South African cinematographer Kabelo Thathe has won the award for Best Cinematography at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for his striking work on the Netflix crime thriller series To Kill a Monkey.
The ceremony, held on May 9, 2026, at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, saw Thathe’s deliberate camera movements, raw textured shots, and emotionally charged visuals praised by jurors for elevating the show’s intense narrative.
Directed by Kemi Adetiba, To Kill a Monkey follows a struggling programmer’s descent into cybercrime. The series was one of the night’s big winners, securing three awards: Thathe for Cinematography, Daniel Anyiam for Best Editing, and Bucci Franklin for Best Supporting Actor.
He defeated a competitive field that included Emmanuel Igbekele (nominated for three different projects) and KC Obiajulu.
In his acceptance speech, Thathe thanked Adetiba for her trust and called the award “a celebration of African visual storytelling.” The win highlights growing recognition for technical excellence in Nollywood and African cinema.
