. She did not get to see him hold the trophy.
But if Bucci Franklin is right? If she is somewhere watching?
She saw it all.
And apparently, she is throwing a party.
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